Date of Award
5-2025
Document Type
Oral Presentation/Poster
Degree Name
Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD)
Faculty Mentor
Dr. Whitney Lucas Molitor
Keywords
Trauma-informed, occupational therapy, Tier 1 intervention, Tier 2 intervention, sensory curriculum
Subject Categories
Occupational Therapy
Abstract
This project aimed to provide Tier 1 and Tier 2 trauma-informed occupational therapy interventions to a rural elementary school. Project components included implementing the “Just Right!” Sensory Curriculum (Wiggins & Wild, 2020) with students grades preK-6th, education to staff about trauma-informed classroom strategies, development of a sensory room for the elementary school, and creation of centers to be used in the classrooms. Key findings included a significant decrease in hyperactivity/inattention (p=0.00) on the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, a 1.13 point average increase in staff members’ knowledge of trauma-informed classroom strategies on a 5-point Likert scale, and students reporting increased understanding of self-regulation and sensory system knowledge. These findings suggest that Tier 1 and Tier 2 occupational therapy interventions are beneficial in a rural elementary school. Further research is needed to determine the longer-term effects of the capstone project.
Recommended Citation
Nobles, Maciah L., "Utilizing Trauma-Informed Universal and Targeted Occupational Therapy Interventions in a School Setting" (2025). Occupational Therapy Capstone Presentations. 147.
https://red.library.usd.edu/ot-capstone/147