Occupational Therapy Program Student Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Document Type

Dissertation - NSU Access Only

Degree Name

Doctor of Occupational Therapy (Dr.OT)

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

Jennifer Radzik

Second Advisor

Nicole Quint

Date of original Performance / Presentation

January 2026

Publication Date / Copyright Date

1-1-2026

Abstract

Adolescents are disproportionately affected by traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) related to e-scooter use, yet helmet adherence in this population remains low, particularly in South Florida, where year-round ridership and limited legislative protection for riders aged 16 and older compound the risk. Existing prevention efforts have relied largely on legislation and general safety messaging, leaving a gap in occupation-based, adolescent-centered advocacy. This capstone project used a practice scholarship approach, integrating the Model of Human Occupation, Community Organizing Theory, and an Advocacy Strategy Framework, to develop the MindRideReady campaign, a teen-centered grassroots helmet safety campaign for South Florida e-scooter riders. Two sequential PRISMA-guided literature reviews, two community needs assessments, and two rounds of teen-led co-design prototyping informed campaign development. Findings across all data sources confirmed that peer influence, identity, and social norms, rather than risk awareness or legal requirements, were the dominant drivers of helmet non-use, while comfort and heat, not cost or access, were the primary practical barriers adolescents identified. The resulting campaign incorporated humor, identity-affirming messaging, personalization, and place-based branding, achieving a teen-rated readiness score of 3.6 out of 5. The MindRideReady campaign offers occupational therapists a replicable, co-design-based framework for population-level advocacy, extending the profession's role beyond individual clinical care into community-embedded, youth-informed public health intervention. Keywords: occupational therapy, adolescents, e-scooters, helmet safety, grassroots advocacy, traumatic brain injury, community organizing

Disciplines

Occupational Therapy

Keywords

Advocacy; Micromobility; Occupational Therapy; Prevention; Safety; Transportation

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