Date of Award
5-2026
Document Type
Oral Presentation/Poster
Degree Name
Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD)
Department
Health Science
Faculty Mentor
Whitney Lucas Molitor, PhD, OTD, OTR/L, BCG
Keywords
Occupational therapy, self-regulation, community-based intervention, rural
Subject Categories
Occupational Therapy
Abstract
Self-regulation skills are essential for well-being during childhood and are associated with academic performance and positive psychosocial outcomes. Children with developmental disabilities such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often experience sensory differences that impact occupational performance and self-regulation. Rural populations face additional barriers to accessing early childhood opportunities and occupational therapy services. This doctoral capstone project aimed to support the development of self-regulation skills among children in both clinical and community settings. Through partnership with a rural public library, a Sensory Storytime Program was implemented using inclusive design principles to promote regulation skills. Additional resources, including a Sensory Regulation Kit and Emotions Story Kit, were created for continued access to self-regulation materials. In addition to children’s programming, four Caregiver Education sessions were provided to address sensory and emotional regulation. Pretest–posttest results indicated increased caregiver knowledge of sensory processing and improved confidence in applying regulation strategies. These findings support the role of occupational therapy within community-based settings and the need for continued self-regulation resources and education.
Recommended Citation
De Jong, Aarika Denae, "Empowering Children Through Self-Regulation: A Multi-Setting Occupational Therapy Initiative" (2026). Occupational Therapy Capstone Presentations. 171.
https://red.library.usd.edu/ot-capstone/171