Students and Faculty Collaborate in Research

University of Florida Occupational Therapy students and faculty collaboratively engage in research and contribute to the OT evidence base. Undergraduate pre-OT students complete honors projects with college researchers and many continue their collaborations with faculty after entering the Master in Occupational Therapy (MOT) program. An example of such a project was completed by Meagan Urruela a current MOT student and her mentor, Dr. Stacey Reynolds. Dr. Reynolds was a visiting K 12 researcher from 2010 through 2012 in the Department of Occupational Therapy.

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Meagan Urruela presents at the 2012 PHHP Research Day.

Ms. Urreula published her research “The Effects of Environmental Enrichment on Repetitive Behaviors in the BTBR T+tf/J Mouse Model of Autism” in the Journal of Autism Research. This paper focused on the benefits of enrichment on anxiety and repetitive behaviors in a mouse model of autism. Ms. Urruela presented a paper on the model at the International Meeting for Autism Research in Toronto, Canada. Ms. Urruela is seen in this photo at the 2012 PHHP Research Day.

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Dr. Kreider with Christen Fechtel at the 2013 PHHP Research Day.

MOT students working with their faculty mentor, Dr. Consuelo Kreider, presented papers at the college research day and at the Florida Occupational Therapy (FOTA) State Conference on the topics of sibling interactions with youths with autism spectrum disorder, and attention deficit disorder, as well as combat veterans. Many MOT students in the adult rehabilitation course also presented posters at the FOTA conference on evidence based community programs.

Students working with Dr. Sherrilene Classen presented on driving evaluation and intervention with adolescents with autism spectrum disorder, epilepsy, and attention deficit disorder. These papers were presented at the annual conference of the Association for Driving Rehabilitation Specialists (ADED), and published in the American Journal of OT, the Canadian Journal of OT, the Journal of Safety Research, and the Journal of Autism Research and Epilepsy and Behavior.

For examples of article references and list of publications for recent MOT faculty and student research collaborations see below.

Presentations

  1. Classen, S., Monahan, M., & Brown, K. Poster: Driving indicators in adolescents with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). 37th annual Association for Driving Rehabilitation Specialists (ADED) Annual Conference and Exhibits. Columbus, Ohio, August 19, 2013.
  2. Classen, S., Monahan, M., & Hernandez, S. Poster: Indicators of simulated driving skills in adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). 37th annual Association for Driving Rehabilitation Specialists (ADED) Annual Conference and Exhibits. Columbus, Ohio, August 19, 2013.
  3. Classen, S., Monahan, M., Canonizado, & Winter, S. M. Poster: Efficacy of an occupational therapy driving intervention for a returning combat veteran. 37th annual Association for Driving Rehabilitation Specialists (ADED) Annual Conference and Exhibits. Columbus, Ohio, August 19, 2013.
  4. Classen, S., Winter, S. M., & Shanahan, M. Poster: User evaluation of the Fitness-to-Drive Screening Measure. 37th annual Association for Driving Rehabilitation Specialists (ADED) Annual Conference and Exhibits. Columbus, Ohio, August 19, 2013.
  5. Kreider, K. & Fechtel, C. Sibling location within the social network of youth with autism spectrum disorder: A case series with comparison to matched typically-developing youth. Florida Occupational Therapy Association Conference. Tampa, FL, November, 2012.
  6. Kreider, K. & Fechtel, C. Siblings’ roles in social interactions of youth with learning disabilities, attention deficit disorder, and/or autism spectrum disorder. 26th Annual PHHP Research Day.

Publications

  1. Classen, S., Monahan M., & Brown, K. Indicators of simulated driving performance in teens with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Occupational Therapy in Health Care. Manuscript submitted on May 23rd, 2013.
  2. Classen, S., Monahan, M., Canonizado, M., & Winter, S.M. An Occupational Therapy Driving Intervention’s Utility for a Combat Veteran. American Journal of Occupational Therapy. Manuscript submitted on May 22nd, 2013.
  3. Classen, S., Monahan M., & Hernandez, S. Indicators of Simulated Driving Skills in Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder. The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy (OJOT). In press.
  4. Classen, S., Monahan M., & Brown, K.E., & Hernandez, S. Driving Indicators in Teens with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity and/or Autism Disorder. Manuscript submitted on 21st March, 2013 to the Canadian Journal of Occupational Therapy.
  5. Crizzle, A., & Classen, S., LaFranca, C., Silver, W., Winter, S.M., & Eisenschenk, S. The effect of anti-epileptic drugs on the simulated driving performance of people with seizure. Manuscript submitted to Journal of Safety Research, Nov 21st, 2012.
  6. Crizzle, A.M., Classen, S., Winter, S., Silver, W., LaFranca, C., & Eisenschenk, S. (2012). Associations between Clinical Tests and Simulated Driving Performance in Persons with Epilepsy. Epilepsy & Behavior. 23, 241-246.
  7. Crizzle, A.M., Classen, S., LaFranca, C., Roper, S., & Eisenschenk, S. (2013) Benefits of temporal lobe lobectomy on driving performance: A case study. (2013) American Journal of Occupational Therapy.(in press)
  8. Urruela, M., Reynolds, S. & Devine, A. (2013). Effects of Environmental Enrichment on Repetitive Behaviors in the BTBR T+tf/J Mouse Model of Autism. Journal of Autism Research. (in press).