Megan C. Chang is a Professor in the Department of Occupational Therapy at San José State University. She holds a Ph.D. in Occupational Science, an M.S. in Applied Biostatistics and Epidemiology, an M.A. in 
Occupational Therapy from the University of Southern California (USC), and a B.S. in Occupational Therapy from National Cheng Kung University in Taiwan. Her expertise was further enhanced through postdoctoral training at USC and the UCLA Psychophysiology Laboratory within the G. Oppenheimer Center for Neurobiology of Stress and Resilience.

Dr. Chang leads a psychophysiology lab that explores the impact of stress on sensory processing, sleep, and mental health. Her research focuses on understanding sensory processing patterns and evaluating psychosocial and physiological risk factors associated with health behaviors and occupations across diverse populations. She investigates the effects of mindfulness practices on parents of 
children with disabilities, aiming to improve their well-being and coping strategies.

She has contributed to several book chapters, including Pedretti’s Occupational Therapy: Practice Skills for Physical Dysfunction and Case-Smith’s Occupational Therapy for Children and Adolescents. Additionally, she directs a faculty-led program in Taiwan, providing students with immersive experiences in universal healthcare systems and 
enhancing their cultural humility. 

Dr. Brent Braveman has practiced as an occupational therapy clinician, educator, researcher, and manager since entering the profession in 1984. He is the Department of Rehabilitation Services Director at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas. MD Anderson Cancer Center was recently ranked as the top cancer hospital in the country by US News and World Reports. The Department of Rehabilitation Services employs over 140 occupational and physical therapy practitioners.

His volunteer service in state and national professional association activities included serving two terms on the AOTA Board of Directors as Speaker of the Representative Assembly and Secretary. He was a Board Director for the American Occupational Therapy Association Political Action Committee (AOTPAC). He served as a representative to the National Institutes of Health Working Group on Cancer Rehabilitation, as a Standing Committee Member on the National Quality Forum’s NQF) Cancer Project, and on the NQF’s project on co-designing patient-centered care. Now, he is on the Board of Trustees for the American Occupational Therapy Foundation (AOTF).

Dr. Braveman is a Fellow of the American Occupational Therapy Association and a recipient of the AOTA Recognition of Achievement Award for “Exemplary Contributions in Management and Program Development.”

Just announced! Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) awards $7 million for new patient-centered comparative clinical effectiveness research (CER) led by AOTF Board of Trustee, Elizabeth Pfieffer PhD, OTR/L, BCP, FAOTA and Jessica Kramer, PhD, OTR/L, AOTF Engage Summit 2024 Co-Chair, and OTJR Associate Editor.

Effectiveness and Implementation of a Peer- and Staff-Delivered Transportation Intervention for Young Adults With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD)

"Public transportation can allow people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDDs) to go places and do activities. Even though travel training is often provided by vocational rehabilitation and independent living programs, many young adults with IDDs do not learn how to use public transportation. Some people believe that young adults with IDDs cannot learn to use public transportation safely — this is an example of ableism. However, there are young adults with IDDs who do use public transportation independently and safely. These young adults can show other young adults with IDDs how to use public transportation on their own. That way, more young adults with IDDs can learn to use public transportation and do activities that support their health and participation in the community."

This project aims to determine whether a travel training program called Chance to Ride, which is an eight-week intervention designed to teach young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDDs) how to use public transportation safely and independently, produces the same outcomes when delivered by a peer supporter with an IDD as it does when provided by a professional staff member. Additionally, the project will explore the factors that facilitate or hinder community service organizations in offering Chance to Ride. The main outcomes being measured in the study are loneliness, satisfaction with social activities, and travel skills.

Dr. Pfeiffer is an Associate Professor in the Department of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences in the College of Public Health at Temple University and the Director of the Research, Engagement and Advocacy for Community Participation and Health (REACH) Lab. Her research focuses on the development of interventions and outcomes measures to support engagement in meaningful activities in the community for transitional age youth and young adults with ASD and/or IDD. In all aspects of her work in the REACH lab, she is committed to engaging stakeholders/community partners in research planning and decision-making. Dr. Pfeiffer teaches research in the post-professional and entry-level Occupational Therapy Doctorate program and mentors PhD students. She continues her clinical practice in the area of pediatrics. In addition, she's an AOTF Mid-Career Research Excellence Awardee and Health Services Research Grant Recipient.

Dr. Kramer is an Associate Professor in the Department of Occupational Therapy, College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida. Dr. Kramer’s occupational therapy practice experience is with enabling children and youth ages 3 to 20 with multiple, severe disabilities to participate and learn in a public school setting. Dr. Kramer’s research draws upon theoretical concepts and methodologies from occupational therapy, disability studies, education and rehabilitation to partner with youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) in the development and evaluation of rehabilitation products, develop community-based interventions that equip youth with I/DD and their families with the skills to identify and resolve environmental barriers to participation, and design high-quality patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) using contemporary measurement approaches. In addition, she's an AOTF Mid-Career Research Excellence Awardee and Health Services Research Grant Recipient.

Read full PCORI article.