Using Bronfenbrenner's Ecological Systems Theory (BEST) and intersectionality, this mixed methods study explored the complex experiences of Black men who face racial and gender-based challenges in a racially systemic employment arena, particularly those with a prior history of incarceration (PHI). The researcher interviewed Black men with PHI…

While clinical engagement is widely considered to be essential to the rehabilitation process, little empirical evidence exists examining the influence of engagement-enhancing practices on clinical performance. This dissertation study sought to evaluate the impact of a set of clinician-driven engagement practices, targeting key affective states,…

Although there has been considerable empirical support for the effect of reflection, and specifically reflective activities, within the domain of transformative learning (Ballon & Skinner, 2008; King, 2004; Mezirow, 2012; Roessger, 2014; Taylor, 2017), there is a gap in the literature concerning the value of formal reflective activities when…

One form of rehabilitation is education. Although 40% of inmates said they would enroll in a postsecondary degree program if given an opportunity, but only 27% of state prisons even offer college-level courses (McCoy & Burlingame, 2019; Rampey et al., 2016). Research has shown that completing a college-level degree while incarcerated can…

This study sought to understand the varied disciplinary responses and perceptions regarding student drug use. Students caught under the influence or actively using drugs on high school campuses are often suspended and face possible expulsion. Given the racial disproportionalities in student discipline and the adverse academic and life outcomes for…

Word finding difficulty is a frequently reported subjective cognitive concern among persons with Multiple Sclerosis (pwMS). Word-finding relies on several information retrieval processes, including search and retrieval from the conceptual store, the phonological store, the syllabary, as well as other stores of information. Neuropsychological…

The transition from high school to college in American culture signifies a profound life experience marked by ecological and developmental shifts. This period exposes college students, particularly first-year students, to heightened susceptibility to mental illness, with alarming statistics indicating that 1 in 3 will experience symptoms…

This narrative study seeks to elucidate survivors' experiences of academic and social emotional learning during the high school years within the troubled teen industry, which includes privately operated wilderness therapy programs and residential treatment centers. The study illuminates how the loss of a traditional high school experience can have…

The purpose of the study was to analyze the historical patterns in the relationship between specific types of disabilities and frequency of drug abuse or weapon offenses in public schools in the United States using the U.S. Department of Education Open Data Platform's (n.d.) data sets from 2011-2012 through 2020-2021. The problem is that students…

The 2014 genocide against the Yazidi community, perpetrated by ISIS, represents one of the most devastating humanitarian crises of the 21st century. This qualitative case study explores the lived experiences of Yazidi women, aged 25-40, who have resettled in Nebraska after surviving unspeakable atrocities, including mass killings, sexual…

Campus sexual violence in the United States has been elevated as a matter of national concern over the past decade through student activism, Title IX legal regulation, and the #MeToo movement. This attention has mandated the creation of institutional structures for addressing sexual violence, but also highlighted the limitations of university…

The idea of what "rural" means and the influence of this setting is very complex. The impact on the resources and services available to the family, school district, and community goes beyond geographic barriers. Despite there being known problems with service provision for children with hearing loss in rural areas, little is being done…

Up to the close of the 21st century, criminal justice experts and probation officers in Minnesota expressed frustration with lack of resources and program effectiveness to address the delinquency and recidivism problems in the juvenile justice system. The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine the effectiveness of rehabilitative and…

The goal of the Supported Brewing Initiative is to advocate for OT's role in work and supported employment by providing meaningful, occupation-based, and client-centered programs designed around unique and non-traditional environments. With a growing number of young adults and veterans entering college with TBI and planning to enter the workforce…

This dissertation consists of three studies which examined multidimensional balance in youth (= 21 years; Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, 2004) with visual impairments (VIs) using the Brief-Balance Evaluation Systems Test (Brief-BESTest). These studies have the potential to inform (adapted) physical education curricula and…