Occupational therapy department recognized with You Make a Difference Award
By Sarah Shoaf, Staff Writer
Amid their 30th anniversary, the Governors State University (GovState) Occupational Therapy (OT) department received the You Make a Difference Award from South Chicago Parents and Friends (SCPF).
The award recognizes outstanding service, which for the GovState OT department came shortly after completing a long-term project involving the creation of sensory regulating rooms for two Day Service centers, Dolton Center and Cap Center, in partnership with SCPF Director Thomas Schell.
These centers serve adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) who attend workshops and programming during the day, many in need of sensory regulation for behavioral and emotional responses.
“Sensory regulation among adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities is crucial for their daily functioning and overall well-being,” said Caren Schranz, Professor Emeritus. “Sensory overload can lead to maladaptive behaviors, anxiety, and difficulty concentrating, making it essential to implement effective sensory regulation strategies.”
Schranz developed a program to meet these needs for the Day Centers and mentored 3 post-professional doctoral students, Dustin Hogan, Jillian Rancatore, and Samantha Rietveld. Together, the students evaluated the consumers for sensory needs, planned the intervention, and chose the necessary equipment and materials while designing the rooms’ layouts.
Since the start of the program, Schranz retired as Chair of the Department of Occupational Therapy and began her role on the College of Health and Human Services (CHHS) Advisory Committee, and all three students graduated with their doctoral degrees. Receiving an award recognizing their efforts marked the culmination of a project years in the making.
“This award means so much to us as occupational therapists to receive it following a 2-year development period,” said Schranz. “We were able to include current Master of Occupational Therapy students throughout the program as a great service-learning project.”
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