“They need a lot of demos to learn new tasks, and people with disabilities aren’t able to provide these demos,” says Professor Aman Behal, an assistive robotics expert at UCF. “If they can, they might not be the best demos for the robot to learn from.”

Behal aims to address this challenge with his new research project, Mobile Robot Manipulators for Learning and Executing Instrumental Activities of Daily Living. The project is supported through a three-year, $600,000 grant from the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living and Rehabilitation Research.

Currently, mobile assistive robotics can be mounted to the side of a wheelchair or can trail behind the individual, ready to assist when needed. These devices allow users to navigate their homes or travel to places like an office or local park, offering greater flexibility than stationary fixed-base robotics.

While the dexterity of these robots allows them to assist with complex tasks like brushing hair or cutting a piece of steak, they can be difficult for the user to control or teach. Assistive robots perform tasks better over time by mimicking the user, but in these situations, the user may not be able to complete the task correctly — or at all.

Behal and his team of researchers, including Clinical Associate Professor of Physical Therapy Morris Beato, and Professor of Statistics and Data Science Edgard Maboudou, will create intelligent and mobile robotic assistants that offer easier control and a better robot-human interface.

The project’s first year will focus on research and development, while the second and third years will incorporate testing and user feedback. Initial testing  will be conducted with students, followed by studies involving adults with upper body paralysis.

“We will recruit adults between the ages of 18 and 65, bring them (into our lab) and essentially get the robots to do several tasks,” Behal says. “At the end of it, we’ll see how easy it was to interact with the robot.”

The researchers will survey the participants to find out how many times they had to tell the robot to perform a task, how long it took for the robot to complete the action, how many mistakes were made and how satisfied they were with the robot’s assistance.

The end goal is to develop smart robots that can give the user a greater degree of independence, leading to increased self-esteem and enhanced quality of life.

To complete the work, Behal is recruiting both students and adults for future studies. Undergraduate or graduate students who are interested in robotics and assistive technology can contact Behal for job opportunities. Adults in the Central Florida area who use a wheelchair and have upper extremity disabilities may email aman.behal@ucf.edu if they are interested in testing the assistive robots.

Across the U.S., less than 12% of DPT students apply to residency programs following graduation.

The increase comes as no surprise to program leaders in the College of Health Professions and Sciences who, over the last three years, have increased the number of education sessions delivered to students to help make them more aware of residency opportunities and how they can further expertise and ultimately improve patient care.

Physical therapy residency programs provide advanced training and prepare students with the knowledge and skills needed to pass a certification examination for a specialized area of practice.

“Residency training for physical therapists is the crucible where theory meets practice, forging expertise through immersive learning and mentorship,” says Associate Professor and Division of Physical Therapy Chair William Hanney. “It’s the transformative journey that hones skills, instills confidence, and shapes compassionate caregivers, ensuring excellence in every step towards healing.”

The 10 students graduating from UCF this year and entering residencies will receive structured mentoring, further didactic learning and guided clinical experiences. They’ll develop skills in specialty areas that include sports, neurology, orthopedics and cardiopulmonary.

Riley Hogge will serve her orthopedic physical therapy residency at The Ohio State University and says she’s eager to receive one on one mentoring from experts in her chosen specialty area and looks forward to the chance to teach.

“I hope to develop my clinical reasoning and further build on the education that I received from UCF DPT through the high level and structured mentoring that residency education provides,” Hogge says. “This will help prepare me for my career goals of becoming an orthopedic expert for my patients and an educator within the Doctor of Physical Therapy program.”

According to the American Board of Physical Therapy Residency and Fellowship Education, there are 7,896 physical therapists who are residency program graduates from 426 accredited residency programs.

The DPT program this year also . Since its first doctoral cohort in 2010, the DPT program has consistently exceeded state and national averages in National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) pass rates, attaining an overall pass rate of 100% in 2022-2023.

The graduating students going to post professional physical therapy residency programs include:

• Dimitri Shurik, attending the University of Miami-Jackson Rehabilitation Hospital Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Physical Therapy Residency;
• Scott Stockunas ’21, attending the AdventHealth Orthopedic Physical Therapy Residency;
• Gabriella Orlando, attending the AdventHealth Sports Physical Therapy Residency;
• Emma Scammon, attending the UCF and Orlando Health Neurologic Residency;
• Riley Hogge, attending The Ohio State University Orthopedic Physical Therapy Residency;
• Juan Rodriguez, attending the University of Miami Orthopaedic Physical Therapy Residency;
• Breven Dalsemer, attending the Nationwide Children’s Sports Residency;
• Reid Whiting, attending the AdventHealth Neurological Physical Therapy Residency;
• Kylie McCarty ’19, attending the University of North Carolina Neurologic Physical Therapy Residency; and
• Marc Luzadder ’20, attending the Brooks Orthopaedic Residency.

