Document Type

Report

College

College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences

Department

Occupational Therapy

Degree

Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD)

Report Date

2021

Faculty Mentor

Latour, Debra

Doctoral Experiential Coordinator

Rainville, Ellen B.

Abstract

"Individuals with upper limb loss/difference(s) (ULL/D) are typically outnumbered by individuals with lower limb loss by a 1:4 ratio (Latour, 2019). This often results in a lack of access to resources, especially those related to secondary physical and psychosocial conditions. In order to better address the gap in resources experienced by the UL L/D population, five Doctor of Occupational Therapy students at Western New England University expanded a virtual support group for individuals with UL L/D, originally piloted by Debra Latour, PP-OTD, M. Ed., OTR/L, as part of their Doctoral Experiential Capstone Project. The program, titled Unlimbited Wellness, aimed to promote health and well-being through education and virtual community engagement. Through the development of a telehealth center on Western New England University's campus and the support of Handspring clinical services, each researcher targeted a unique sub-group of the ULL/D population; this researcher addressed the needs of parents of adolescents, 13 to 17 years old with UL L/ D. Program evaluation was measured through a collection of pre- and post-survey data as well as post-session surveys. The results of the program suggested that virtual support groups were effective in connecting and educating participants of varying ages, levels of ULL/D, and etiology."

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