Occupational Therapy Doctorate Student Champions Inclusivity with Destination Toledo Accessibility Guide

Occupational Therapy Doctorate Student Champions Inclusivity with Destination Toledo Accessibility Guide

Alyssa Stoy's passion for occupational therapy wasn't born in the classroom.

While working at an autism center, Stoy loved watching children finally understand something and put the pieces of their world together. That singular experience became the catalyst for her career.

Now, as an occupational therapy doctorate (OTD) student at The University of Toledo who is scheduled to graduate in May, Stoy is taking that same drive to help people connect with their environment and applying it to the entire city.

The Montpelier, Ohio, native partnered with Destination Toledo for her final capstone project with a focused goal: develop a destination accessibility guide that advocates for travelers of all abilities.

"This project has opened up a whole new world for me," Stoy said. "I believe everyone should get to enjoy the world equally, and just because someone has a disability, that does not mean they cannot travel or visit tourist destinations.

"I have been speaking to many people with disabilities and caregivers or families who have been kind enough to share their experiences and stories with me. I would not be able to complete this project without them."

While many people associate accessibility strictly with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and wheelchair ramps, Stoy's project takes a much more holistic approach. The data she is collecting focuses on mobility, hearing, cognitive, vision and sensory support.

Following a public survey that closed in February, Stoy is developing the guide and building a checklist for local businesses to evaluate their offerings. She is also putting together a list of resources, including grants and low-cost accessibility features, to help businesses become more inclusive.

Her goal isn't to force businesses to change, but to advocate for why inclusion matters.

"I want to make it easier for people with disabilities to find the information they need about accessibility, so that they can determine for themselves if they want to go or not," she said. "I am not providing people with what businesses are lacking."

"We're really grateful to have Alyssa working with us on this project, it's something we've wanted to create for a while as we have explored ways to make the visitor experience better for those with disabilities," said Caleigh Heuring, Stoy's site mentor and director of marketing and destination engagement with Destination Toledo. "Alyssa's contributing her OT knowledge to this project, which provides an important perspective that our team doesn't necessarily have as destination marketing professionals."

Stoy said she credits UToledo's tight-knit OTD program and its dedicated faculty for preparing her to take on such a large-scale community initiative. She noted that the program's small class sizes allow for efficient, one-on-one learning, while faculty constantly push students to realize their full potential.

She offered special praise for her capstone mentor, Dr. Emily Smith, an adjunct faculty member in the OTD program.

"She has a passion for OT but also her students. That makes it clear she believes in us and knows we will do great things," Stoy said. "She has been giving me the pushes that I need to succeed and talking me through the process of the capstone semester, so it doesn't seem as scary."

While her work with Destination Toledo could easily translate into a full-time community advocacy role, Stoy said her heart remains with pediatric occupational therapy. Ultimately, she hopes her current project will lay the groundwork for a more inclusive future for her future patients.

"I hope this project can get a kickstart not only in Toledo, but in other places," Stoy said, "so that someday the kids I hope to work with will be able to access spaces the way you or me can."