Neely, a board-certified neurological physical therapist with over 10 years of clinical experience in the acute care setting, has been involved with interprofessional education and collaborative practice since 2007. As the associate program director and the director of clinical education for the Division of Physical Therapy, she has helped pioneer the development of interprofessional education curriculum for the College of Health Professions and Sciences. With a grant from the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration, Neely has been collaborating across disciplines at UCF to promote health and wellness among healthcare professionals and students to decrease the risk of burnout.

Neely has taught graduate students at UCF since 2018 and is the recipient of multiple recognitions for excellence in research and teaching, including the Katherine Harris Educator Award from the American Physical Therapy Association’s Academy of Acute Care Physical Therapy in 2022, an honor that recognizes an outstanding physical therapy educator whose professional involvement and contribution has significantly impacted acute care physical therapy education.

Neely has a multitude of peer-reviewed publications, coupled with numerous state and national conference presentations on interprofessional and clinical education. She is also a member of the Florida Physical Therapy Association, the American Council of Academic Physical Therapy and the American Physical Therapy Association.

Neely holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Mississippi and a doctorate in physical therapy from Old Dominion University. She is currently pursuing her doctorate in educational leadership at UCF.

“It is an honor to be part of an organization that values and promotes interprofessional education and practice,” Neely says. “When we work together, our patients receive better care and have better outcomes. Interprofessional education is my passion and I look forward to working with others who also share this passion to advance healthcare education.”

Tucker, a board-certified pediatric physical therapist with over 28 years of experience, has been involved in advancing interprofessional education and practice through decades of teaching, service and research.

Tucker’s clinical practice includes a focus on those with complex needs who receive integrated care from interprofessional teams. As the director of UCF Go Baby Go!, a program dedicated to interdisciplinary research, community outreach and advocacy for children and adults with motor impairments, and — director of the Early Mobility and Play (EMAP) Lab, a lab designed to address access, mobility, participation and play among special populations, Tucker has been instrumental in expanding the college’s interprofessional education and embedding its practice. Tucker and Assistant Professor Julie Feuerstein also co-direct Mighty Knights, a collaborative program between the Division of Physical Therapy and the School of Communication Sciences and Disorders that provides unique, community-based enriched play experiences for infants and toddlers with complex medical conditions like cerebral palsy and Down syndrome.

Tucker has received various awards acknowledging her contributions to the field, including the Societal Impact Award in 2022 for her community service initiatives and the for her innovative delivery of educational content and learning opportunities for students. She also volunteers on interprofessional clinical teams to provide care to children and adults in Central Florida.

Tucker’s research focuses on community-embedded interventions to promote play and participation in children with and without disabilities. Tucker has an extensive record of peer-reviewed publications and has presented nationally and internationally on novel opportunities for mobility and play, interprofessional education and community partnerships. She is a member of the American Physical Therapy Association.

Tucker holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Alabama, a master’s degree in physical therapy from the University of Indianapolis, a doctorate in physical therapy from the University of South Alabama, and a Ph.D. in exceptional education from UCF.

“I am honored to be recognized by the National Academies of Practice,” Tucker says. “I am excited to be a part of an organization that shares similar values of the power of interprofessional education and practice.  I look forward to engaging with other members to explore best practices for educating students and providing care for our patients.  Working together with other healthcare professions keeps our focused centered on improving improving the lives of the patients we serve.”

Other interdisciplinary academies within the NAP include allopathic and osteopathic medicine, athletic training, audiology, dentistry, nursing, occupational therapy, optometry, pharmacy, physical therapy, podiatric medicine, psychology, respiratory care, social work and veterinary medicine.

Neely and Tucker become the third and fourth members of the College of Health Professions and Sciences to be inducted into the NAP. In 2023, and .

The clinic, which was started by faculty from UCF’s and is located inside the UCF Student Health Center, provides progressive, evidence-informed physical therapy services to UCF and the local community.

“The UCF Physical Therapy Clinic was created as an academic health practice that blends high quality patient care and contemporary education,” says Patrick Pabian, director of the physical therapy program. “Our clinical faculty are providing highly-specialized care in sports medicine and orthopedic physical therapy, while enhancing the learning experience for students who do clinical rotations in this unique clinical environment.”

