Occupational Therapy Program Student Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Document Type

Dissertation - NSU Access Only

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Occupational Therapy

Copyright Statement

All rights reserved. This publication is intended for use solely by faculty, students, and staff of Nova Southeastern University. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, now known or later developed, including but not limited to photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author or the publisher.

First Advisor

Wendy Stav

Date of original Performance / Presentation

January 2026

Publication Date / Copyright Date

1-1-2026

Abstract

Background: Transitioning to adulthood for adolescents and young adults is an important time for learning practical skills necessary for independent living to meet the new expectations one faces when emerging into adulthood. Frequently, adolescents and young adults with autism, intellectual disability, and other developmental disabilities (IDD) and their families experience challenges identifying and locating transition support options. One key factor is the lack of understanding individuals’ perspectives of how they define adulthood through occupational experiences of doing, being, belonging, and becoming. Problem Statement: There is limited understanding regarding the lived occupational experiences of transitioning or emerging into adulthood for individuals with IDD. Transition services are intended to offer the necessary support for individuals with disabilities; however, the aim, focus, and benefit of these transition services are unknown without a thorough understanding of individual’s occupational experiences during the transition process. Research Questions: What are the lived occupational experiences of individuals with IDD who are transitioning to adulthood? How do individuals with IDD experience doing, being, belonging, and becoming of occupation and well-being as they transition to adulthood? Methods: The focus of this qualitative study was on the lived occupational experiences of individuals with IDD transitioning to adulthood. Participants used photovoice to capture meaningful images that served as discussion points during semi-structured interviews. Interviews were used to explore the occupational lives of participants through doing, being, belonging, and becoming as individuals in young adulthood. Data were analyzed using the van Kaam method as described by Moustakas. Data analysis continued until saturation was achieved and central themes emerged. Expected Contributions: The contributions of study included the profession of occupational therapy and disability studies by gaining further understanding of the lived experiences of transitioning to adulthood. This study provides valuable data in designing and implementing client-centered supports and developing programs that will assist future generations of young adults with IDD.

Disciplines

Occupational Therapy

Keywords

developmental disabilities; doing being belonging & becoming; occupational experiences; photovoice; transition to adulthood

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