The scoop on an ILOTA Intern’s Capstone Projects: Ari’s Perspective

Hello, leaders of the world! My name is Ariana S. Carrillo-Ortega, and I am a third-year student at Midwestern University. I am currently completing my capstone with the Illinois Occupational Therapy Association (ILOTA) under the mentorship of John Dudzik, Beverly Menninger, and Anne Kiraly-Alvarez. I am most excited to understand the different roles within the organization and contribute to new and existing efforts. My capstone interests primarily include student leadership capacity, student engagement, and J.E.D.I (justice, equity, diversity and inclusion) efforts within the professional organization.

A little bit about me is that I was born in Guadalajara, Jalisco, and raised in Illinois, where I am still heavily immersed in Mexican customs and traditions. Growing up, my parents were activists for the immigration community and frequently took my sisters and I out of school to attend friendly protests for immigration reform.  This invitation to attend protests taught me to look beyond my immediate issues and instead pay attention to the societal issues in the community at large. I will always remember all the brave and courageous individuals who shared their stories and created a safe space for immigrants. I felt inspired by the activist's ability to make people feel seen, provide a vessel for minority voices, and, most importantly, demand basic human rights. I attribute a lot of my beliefs and values to growing up in this type of environment. It has allowed me to see all individuals as valuable members of our community regardless of abilities, healthcare needs, citizenship status, race, gender, socioeconomic status, sexuality, etc. Apart from advocating for my community, some of my favorite occupations include spending time with family, soccer, hiking, crafting, and completing puzzles. My primary interests related to the field of occupational therapy (OT)  involve working with individuals with neurological conditions and academia.

Before I talk about the inspiration for my capstone, I wanted to provide a foundation for what capstone entails. According to the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE), the occupational therapy capstone is an integral part of doctoral occupational therapy programs. The doctoral capstone begins after the student has completed their didactic coursework and level II fieldwork rotations. The doctoral capstone has two components, including the capstone project and capstone experience. The goal of the doctoral capstone is for students to develop an in-depth knowledge of clinical practice skills, research skills, administration, leadership, program and policy development, advocacy, education, and theory development  (2022). One of the advantages of completing a capstone is that each student can individualize the project over the course of the 14-week experience under the guidance of an expert mentor.

On the contrary, there are so many exciting facets of the occupational therapy profession that it can be challenging to narrow down one topic to focus on! Thus, the inspiration for my capstone project really goes back to my upbringing and the AOTA (American Occupational Therapy Association) 2025 vision. The vision states, "As an inclusive profession, occupational therapy maximizes health, well-being, and quality of life for all people, populations, and communities through effective solutions that facilitate participation in everyday living." (AOTA, 2018). In addition to this statement, five guideposts are outlined in an effort to guide and achieve this goal for various stakeholders. The five guideposts include the following;  (1) Effective, (2) Leaders, (3) Collaborative, (4) Accessible, and (5) Equity, inclusion, and diversity. As students, sometimes it can feel overwhelming to live up to this, or for that matter, contribute to the AOTA vision. I ask myself and others, Why do we feel like this? Most of the time, I get responses like “I am JUST a student.” This raises the question, where is this notion coming from? Are there unspoken rules (i.e., Leadership begins after graduation, I need years under my belt, I need permission to lead)?  Can students contribute to the vision of 2025? What is the message state and national organizations are conveying to students, and how are professional organizations assisting students and the future of this profession?

Another reason I have chosen to focus on the student population is because students are the second largest group that makes up the Illinois Occupational Therapy Association. Therefore, I want to ensure student voices and inputs are represented when professional organizations create conferences, webinars, and resources. I believe the true value in joining a professional organization lies when the organization continues to strive to meet the needs of its members. Although ILOTA currently offers opportunities and resources for students, I’d like to explore options to capitalize on the needs of students so that student members maximize their membership benefits and feel supported in the role of a student.

At this time, the capstone project is still under construction. Thus far, I have developed a survey and have disseminated it to all occupational therapy (OT) and occupational therapy assistant (OTA) students in the state of Illinois. The aim of the survey was to capture the students’ voices and input related to perspectives on leadership and engagement with ILOTA. The student input is extremely valuable for developing this project by ensuring the project vehicle is well-informed and created by students for students. The next steps are to analyze the data, present the information, and choose the most appropriate vehicle for this project to meet the needs of the students. With the preliminary data I have begun to review, the data (student input) has derived three possible projects. I am very excited to share the results of the survey! I think the survey results shed light on how students are modernizing leadership and provide insights into some of the barriers and supports fueling leadership.

