EDUCATION

Statewide Training and Regional Supports (STARS)
Contracts with the SoonerStart Early Intervention Program, Oklahoma State Department of Education, and the Developmental Disabilities Services Division of the Oklahoma Department of Human Services support team and technical training for personnel and parents involved in SoonerStart, preschool programs, and developmental disabilities services. The director is Audra Haney, MSSW, LCSW.

Preparation of Occupational Therapists and Physical Therapists for Service Provision in Early Intervention and Related Services is a Personnel Development Grant from the U.S. Department of Education to Improve Services and Results for Children with Disabilities. The primary objective of the project is to increase the number of occupational therapy and physical therapy graduates who are highly qualified, through evidenced based practice and research, to provide service in the area of early intervention and related services for children with disabilities under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). The grant includes directed classroom and fieldwork opportunities in the area of autism and cultural diversity. The PI and project Physical Therapy Director is Sandra Arnold, PT, PhD. The Project Occupational Therapy Director is Elizabeth DeGrace, PhD, OTR/L and the Project Field Work Coordinator is Lynn Jeffries, PT, PhD, PCS.

RESEARCH

United States Department of Education
“Learning Early Travel Skills: Effects of Power Mobility on the Development and Function of Young Children with Severe Motor Impairments” is a project headed by Maria Jones, PT, PhD. The goal of the project is to determine the effects of power mobility on the development and function of children with severe physical disabilities that prevent them from moving about independently in their environments.

Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE)
The Oklahoma Commission on Children and Youth Early Intervention contract supports coordination of a comprehensive program evaluation of the SoonerStart Early Intervention program called the Child Longitudinal Progress Study (CLPS). Martha Ferretti, PT, MPH coordinates the program.

Canadian Institute of Health Research (CIHR)
This multi-site study entitled, “Understanding Determinants in Basic Motor Abilities, Self-Care, and Play in Young Children with Cerebral Palsy is lead by Lynn Jeffries, PT, PhD, PCS. Dr. Jeffries is the Regional Coordinator for this project. It is funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.

Presbyterian Health Foundation (PHF)
The Department of Rehabilitation Sciences has several studies funded by the Presbyterian Health Foundation.

The study entitled, “Pediatric physical therapy for young children with cerebral palsy: Current interventions and suggestions about effectiveness for gross motor and self-care activity” is directed Lynn Jeffries, PT, PhD, PCS. The objectives of this study are to describe in detail pediatric physical therapy interventions used with young children with cerebral palsy (CP) and to explore the associations and predications of these interventions with change in the children’s gross motor and self-care abilities across one year. 

The study funded by PHF “Construct Validation of the School Outcome Measure” examines the construct validity of the School Outcomes Measure (SOM), a minimal data set designed to collect data on students with disabilities who receive school-based occupational therapy and physical therapy. The PI is
Sandra Arnold, PT, PhD.

The study funded by PHF directed by Toby Hamilton, PhD, MPH, OTR/L aims to explore and compare the relationships of occupational health variables in women who have been incarcerated after one reentry attempt of at least one year following a single incarceration with 1) successful entries and 2) unsuccessful reentries defined by re-incarceration.

Yih-Kuen Jan, PT, PhD is leading a study, “Effects of power seat function usage on tissue viability in wheelchair users with SCI”. The long-term goal of this study is to determine the optimal power seat function (PSF) usage pattern for enhancing soft tissue viability, which may then help further advance the clinical guidelines of PSF usage for preventing pressure ulcers.

The study “Self-initiated prone progression in infants with disabilities and at risk for cerebral palsy” is directed by Thubi H.A. Kolobe, PT, PhD. The purpose of this study is to promote early mobility and exploration in infants with disabilities through a low-cost innovative technologically advanced assistive device, the self-initiated prone progression crawler (SIPPC). It investigates whether infants with or at high risk of CP can learn to independently move and explore their home environment using the SIPPC. This work is the result of collaborations among researchers from the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences and Virginia Commonwealth University and the College of Engineering at the University of Oklahoma.

Foundation for Physical Therapy
The study “Self-initiated prone progression in infants with disabilities and at risk for cerebral palsy” is directed by Thubi H.A. Kolobe, PT, PhD. The purpose of this study is to promote early mobility and exploration in infants with disabilities through a low-cost innovative technologically advanced assistive device, the self-initiated prone progression crawler (SIPPC). It investigates whether infants with or at high risk of CP can learn to independently move and explore their home environment using the SIPPC. This work is the result of collaborations among researchers from the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences and Virginia Commonwealth University and the College of Engineering at the University of Oklahoma.

