Challenging the Stigma: Supporting Fieldwork Sites in Providing Accommodations

This panel-based discussion explores accommodations in occupational therapy and occupational therapy assistant fieldwork education through case scenarios. Panelists, including academic fieldwork coordinators and fieldwork educators, will examine common concerns, challenges, and misconceptions surrounding accommodations while sharing practical strategies for supporting students and promoting essential requirements or fieldwork expectations.

By the end of this panel discussion, participants will be able to:

• Identify common misconceptions and stigma surrounding accommodations for occupational therapy and occupational therapy assistant students during fieldwork experiences.

• Describe practical strategies for implementing accommodations while maintaining student learning, professional expectations, and the integrity of the fieldwork experience.
  

Panelists: 

• Courtney Gohean, Ed.D., OTR/L, CLT, has been an occupational therapist since 2005, earning her BS and MS degrees from the University of Scranton. She earned her Doctor of Education from West Chester University of Pennsylvania in 2025, where her research focused on supporting occupational therapy students who require accommodations during Level II fieldwork. Her clinical experience includes acute care, home care, adult physical rehabilitation, community-based practice, and lymphedema management. Courtney is an Instructor and Academic Fieldwork Coordinator at Thomas Jefferson University, where she supports occupational therapy students throughout their academic and fieldwork experiences. Her scholarly interests include occupational therapy education, fieldwork, student success, and inclusive clinical education.

• Nakia “Nikki” Lynn earned her BS and MS in Occupational Therapy from Thomas Jefferson University and her Post-Professional Doctorate in Occupational Therapy from Chatham University. She has extensive clinical experience across the lifespan, with a primary focus on adults and older adults in home care. She is also a Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist (CAPS) and a Certified Dementia Practitioner (CDP) and continues to practice in the home care setting. Dr. Lynn is currently the Director of Fieldwork Education and Assistant Professor at Widener University's Institute for Occupational Therapy Education. She has held academic roles at Thomas Jefferson University and Harcum College, where she taught courses across a variety of occupational therapy and related content areas. Her teaching philosophy emphasizes evidence-based practice, inclusive education, and supporting diverse learners in achieving academic and professional success. Her doctoral capstone examined the impact of Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) education on occupational therapy faculty self-efficacy, reflecting her commitment to advancing justice, equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging within occupational therapy education and healthcare.

• Lydia Navarro-Walker began her career in occupational therapy as a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant before transitioning to practice as an Registered Occupational Therapist (OTR/L). She earned her post-professional doctorate in 2016 and has remained passionate about advancing the profession through clinical practice, education, and scholarship. Her clinical background is primarily in neurorehabilitation, with a focus on traumatic and acquired brain injury, complemented by ten years of experience in skilled nursing care. Dr. Navarro-Walker has developed innovative partnerships with community organizations, including a local domestic violence shelter, creating Level I fieldwork opportunities, volunteer programs, and doctoral capstone experiences for occupational therapy students. Her scholarly interests include trauma-informed care for survivors of domestic and intimate partner violence, and the impact of doctoral education on the profession. She has also served on AOTA ad hoc committees, collaborating with occupational therapy colleagues nationwide. She is committed to advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice in occupational therapy education and healthcare.

• Susan Pullman, MS, OTR/L has served as the Academic Fieldwork Coordinator for Stockton University’s Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (MSOT) program since January 2021. She holds a Master of Science in Occupational Therapy from Stockton University and is certified through the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). She has been a licensed occupational therapist since 2004, working across a wide range of rehabilitative settings, primarily with adult and geriatric populations. Susan holds certificates in fieldwork education, assistive technology, and advanced seating and positioning, and is an active member of AOTA, NJOTA, and the Philadelphia Region Occupational Therapy Fieldwork & Capstone Consortium. In addition to her role as Fieldwork Coordinator, Susan currently teaches Fieldwork Level I Concepts I, II, and III—seminar courses designed to bridge in-class learning with real-life clinical practice. During her clinical practice, she served as a site fieldwork student coordinator and fieldwork educator for Level I and Level II occupational therapy students. She has presented numerous topics to fieldwork educators to enhance clinical education, including a recent workshop focused on how the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) framework and principles can be used to promote access in clinical education settings.

• Nicole Roberts, OTD, MOT, OTR/L, is one of the Directors of Fieldwork Education and a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Institute for Occupational Therapy Education at Widener University. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Health Science and Master of Occupational Therapy degrees from the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia and completed her Doctor of Occupational Therapy degree at Temple University in 2017. Dr. Roberts has experience across a variety of practice settings, including pediatrics, geriatrics, and home care. She found her professional niche working with young adults with disabilities during the transition from school to adulthood, a population she continues to serve through per diem clinical practice. This area of practice was also the focus of her doctoral capstone project. Prior to joining Widener University, Dr. Roberts served as the Academic Fieldwork Coordinator at the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia, later Saint Joseph's University. Her scholarly interests center on supporting youth and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) as they transition from school to work and promoting occupational performance and participation throughout adulthood.