A typical day for me consists of compiling resources, including searching the literature on student leadership, leadership theories, and member engagement within professional organizations. The majority of my time is spent analyzing data I have collected from students in the state of Illinois and creating a platform to disseminate the information!  In addition, I frequently listen to podcasts related to occupational therapy and leadership. I really enjoy reading all the Eleanor Clarke Slagle Lectures because it reignites my passion for the profession. It’s also beautiful to see how leadership is progressing and is an ever-evolving process. I am currently reading two books called “Expansive Impact: An Invitation to Lead in Everyday Moments” by Sarah M. Young and “The Student Leadership Challenge” by James Kouzes and Barry Posner. The books are excellent reads, and I have definitely resonated with some of the struggles both books highlight related to leadership. It’s been eye-opening to know I am not the only one who feels this way, and the preliminary student survey results are also congruent. Overall, my ideologies of leadership continue to transform as I continue to explore resources. With that said, I want to share the eloquent words of Elliese Judge. "You don't have to be a superstar or an overachiever to lead; you just need to care about something and do something about it. It doesn't have to be big, just do something. Every great change starts small. You just need to take that first step, not because you necessarily have the authority or responsibility, but because you care." Last, I attend monthly meetings and have joined a few committees.

I have recently joined the Student Conclave Committee and re-joined the Conference Committee. I have enjoyed getting to know other practitioners and students through joining communities, contributing to different efforts, and, most importantly, learning new skills through various roles. Joining these committees has given me an overwhelming appreciation for ILOTA volunteer members and leaders who continue to share their knowledge and donate their time to make events and resources available. Without the volunteer members, the organization and profession would not be the same.  On the Student Conclave Committee, my responsibilities include seeking out presenters and finding new experiences for students! In the Conference Committee last year, I served as the raffle coordinator. However, this year I would love to take on a different role to expand my toolbox further. I am also looking to start a dedicated Student Committee that has been in the works for a while with Dr. Kiraly-Alvarez, Dr. Erin Suchy, and current E-OTD student Jocelyn Tam. More details to come soon!

Through the internship experience, joining various committees, and attending SIS meetings, I have learned that there are many opportunities within ILOTA for students to get involved and membership benefits for students to explore! I have begun to take advantage of the free educational webinars ILOTA offers, access resources related to current practice issues in IL, doctoral capstone resources, networking opportunities, and other discounted conferences.

Overall, I am excited to see where my capstone project goes! I have been fortunate enough to have an incredible group of mentors that continue to believe in my efforts, are incredibly passionate, and provide guidance. I have also been fortunate to rely on Claudia Maloberti, another capstone student, during my time with ILOTA. We have a great dynamic and bring out the best in each other. I can’t wait to continue to be a part of ILOTA beyond capstone. My biggest takeaway from this experience has been that leadership and engagement within a professional organization doesn’t have to start after you graduate or after a few years under your belt.  It starts now! If you are passionate about a topic or are seeking change in any capacity, please consider using ILOTA as a resource. You’d be amazed how many individuals share similar passions. Sometimes achieving change is easier when you have a village behind you. Lastly, my advice to other students is to consider ILOTA as a future capstone site, as the work has only begun with us. We hope that by sharing our experience, students are open to the idea of entering into non-traditional areas for capstone and conquering the “I am JUST a student” feeling. Your voice is powerful, and it matters too! 

The scoop on an ILOTA Intern’s Capstone Projects: Claudia’s Perspective

Hi everyone! My name is Claudia Maloberti, and I am a third-year student at Huntington University in Fort Wayne, Indiana. I am completing my capstone experience with the Illinois Occupational Therapy Association. My mentors are Anne Kiraly-Alvarez and Jeanne Sowers. I am grateful for the opportunity to work with ILOTA’s mentor/mentee program and excited for the kick-off very soon! My capstone interests include promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in occupational therapy and ways to promote the profession.