College of Allied Health, Seed Grant
Directed by Carol Dionne, PT, PhD, OCS, Cert MDT this project is entitled, “Characteristics associated with lumbar disc disease of patients seen in physical therapy clinics.” This study’s objective is to develop and test a new, comprehensive and improved diagnostic model for lumbar disc disease (LDD).

Christopher Reeve Foundation
Yih-Kuen Jan, PT, PhD serves as Principal Investigator for a study funded by the Christopher Reeve Foundation, “Effectiveness of local cooling on enhancing tissue tolerance to pressure loading”. This study will provide objective evidences on supporting the use of local cooling for preserving tissue viability of the weight-bearing soft tissues.

Paralyzed Veterans of America Research Foundation
Yih-Kuen Jan, PT, PhD is also principal investigator of a study investigating the effects of exercise on improving tissue viability in people with SCI funded by the Paralyzed Veterans of America Research Foundation. The study is entitled, “Remodeling ANS and endothelium with exercise for preventing pressure ulcers.”

National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR)
Mary E. Switzer Research Fellowship
This study is entitled, “Skin blood flow oscillations and pressure ulcer risk in older adults with disabilities”. The principal investigator is Yih-Kuen Jan, PT, PhD.

Center for International Rehabilitation Research Information and Exchange, International Exchange Program Grant
This project entitled, “Research collaboration of NIDRR-funded project entitled “Skin blood flow oscillations and pressure ulcer risk in older adults with disabilities”. The principal investigator is Yih-Kuen Jan, PT, PhD.

SERVICE

Oklahoma Department of Human Services (OKDHS)
This contract assists Oklahoma State Department of Human Services, Developmental Disabilities Services in the development, review, dissemination, coordination, and evaluation of policies and guidelines for provision of occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech-language pathology services, therapeutic equipment, and assistive technology services and devices for Oklahomans with developmental disabilities. The contract is directed by Maria Jones, PT, PhD, ATP.

The Oklahoma Autism Network, a statewide network focused on improving services for Oklahomans with autism by providing training and information dissemination through collaboration with existing agencies and services. Rene Daman, PT, MS, PCS is Director of the Oklahoma Autism Network.

Training Inclusive Child care equals Terrific Opportunities for Children (TIC TOC), is a training series for child care providers to increase the number of children with disabilities participating in community-based child care settings. The project is coordinated by Lynn Jeffries, PT, PhD, PCS.

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (UHUD)
Creating a Community Outreach Partnership Center at OU-Tulsa is a program sponsored by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Universities and College Programs. The grant has supported the development of an occupational therapy program, including research, teaching, and service activities, at 12 & 12 Inc., a non-profit drug and alcohol treatment center in Tulsa. This project is coordinated by Steve Hoppes, PhD, OTR/L. Helen Bryce, MA, OTR/L directs the occupational therapy program at 12 & 12.

Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE)
This contract supports assistive technology consultation, training, information dissemination, and technical assistance for public school personnel throughout the state of Oklahoma. The program director is Stefanie Olson, MS, CCC-SLP.

The Oklahoma Autism Network is a statewide network focused on improving services for Oklahomans with autism by providing training and information dissemination through collaboration with existing agencies and services. There are two contracts with OSDE under the direction of Rene Daman, PT, MS, PCS.

Oklahoma State Department of Health, SoonerStart Early Intervention Program
Faculty and clinical staff provide early intervention services for infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families in accordance with Federal Law PL99-457. Lynn Jeffries, PT, PhD, PCS provides leadership for this program.

Oklahoma Health Care Authority (OKHCA)
This contract supports the development, review, dissemination, coordination, and evaluation of policies and guidelines for provision of assistive technology services and devices for Oklahomans with developmental disabilities. The contract is directed by Maria Jones, PT, PhD, ATP.

Adaptabilities, Inc.
Mary Isaacson EdD, OTR/L, ATP is contracted with Adaptabilities, Inc. to provide consultation services as needed for assistive technology.

Public School Contracts
Contracts with Guthrie and Mulhall-Orlando school districts support occupational therapy and physical therapy services for children with disabilities. Jamie Howell, OTR/L and Shirley James, PT, MS are the project directors for these contracts.

CONTACT INFORMATION

Department of Rehabilitation Sciences
University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center
1200 N Stonewall, Oklahoma City, OK 73104
Phone: (405) 271-2131, Email: Department Contact