Graduate Assistants

Students who work on Dr. Gray’s research projects have participated in client interviews, focus groups, survey administration by phone, in-person assessments, technology development and assessment, data entry, data analysis, literature reviews, written journal articles and made oral presentations of their work. The students work with other members of the research group learning research skills. Most of the students work on a part of the general research project before selecting a topic that they develop for their master’s project.

Laurie DeLaney, Fieldwork Student

Background: Laurie DeLaney received her Bachelor of Science in Biology in 2001 from Culver-Stockton College in Canton, MO. This December she will receiver her Master of Science in Occupational Therapy from Washington University School of Medicine, Program in Occupational Therapy in St. Louis. While at Wash U she worked as a research assistant in the Environment and Occupational Performance laboratory and completed a research project entitled, “Can Mobility Device Use and Diagnostic Group Predict Quality of Participation?” in the Social Participation, Environment and Assistive Technology laboratory. Ms. DeLaney is a member of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) and the Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America (RESNA).

Contributions to Project:  For this project, Ms. DeLaney is responsible for creating research databases, updating AT resource files, contributing to the “Accessing Your World” computer program, and making resource handouts for research participants. She is also developing a program for parents with disabilities in the St. Louis area and doing seating and positioning at Rehab Medical one day a week.

Darci Redmond, Fieldwork Student

Background: Darci Redmond received her Bachelor of Science in Biology (Pre-Occupational Therapy) in May 2001 from Millikin University in Decatur, IL. In December 2003, Ms. Redmond completed the Doctor of Occupational Therapy from Washington University School of Medicine, Program in Occupational Therapy in St. Louis. As a student, she created a practice model entitled, Transportation Eligibility Assessment Model (or TEAM) and completed doctoral research entitled, “The effects of transportation type on evaluative quality of participation (EQOP) for individuals with mobility limitations”. Ms. Redmond also worked with Dr. L. Matheson to write an RFP contract bid for a paratransit (Call-A-Ride) service eligibility assessment center, which has been accepted.

Ms. Redmond is a member of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America (RESNA), and the American Public Health Association (APHA). She has attended the 2002 and 2003 RESNA conferences, as well as assisting with the Community Health Environment Checklist (CHEC) training during the 2003 APHA conference presentation.

Contributions to Project: For this project, Ms. Redmond is responsible for creating research databases, updating AT resource files, contributing to the Accessing Your World computer program, and making resource handouts for research participants.