The Harris College Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) program has kicked off their fieldwork curriculum with an opportunity to sharpen participation skills for young adults with Down syndrome.
Grace Franko Barlow, assistant professor of professional practice and academic fieldwork coordinator for OTD, has developed a new Level I Fieldwork experience called Friday Frogs, a college life skills program for young adults with Down syndrome created in partnership with the Down Syndrome Partnership of North Texas (DSPNT).
Over six Fridays this semester, 12 young adults with Down syndrome are joining Franko Barlow and three first-year occupational therapy students to practice essential college and independent living skills. Sessions focus on areas such as professionalism, computer skills, household management, meal planning and self-advocacy.
In its first two weeks, Friday Frogs:
• Visited Gutierrez Dining Hall to practice self-advocacy and nutrition
• Collaborated to cook a taco meal in the OT Applied Functional Laboratory
• Practiced time management for daily routines and campus navigation
Each week, participants also rotate through work-practice experiences across campus.
The TCU community has embraced the program, with partners including admissions, the chancellor’s office, KinderFrogs and the campus post office, which offered opportunities for participants to apply their work skills, from diploma stuffing and event support to job shadowing.
“This mutually beneficial experience for TCU OT students and Friday Frogs participants is a TCU partnership that the local Down syndrome community has long been eager for,” Franko Barlow said. “The program launches at an exciting time as OTD continues to establish its foundation within the Harris College of Nursing & Health Sciences and aims to be a sustainable support in the Fort Worth community for semesters to come.”