The effects of family directed power mobility on self-care, mobility, and social function in very young children with severe multiple developmental impairments.

Introduction: Children with impaired mobility often experience negative impact on overall development leading to depression, social isolation, and perceived lower quality of life.

Objective: Our study explored the effects of Power Mobility Devices (PMD), in the form of modified ride-on toy cars with two distinct activation/steering technologies, on functional independent and social function in young children with severe multiple developmental impairments.

Methodology: Twelve children (age range 12-54 months) with neuromuscular, musculoskeletal, and genetic diagnoses, and metabolic progressive diseases participated.

Child-Centered, Interdisciplinary Bioengineering Summer Research Experience.

This study investigates the impact of a summer biomedical engineering research training program on undergraduate students, high school students, and ESE (Exceptional Student Education) teachers from local schools. The views of participants toward social responsibility and their affinity to work together in interprofessional groups were measured using the Public Service Motivation Scale (PSM) and the Interprofessional Socialization and Valuing Scale (ISVS) over four years. The study reports statistically significant changes in the compassion scale, or 'dedication to societal well-being,' and a positive effect on the comfort scale, or 'ability to engage in teamwork.

Safety analysis of adapted battery-powered ride-on toy car for children with disabilities using a modified test dummy with varying joint stiffness.

Adaptive ride-on toy programs have increased in popularity in recent years and provide novel rehabilitation tools as developmental aids for children with disabilities. While the adaptations made to these toys are intended to provide a safer experience for children with disabilities, safety concerns still exist. Within this context, the purpose of this study was to use a model with varying joint stiffness as a first-order approximation of a child with disabilities and to investigate whether modifications to ride-on toys are sufficient to prevent common injuries.

Safety analysis of battery-powered ride-on toy car with seat and restraint system modifications.

Modified battery-powered ride-on toy cars represent novel rehabilitation tools for children with disabilities. However, safety concerns exist with the use of these battery-power toys and pose a barrier for the growth of adaptive ride-on toy programs due to the lack of evidence demonstrating that modifications made to these cars are safe. Within this context, the purpose of this study was to investigate whether modifications to ride-on toys are sufficient to prevent common injuries and determine how these modifications influence injury metrics.

Enhanced Steering and Drive Adaptations of Modified Ride-On Toy Cars for Improved Directional Control in Very Young Children With Severe Multiple Developmental Impairments.

One emerging power mobility device (PMD) option that has gained recognition as a means for a cost-effective introduction to power mobility for young children is the battery powered modified ride-on toy car. Many groups, nationally and internationally, have been modifying battery powered ride-on toy cars by adding seating support and a large center placed push button switch for motor activation. The purpose of this technical report is to introduce an enhanced steering and drive system based on proportional control through a joystick.

Pediatric safety: review of the susceptibility of children with disabilities to injuries involving movement related events.

Background: Toy-related injuries have increased significantly in the past decade, in particular those related to ride-on toys. This increase has been attributed to movement related events such as falls and inertial impacts. Furthermore, children with disabilities have been reported to be at a greater risk of being injured, and are therefore more susceptible to toy-related injuries.

Engineering, Physical Therapy and the Community: A Service Learning Course.

The School of Engineering and the Physical Therapy program at the University of North Florida developed a novel, community-based course where undergraduate engineering students are partnered with physical therapy students. In this course students participate in hands-on, team-based design projects focused on low-tech and high-tech rehabilitation technology for children with disabilities. The impact of this interprofessional education experience on the students has been evaluated using the Public Service Motivation Scale for three years and its impact on the students is presented.

A community-based, interdisciplinary rehabilitation engineering course.

A novel, community-based course was created through collaboration between the School of Engineering and the Physical Therapy program at the University of North Florida. This course offers a hands-on, interdisciplinary training experience for undergraduate engineering students through team-based design projects where engineering students are partnered with physical therapy students. Students learn the process of design, fabrication and testing of low-tech and high-tech rehabilitation technology for children with disabilities, and are exposed to a clinical experience under the guidance of licensed therapists.

Physical therapy students' perceptions of team-based learning in gross anatomy using the Team-Based Learning Student Assessment Instrument.

Purpose: The objective of this study was to assess physical therapy student perceptions of team-based learning (TBL) in a graduate level gross anatomy course using the TBL Student Assessment Instrument (TBL-SAI).

Methods: The TBL-SAI was administered to 85 doctor of physical therapy (DPT) students, comprising three cohorts (classes of 2013, 2014, and 2015), who successfully completed a gross anatomy course where TBL was implemented. The TBL-SAI surveys 33 items, each rated from one (strongly disagree) to five (strongly agree) and measures three subscales: students' perceptions of accountability, preference for lecture or TBL, and student satisfaction.

Blogging as a tool to promote reflection among dietetic and physical therapy students during a multidisciplinary international service-learning experience.

Service-learning is a guided, structured learning experience that engages students in service to a community for the mutual benefit of the student and community. There is a growing trend in healthcare to include international service-learning experiences in the training curriculum to promote cultural competence. A critical element of service-learning is reflection.