I am originally from the Chicagoland area & decided to attend OT school out of state to develop connections outside my community. Prior to occupational therapy school, I attended Triton College, then transferred to The University of Illinois at Chicago, where I obtained my bachelor’s in rehabilitation sciences. In my free time, I like to spend time with my family, travel, cook, and work my part-time job. I am the business manager for a landscaping business and was able to manage working and school throughout my didactic courses and fieldwork!

The inspiration for my capstone project stems from my undergraduate experience. Not enough information was available to students to help them pursue a career in occupational therapy. I did not develop a comprehensive understanding of what occupational therapy entails as a career until my senior year at UIC when I took an introduction to occupational therapy course. While the course was great, if it were offered to students earlier in their careers, students would have access to better resources to apply to an OT/OTA program successfully. Creating free resources available to any student increases access to the field to apply to programs.

I also wanted to advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion in occupational therapy, as current clinicians do not have enough diversity. To better serve our communities and clients, we must shift the field to recruit and retain practitioners of diverse backgrounds. I am passionate about diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives because we must create equitable and inclusive environments for everyone. Occupational therapy practitioners advocate for occupational justice for their clients to have equal opportunities and experiences to reach their full potential. You do not have to wait until you are a practitioner to advocate to change the field of OT to advocate for DEI principles; students’ voices can also be a force for change.

Currently, we are almost at the halfway mark for our capstone experience! My capstone project’s focus is creating educational resources for the mentor/mentee program. I have created an outline with resources to guide my curriculum development. I wanted to ensure I created educational content aligned with current curriculum standards and objectives. I created and disseminated a qualitative research survey through ILOTA for current OT/OTA students to gain more information about their experience applying to OT/OTA programs. I currently have two of four modules completed for the mentor/mentee program & I am super excited for the pre-OT/OTA students to use the information for their educational journeys. My next steps are to create an in-service presentation for students at my university about the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion principles in OT/OTA school curriculums, create a leadership resource for students, and complete the AOTA DEI Toolkit.

A typical day for me is pretty busy. I am creating curriculum modules that require an extensive amount of research to find information that is appropriate for pre-OT students to know before applying to OT school. Each module contains a pre-test, a PowerPoint presentation, a variety of activities, and a post-test. I also meet with my mentors on a weekly basis to discuss progress and receive feedback on the resources I have completed so far.

I am on the community outreach committee and the mentor/mentee subcommittee. I enjoy attending committee meetings and getting to know practitioners in the area. I also have the opportunity to attend executive board meetings during my time as an intern at ILOTA. I hope to one day hold a board position, so it is great to see firsthand the roles and responsibilities each board member holds.

Through ILOTA membership, I can attend various meetings and network with other students and current OTPs. The student conclave is coming up, and I am excited to network with other students and clinicians, learn about job opportunities after graduation, and obtain additional information about taking the NBCOT. 

I am super grateful for the opportunity to work with ILOTA for my capstone project. My mentors and members of ILOTA have been very supportive of the initiatives I want to accomplish & are always willing to help when needed. I am also thankful for the opportunity to work with Ariana S. Carrillo-Ortega throughout the capstone experience. We work super well together & consistently support one another! It is awesome to have another student passionate about bringing about change in the field of OT to work with! My biggest takeaway from the capstone experience is to create your project around your passions. I look forward to working on my project every day because I am passionate about incorporating diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives into the current OT curriculum & recruitment strategies for the field. My advice to future capstone students would be to consider working with ILOTA because every member is passionate about uplifting and advocating for occupational therapy practitioners and students!

If you are interested in working with ILOTA for your capstone project, my suggestion would be to research what initiatives they are currently working on. On the ILOTA website, you are able to research current committees and special interest sections. If there is a committee that aligns with your interests, join and attend a few meetings. You could network with current clinicians and other students and reach out to them and discuss your ideas for a capstone project!

References

Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education. (2022). 2018 accreditation council for occupational therapy education (ACOTE) standards and interpretive guide: August 2022 interpretive guide version. https://acoteonline.org/accreditation-explained/standards/ 

American Occupational Therapy Association. (2018). AOTA’s Centennial Vision and executive summary. American Journal of Occupational Therapy. https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.61.6.613