The Development of an Intervention Tool to Address Challenges in the Medical Treatment of Children with Autism .

Challenges in treating children with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in medical settings are identified and discussed. Although research supports interventions for children with ASD including positive reinforcement, environmental modification, and visual supports and systems, limited research on the efficacy of these interventions in medical environments and with specific procedures exists. Based on the available intervention literature, this project proposes a picture schedule reinforcement system for use during blood draw procedures for ASD children with diabetes. Future efforts should include increased education for medical providers and health professionals as psychological interventions continue to inform best practices in care for children with ASD in medical settings.

The Healthy Workplace of the 21st Century: The Benefit of Organizational Wellness Programs on Employee Health and Absenteeism

Every year, obesity rates continue to rise and have reached epidemic proportions throughout the United States. The costs associated with obesity are staggering and many researchers feel that the workplace should be the new front line in the battle for a healthier workforce. Employers must take action to address this worsening health crisis and help reduce spiraling medical costs and absenteeism rates. This capstone reviews the current literature on wellness programs and discusses different companies' approaches to wellness programs that have special emphasis on nutrition and physical activity. It also provides strategies and recommendations for companies eager to initiate a comprehensive, dynamic and directed wellness program to improve the current and future health of their workforce.