Sheila Klausner and Randi Richardson are both clinical faculty who serve as board-certified clinical specialists at the clinic. They provide advanced care to patients and mentorship of doctoral students.

“Helping to set up a new clinic was an awesome opportunity because I get to treat patients on-campus, help serve the UCF community, and also teach the UCF PT students and help them develop their skills,” says Richardson.

The clinic offers rehabilitation care for injuries and those recovering from surgery, in addition to evaluation services for pain, and prevention services to support health and wellness.

“The PT clinic is an extension of the program and allows the students to participate and see the transition between what they learn in the classroom and how it applies practically in the real world,” Klausner says.

Marielle Garvey, a senior psychology major at UCF, has been a patient at the clinic since August 2020. She was referred to the clinic by her doctor for lingering pain from a back injury sustained from a car accident in 2015.

Garvey says that she appreciates the personalized care that she receives from the clinic. Following an assessment with the clinicians, they worked together to develop a home and clinic treatment plan.

“I got the chance to develop a really close connection with my physical therapists,” Garvey says. “The clinic feels so intimate and personal, and they take really good care of you.”

“The opening of the PT clinic complements the array of clinical services offered by the College of Health Professions and Sciences through our clinical enterprise,” said Bari Hoffman, associate dean of clinical affairs. “We look forward to continuing and growing our portfolio of care to the local community.”

More information about the clinic and its services is .

The Academy of Geriatric Physical Therapy on Thursday presented Trapuzzano, a third-year physical therapy doctoral student, with the 2019 Student Award for Research at the academy’s national convention in Washington.

The award recognizes outstanding research by entry-level physical therapy students. Trapuzzano will also receive a $100 prize.

Assistant Professor Nicole Dawson, with whom Trapuzzano worked as a graduate research assistant in the Innovative Mobility Initiative Lab, wrote a recommendation letter on her behalf.

“Trapuzzano impresses me with her exceptional achievements inside and outside the classroom through academic excellence, commitment to research and dedication to leadership,” Dawson said in her letter.

Trapuzzano served as the principal student investigator on her capstone project, “What Makes Us Walk: Predictors of Gait Speed in Community Dwelling Older Adults.” She and her team found that lower extremity strength, balance and executive function were unique predictors of comfortable gait speed. Meanwhile, lower extremity strength, balance and processing speed were indicators of fast gait speed. Trapuzzano will present her research Saturday at the conference.

She also serves as the co-investigator on an ongoing funded grant project entitled “Investigating the Unique Predictors of Comfortable and Fast Gait Speed in Community Dwelling Older Adults” and serving as the project manager for a funded trial in the IMOVE lab.

Trapuzzano previously presented four national peer-reviewed presentations during the past two years and published one professional article, with two more currently under review.

“Through these avenues, Ms. Trapuzzano has demonstrated outstanding research skills and dedication to broadening the body of knowledge benefitting older adults,” Dawson said.

Trapuzzano will graduate this spring and credits her experience, success and recognition to the faculty in the physical therapy program at UCF.

“The PT program at Ů��AV is definitely a special program because the faculty challenge us as students to be evidence-based clinicians through our assignments and projects,” she said. “They also add a little bit of their personal expertise and really make this program feel a little more family oriented.”

Hanney provides some suggestions for taking care of your back, neck and joints.

Weighty Issues

“When you’re 20 years old, you can do whatever you want, all day long,” Hanney says. “It’s not until you get to be about 45 that things start to catch up with you.”

Cole Preble is a civil engineering student and on this particular day, he was carrying a stuffed backpack and a second bag.

The backpack, which Preble estimated weighed at least 25 pounds, had four notebooks, three folders, graph paper, a huge book, umbrella, various writing implements, calculator and a reusable water bottle. His tote bag carried a change of clothes so that he could go straight to work after class.

“For now, the best thing for [students] to do is stay active, get enough sleep, and don’t ignore what your body is trying to tell you through pain.”

“There is no alternative,” Preble says, when asked why he carried such a heavy backpack. But, so far, the 19-year-old has not experienced any neck or back pain.

“A heavy backpack isn’t necessarily bad,” Hanney says. “What’s bad is if you keep it on the same shoulder for weeks or months. Our bodies are designed to adapt to external forces.”

Hanney recommends alternating your backpack from shoulder to shoulder, and to use both straps occasionally.

