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Thomas Decker
Title: Associate Professor of Occupational Therapy
Rank: Associate Professor
Phone: 515-271-2496
Email: thomas.decker@drake.edu
Began at Drake: 2023
Education: BS Industrial/Organizational Psychology, Iowa State University; BS Occupational Therapy, St. Ambrose University; OTD, Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions; EdD, Instructional Technology and Distance Education, Nova Southeastern University
Experience
- Consulting Clinical Director, Interplay Occupational Therapy for Children - Greenacres and Palm Beach Gardens (2021-2023)
- Associate Professor, Nova Southeastern University, (2020-2023)
- Assistant Professor, Nova Southeastern University, (2019-2020)
- Assistant Professor and Academic Fieldwork Coordinator, Nova Southeastern University (2015-2019)
- Co-founder/Clinical Specialist/Director, Advance Therapy Systems in Dundalk and Dublin, Ireland (2007-2016)
- Full-time Senior Occupational Therapist, Health Service Executive in Dundalk, County Louth, Ireland (2007-2008)
- Full-time traveling staff Occupational Therapist, EBS Healthcare (2006-2007)
- Full-time staff Occupational Therapist, Therapy West, Inc. (2002-2006)
- Occupational Therapy Supervisor, Therapy West, Inc. at Village Glenn/Help Group School (2003-2006)
- Private home-based practice (2023-2006)
- Full-time staff Occupational Therapist, MP Rehabilitative Services, Inc/Physiotherapy Associates (1999-2002)
- Full-time staff Occupational Therapist, Sundance Rehabilitation Corporation (1998-1999)
- Full-time staff Occupational Therapist, Heartland of Sunrise (1997-1998)
- Full-time staff Occupational Therapist, Healthsouth Sunrise Rehabilitation Hospital (1995-1998)
Honors & Awards
- Pi Theta Epsilon: Member (2019)
- Golden Apple Award: Nova Southeastern University, Class of 2019
- Great Patient Care Award: Healthsouth. Sunrise, Florida. (1996)
Publications
2022: Decker, T. J., Reinoso, G. A., (2022). In S.B. Dunbar & K. Winston (Ed.), Occupational Perspective in Leadership: Theoretical and Practical Dimensions. S.B. Dunbar & K. Winston, 2nd edition (eds.). Slack, Inc.
2018: Reinoso, G., Decker, T. & Stallings-Sahler, S. Measuring the sensory integration and processing contract. Sensory Integration Special Interest Section Quarterly, Focus, FOTA. Spring/Summer edition
2015: Decker, T. What does effective occupational therapy with a sensory integration (SI) emphasis look like? Sensory Integration Special Interest Section Quarterly, Focus, FOTA. Spring/Summer edition.
2015: Reinoso, G. A., Decker, T. J. (2015). In S.B. Dunbar & K. Winston (Ed.), Occupational Perspective in Leadership: Theoretical and Practical Dimensions. S.B. Dunbar & K. Winston (eds.). Thorofare, NY: Slack, Inc.. Thorofare, NJ: Slack, Inc.
2010: Reinoso, G., Decker, T., Urwin, R., Sampsonidis, A. Sensory Integration: Letter to the Editor. British Journal of Occupational Therapy (BJOT). October, 2010.
2008: Reinoso, G. and Decker, T. “Designing Theoretically Driven, Motivating, and Safe Sensory Integration Intervention Environments” SensorNet magazine; Sensory Integration Network, United Kingdom (UK) and Ireland.
2006: Book Collaborator with Erna Imperatore Blanche. - In press January, 2007: “Sensory Balance – A sensory integration quick reference guide for parents and professionals”. United States (USA).
Presentations
2021, November 14, 2021: Florida Occupational Therapy Annual Conference. “Impact of sense of community on fieldwork experiences in an OTD entry-level program”. Presentation of EdD dissertation.
2021, September: Fischler College of Education and Criminal Justice. Diversity and Research. Decker, T. “Developing a humanistic approach to research: Insights from a white professor”. Davie, FL.
2017, November: Florida Occupational Therapy Association Conference. Saa, P. & Decker, T. Workshop: “Balancing practice based evidence with evidence-based practice” (Nov 4, 2017). Orlando, FL.
2017, April: Decker, T., Powers, J., & Chilson, S. Poster presentation: Factors that lead occupational therapists to enter private practice. Philadelphia, PA.
2015, November: Decker, T. Sensory Integration SIS buzz session: Florida Occupational Therapy Association Conference, , “Are we using the Sensory Integration fidelity principles within our treatments?” Orlando, FL.
2015, November 6: One-hour presentation: Reinoso, G., and Decker, T., Today’s fieldwork students and Fieldwork educators: The impact of Generational Cohorts in Contemporaneous Practice. Presentation at the Annual Conference Meeting of the Florida Occupational Therapy Association (FOTA), Orlando, FL.
2013, August: Health Service Executive (HSE), Presenter, “Surveillance and screening for sensory processing disorders in children adopted from foreign orphanages”. Drogheda, Ireland
2013, June: Dyspraxia Association, Presenter, “Interventions for dyspraxia. Recognizing dyspraxia and sensory processing in children: For parents and teachers”. Dublin, Ireland
2013, May: “Dyspraxia/DCD in the classroom: Interventions and techniques for teachers”. Inniskeen Primary School. Louth County, Ireland
2008. Dyspraxia Association, Presenter, “How to help my child with Dyspraxia in the Home and School settings”. Dundalk, Ireland.
2004. Occupational Therapy Association of California Conference. Presenter “Sensory integration with developmentally disabled adults and caregivers.” Sacramento, California. United States (USA).
Research
The following research studies are a collection with Dr. Thomas Decker serving as the primary investigator and is not a complete list of all research activities.
In Process:
Occupational Justice for Ex-Offenders Post-Release, 2021- current
The Impact of Re-entry Programs on Recidivism Among Black Males, 2022-current
Completed:
Factors That Lead Occupational Therapists to Enter Private Practice: A Mixed Design, 2015- 2017
Entry-level Occupational Therapy Doctoral Student Perceptions of Critical Factors Related to Positive Experiences During Level II Fieldwork Education, 2016-2018
The Value of Personality and Leadership in OT Private Practice, 2017-2019
Do Patterns of Sensory Processing and Adult Temperament Predict Success in Occupational Therapy Clinical Education? 2018-2020
Entry-Level Doctor of Occupational Therapy Capstone Focus Areas: A Pilot Study Exploring Personality Types and Practice Areas of OT Practitioners, 2019-2021
Developing a Tool to Assist Entry-Level OTD Students in Selecting Capstone Experience Focus Areas, 2020-2022
Return to the OTD Faculty Directory here.
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March 13, 2024
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