Award Date

5-15-2026

Degree Type

Doctoral Project

Degree Name

Occupational Therapy Doctorate

Department

Brain Health

First Committee Member

Sharon Jalene

Number of Pages

136

Abstract

This doctoral project focused on the development, implementation, and evaluation of a community-based movement program designed to support quality of life (QoL) among adults with Down syndrome and other intellectual and developmental disabilities at GiGi’s Playhouse Las Vegas. Adults with Down syndrome often experience significant health and participation disparities that negatively impact quality of life. These disparities include reduced physical activity, limited opportunities for social engagement, and barriers to engagement in meaningful occupations. Grounded in occupational therapy principles, this project introduced a structured intervention integrating dance, Pilates, and yoga to promote physical, emotional, and social well-being. A program development design was used for this project. Feedback was gathered at multiple points to guide program planning, implementation, and refinement. Prior to implementation, input from staff, volunteers, and caregivers was used to understand participant needs and inform program structure. During the program, feedback from participants and volunteers helped assess engagement and guide real-time adjustments to activities and delivery. Following the program, caregiver feedback was used to better understand perceived changes in participant well-being and overall program impact. All feedback was collected anonymously and used to support ongoing program development. Findings suggested high levels of participant engagement and enjoyment, with reported improvements in mood, participation, and overall well-being. These findings support the feasibility and value of implementing movement-based programming within community settings to promote quality of life in adults with Down syndrome. Continued program implementation is recommended to further explore long-term impact and sustainability.

Controlled Subject

People with disabilities; People with disabilities--Services for; Down syndrome

Disciplines

Medicine and Health Sciences | Occupational Therapy | Rehabilitation and Therapy

File Format

PDF

Run Time

1919 KB

Degree Grantor

University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Language

English

Rights

IN COPYRIGHT. For more information about this rights statement, please visit http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

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