“And of course, if you have pain at any time when you’re carrying your backpack, that is a clear sign that you need to take a break.”

Pain is nature’s way of telling us we shouldn’t do something, Hanney adds.

Taylor Turberville, a mechanical engineering student, and Andrea Tomancik, an information technology student, had similar items in their backpacks, which they usually carry on their backs, using two straps.

On this day, Tomancik is shouldering a laptop, calculator, notebook and pens. “It could be a lot heavier,” she says, laughing.

Turberville says she hasn’t experienced any neck or back pain; Tomancik said she gets back pain occasionally from the way she sits. “I’m usually hunched over, writing,” she said.

Text Neck

There has been some literature about a phenomenon colloquially called “text neck,” Hanney says. As the name suggests, text neck occurs when our necks are craned — unnaturally — in a 45-degree angle over our smart phones.

“The head is meant to stay in an upright position,” Hanney says. “If you feel the muscles and tendons in your neck, they are supple when your head is upright. As you bend and twist your neck — while looking at your cellphone or any other activity — those muscles become rigid. The more rigid they are, the harder it will be to move your neck.”

It remains to be seen what neck and back problems, if any, this generation will have later in life because of their phone usage, Hanney says.

“Look up from your phone every once in a while to keep your neck healthy.”

Bottom line? “Look up from your phone every once in a while to keep your neck healthy.”

Hanney also suggest that students use a book stand when they are seated. Instead of having a book flat on the table, the stand elevates the book so that the reader can more easily read without craning the neck.

Belly Dancing for Pain

Hanney became interested in neck and back pain when he first became a physical therapist. Some of his colleagues did not like treating clients with those specific issues because it can be difficult to see improvement, and the origin of the pain can be difficult to pinpoint, making the therapy difficult to prescribe.

Hanney is a strong advocate of exercise-based interventions for pain. Exercise in general is a good prescription for everybody, no matter what your age.

“Our bodies were meant to move,” he says.

But, he adds, just because exercise is prescribed, it does not mean that the client will be compliant.

So, a few years ago, as Hanney was in search of options to make exercise more appealing and spoke with one of his students, Tabitha Castrillón, who was a belly dancer at Epcot.

Hanney and Castrillón found that belly dancers utilize some of the same trunk and pelvis muscles that have been found to alleviate chronic low back pain (cLBP). The results suggested that a belly dance program may positively influence pain and function in women with cLBP.

“Belly dancing was no better than the other exercises we tried,” Hanney says, “But it might get people to exercise and improve their perception of pain.”

Talk Back to Pain

In a National Institutes of Health (NIH) study in 2015, data showed that as many as 66 percent of the population over the age of 30 have common degenerative spine conditions, yet are asymptomatic.

Clients who have been experiencing back and neck pain, and have had a recent diagnosis of a bulging disc, often fret over having a pain-free life again, Hanney says. But when he suggests that they may have always had a bulging disc, it helps change their perception of treating their pain.

The School of Kinesiology and Physical Therapy is developing a new course on pain science, according to Carey Rothschild, a physical therapist and associate lecturer.

There are lots of different factors associated with pain. Imagine, Rothschild said, “You’re crossing the highway and sprain your ankle, and experience immediate intense pain. But that pain is momentarily forgotten as you see a bus bearing down on you, and you sprint to safety, with the pain momentarily forgotten.”

The reason that pain may be forgotten in the moment, Rothschild said, is attributed to the fact that the brain perceives the bus as a greater threat than an ankle injury.

Hanney suggests that students keep their back and neck healthy by being active.

“People who are fit are less likely to become injured,” Hanney says. “Pay attention to your body. A lot of people ignore symptoms, and then become more resistant to treatment.”

“I’m really not too worried about our students having neck and back pain now,” Hanney says. “That might change as they get older, but for now, the best thing for them to do is stay active, get enough sleep, and don’t ignore what your body is trying to tell you through pain.”

“The earlier interprofessional education is introduced in nursing education, the better off the students will do in all settings – from the classroom to the hospital and the community,” said Heather Peralta, an adjunct instructor at the College of Nursing who established the student-led interprofessional clinic for farmworkers in the Apopka community.

Preparing a “collaborative practice-ready” health care workforce is necessary, according to the World Health Organization. WHO, along with the landmark Institute of Medicine “Future of Nursing” report, the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education and the National League for Nursing, have acknowledged interprofessional collaboration – from education to delivery – is key to health care’s future. It provides safer, quality care that is more efficient and cost effective, improving patient outcomes and ultimately the health of the community.

