Partnering to understand: an investigation of health disparity in the communities surrounding a university health sciences center.

Background: Oklahoma's health ranking is seventh to last in America. More specifically, the health in the four zip codes surrounding the Oklahoma University Health Science Center (OUHSC) in is among the lowest in the state. The primary purpose of this study was to understand, in collaboration with community members and partners, why health disparity persists in this area.

An investigation of the family practicum experience. Family and student perspectives.

Professional occupational therapy (OT) and physical therapy (PT) programs traditionally instruct students using volunteers, including children who have disabilities. Presenting a child before a classroom of students may deprive the child of dignity and may limit students' understanding of the child's disability and the importance of family-centered service delivery. An alternative approach that respects the child's privacy and promotes dignity is student observation in the context of the child's daily living.

A service learning is a perfect fit for occupational and physical therapy education.

Service learning provides invaluable contributions to the education of occupational and physical therapy students by allowing them to contribute to the community while simultaneously optimizing their professional preparation. This report explores the application of five principles in occupational and physical therapy service-learning experiences: placement quality, application between classroom and community, reflection, diversity, and listening to the community's voice.

The everyday occupation of families with children with autism.

The purpose of this qualitative research study was to understand a family's experiences negotiating family daily life and the meanings they ascribed to these experiences when they had a child with severe autism. In-depth, semistructured interviews were conducted with five family units. The interviews explored the meaning of the family's participation in daily life activities.