In a cross-disciplinary effort to enhance home accessibility for individuals with diverse needs, over 120 students and faculty from Belmont’s College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences and O'More College of Architecture and Design recently came together for an innovative interprofessional education (IPE) event.
The "Home Modifications IPE" event was spearheaded by third-year Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) students Madison Thornton and Morgan Harrison. Its primary objectives were to identify client factors affecting independence in home environments, generate creative solutions to overcome accessibility barriers and foster empathy for individuals with a wide range of diagnoses and functional limitations.
"I never would have considered interior design as a member of the care team, but through this IPE event I learned so much about the role of interior design in healthcare and the value that they can bring to our clients," said second-year OTD student Lexi Shever. "It was a fun and informative experience that really opened my eyes."
The event kicked off with an introduction outlining each discipline's role in home modifications, setting the stage for effective interdisciplinary collaboration. Students were then divided into small groups, each tasked with analyzing a unique real-world case study involving conditions like spinal cord injuries, muscular dystrophy and vision impairments.
Through hands-on simulations mimicking the daily challenges faced by their assigned cases, students gained critical perspectives. Activities ranged from maneuvering a wheelchair through a bathroom to tending to gardening tasks with vision impairments.
"You can shoot for the stars with ideas, but sometimes it is not always possible. It takes a variety of perspectives to create the best plan for your clients," said second year OTD student Emily Anne Kay.
After gaining deeper empathy for their clients' needs, students had to propose innovative home modification solutions. Their proposals spanned a wide range of creative ideas tailored to elevating independence and overall wellness for each unique case. 
Sensory room designs, automated solutions for pet care and other daily tasks, smart home technologies and customized furniture and storage options were just some of the client-centered ideas generated by the interdisciplinary student teams.
"This event provided a unique opportunity for occupational therapy, physical therapy and interior design disciplines to come together as a care team and advocate for the client by designing a functional home environment suited to their specific needs," Shever reflected. "Each discipline provides unique insight to solve problems and deliver holistic, client-centered care."
Despite a few logistical hiccups that were deftly navigated by the student organizers, the event was a resounding success in Belmont's ongoing efforts to empower students to apply classroom learning to real-world challenges through interdisciplinary collaboration.
"It was great to see how all of our professions have different strengths and talents that we bring to the table all to promote client-centered care," said second-year OTD student Amy Griffin.
By fostering opportunities for socially responsible, empathetic problem-solving across disciplines, Belmont is equipping students with the skills to drive innovative solutions and make a meaningful impact in their future careers and communities.