Multiple collaborative learning programs

Through interprofessional education, students learn interdisciplinary communication skills, an understanding of the roles and scopes of practice of each discipline, and develop mutual trust and respect.

Opportunities for interprofessional education are available for undergraduate and graduate students, and include hands-on clinical experiences, collaborative patient care and clinical scenarios followed by interactive discussion, and simulated learning.

For example, graduate students in the Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner program collaborate with students from the Athletic Training program annually in a one-day event to learn to assess, diagnose and manage sports-related acute conditions such as concussions and spinal injuries.

“Students have learned a tremendous amount from the experience,” said Christopher W. Blackwell, associate professor and director of the adult-gerontology acute care nurse practitioner program. “It is essential because all nurses, whether practicing at the bedside or in an advanced practice role, have to work with professionals in other disciplines to provide patient care.”

Nursing instructor Nancy Duckworth organizes three interprofessional education events annually where undergraduate nursing students from the Orlando and Cocoa campuses collaborate with students from the College of Medicine, the School of Social Work, the Physical Therapy program and the University of Florida College of Pharmacy in Orlando. In a recent training, students worked together leveraging their unique skill sets and knowledge to create a comprehensive wellness care plan for geriatric patients. “Working as a team allows everyone a chance to feel valued and participate as an active member of patient care to ultimately improve outcomes,” said Duckworth.

Through these learning experiences, students also gain confidence in their skills and abilities. Nursing student Barbara King of Merritt Island, Florida, participated in three interprofessional education events, including one at the College of Medicine focused on global health care. The event included three simulated workshops – improvised medicine, mass triage and prisoner’s health care. “This is a great way for other professions to see what nurses are experts in and vice versa,” said King, who graduated with her Bachelor of Science in Nursing earlier this month. “For example, I was able to teach my group the proper way to measure someone for an NG tube and check placement afterward, while I was able to learn from others the proper way to apply assistive devices such as tourniquets and splints.”

When multiple disciplines come together to care for patients, the community also benefits. In the future, communities will reap the rewards of these “collaborative practice-ready” professionals – like the one in Central Florida is already. Since July 2016, more than 80 students have provided free health care to more than 450 patients in an underserved community of Apopka. The interprofessional education program has received national recognition from the U.S. Public Health Service and Interprofessional Education Collaborative.

Forging a bright future together

These efforts are just the beginning. As one of the nation’s largest universities, Ů��AV is leveraging its strengths in health care to create an Academic Health Sciences Center at Lake Nona Medical City in Orlando.

This unique interdisciplinary center will bring together the College of Medicine, College of Nursing, and a new College of Health Professions and Sciences on the 50-acre, state-of-the-art UCF Health Sciences campus at the global destination for medical innovation in Lake Nona.

Through the Academic Health Sciences Center, UCF will continue to be at the forefront of health care education. “The eventual move to Lake Nona will provide our students even greater opportunity to work more closely as a team with other health care disciplines,” said Duckworth.

“Being a part of the new Academic Health Sciences Campus is so important as we will be able to do more interprofessional education, working together for the betterment of all communities in Florida and beyond,” adds Peralta.

But the physical therapy lecturer took a break Saturday night to accept a President’s Award from the NDSC for her work on UCF Go Baby Go!, a mobility initiative she founded last year in the College of Health and Public Affairs.

Tucker received the award from NDSC President Marilyn Tolbert in recognition of UCF Go Baby Go!’s efforts to improve “the lives of individuals with Down syndrome through research and community outreach.”

For more than a year Tucker has partnered with Professor Cole Galloway, the nationally recognized founder of Go Baby Go! at the University of Delaware, to establish a Go Baby Go! program at UCF. She’s worked tirelessly with UCF colleagues to hold Go Baby Go! workshops where physical therapy students and staff members join families and community members to retrofit motorized toy cars for children in need of enhanced mobility. Earlier this year she helped launch Knights on the Go Café at UCF as the first site in Florida to demonstrate the Go Baby Go! harness system for adults recovering from a traumatic brain injury.

At the NDSC convention Tucker and Galloway presented a workshop on the influence of mobility in the development of infants and young children. They also demonstrated a Go Baby Go! motorized toy car and the harness system. The next day Tucker led a team of physical therapy students and an engineering student from UCF as they conducted a workshop for siblings of children with Down syndrome.

“The team managed about 40 siblings who helped retrofit three toy cars that were auctioned off that evening,” said Patrick Pabian, director of UCF’s Doctor of Physical Therapy Program and a workshop participant. “It was a great way to educate the siblings about the need for mobility.”

Both Tucker and Pabian said there was a great deal of interest in Go Baby Go! among convention goers, which numbered in the thousands. They’ve also seen great interest among local community members.

Tucker said she was honored and humbled to accept UCF Go Baby Go!’s President’s Award from the NDSC, which consists of the “families and children we serve.” She also said she’s thankful to the university, college and program’s leadership and administration for their continued support and encouragement.

“Together we can continue to create opportunities for fun and mobility for children with mobility impairments,” she said.

Among the other 2016 NDSC award recipients is Florida Sen. Andy Gardiner, who received the Exceptional Meritorious Service Award for his efforts to improve “the lives of individuals with disabilities in Florida.”

Individuals aged 5 through 21 years and their families are invited to participate in this free event sponsored by the Doctor of Physical Therapy program. There will be two sessions, 10 a.m. to noon and noon to 2 p.m.

Each child will be partnered with a D.P.T. student “buddy” for a two-hour session. The physical therapy student will tailor activities such as soccer, basketball and Frisbee throwing to meet the child’s individual needs and ensure fun and safety.

Family members, including siblings, and legal guardians are invited to participate in the activities or simply relax and watch.

The goal is to create a fun and memorable day for both the children and families and to promote a healthy lifestyle, according to D.P.T. student and event co-chair Jerilyn Toubman.

This year’s event will feature a visit from Knightro and assistance at activity stations by UCF athletes. In addition, the Orlando chapter of Medals4Mettle will honor each participating child at the end of the event.

Day-of registration is available but early registration is encouraged.

The impact left the then 22-year-old woman with a traumatic brain injury that completely changed her life and that of her family’s.

After surviving four and half months in a coma, she began rehabilitation therapy that continues today. Her Lake Mary family rallied to support her recovery.

“We provide whatever she needs to help her 24/7,” said Ivan Tafur, her father and primary caregiver.

Over the years Ivan Tafur and his daughter have learned there are few opportunities for TBI survivors to be active and interact with different people. But that could change thanks to a special harness system that offers just those opportunities.

Today UCF and partner Aramark launched the Knights on the Go Café in Health and Public Affairs I as the first site to demonstrate the harness system in Florida.

Behind the cafe’s counter was Diana Tafur.

She wore a harness suspended from the top of a customized metal frame. The harness provided her with a safe, active experience outside a traditional physical therapy session. A ��AV physical therapy faculty member stood nearby to assist her as needed.

The harness system was developed by Professor Cole Galloway, brothers Ralph and Steve Cope, and a team at the University of Delaware in Newark. The university opened the only other café with the harness system in the nation on its campus in 2014.

“This is a big day for all of us,” said Jennifer Tucker, a member of UCF’s physical therapy faculty who is leading the project in collaboration with Galloway. “We’re very excited to offer TBI survivors the next step in their journey of recovery.”

Tucker said people with TBI are challenged with doing two things at the same time ― walking and talking for example. The café and harness create an opportunity for individuals with motor and cognitive impairments to have an immersive experience to work on vocation and rehabilitation skills. The harness provides the safety net needed in case they lose their balance as they work.

“It places them in the real world and that can’t be created in a health care setting,” Tucker said. “It’s safe and comes with clinical supervision.”

Tucker hopes other organizations will implement the harness system to help more TBI survivors. She also sees the possibility of expanding its use to benefit people with a wide variety of motor disabilities.

“This experience should be made available to more people with disabilities,” said Ivan Tafur. “They will greatly benefit from the experience.”

Knights on the Go Café is located in the HPA I atrium and sells fresh fruit, packaged sandwiches and salads, and drinks. This spring the café is open Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., and Friday, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

Diana Tafur and another TBI survivor will work twice a week on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., although their schedule may vary. Aramark is employing Ů��AV physical therapy students to work alongside them and other UCF students to work the other days and times the café is open.

“Aramark is honored to partner with UCF on this extraordinary and innovative program,” said Stephen Corren, marketing manager for Aramark’s dining services at UCF. “This wonderful opportunity truly expresses our mission of enriching and nourishing lives daily.”

Before her accident Diana Tafur was a vital young woman who worked in television advertising. Although she is not getting paid for her shifts at the Knights on the Go Café, it offers her an opportunity to reclaim more of the life she once knew.

“It allows me freedom to get out in the world,” said Diana Tafur. “It gives me purpose.”