Students help improve pedestrian safety at Hamden school as part of $25,000 grant
May 9, 2013 - Four Quinnipiac occupational therapy graduate students worked with Hamden town and school officials to develop a comprehensive strategy to improve pedestrian safety around Church Street Elementary School.
The students, Stephanie Bivona, Katelynn Johnson, Tracy Najarian and Chloe St. Rose, led by Tracy Van Oss, clinical assistant professor of occupational therapy in Quinnipiac's School of Health Sciences, addressed the developmental and educational needs in each grade to create a dynamic learning experience.
The project, which was funded by a $25,000 grant from FedEx and implemented through Safe Kids Greater New Haven, developed a safer school environment during pick-up and drop-off times by changing traffic patterns; creating a walking route map; installing reduced speed school zone flashers; creating new wheelchair ramps to improve the permanent walking conditions around the school; and educating the students about pedestrian safety. The students communicated directly with the principal of Church Street School to plan and implement the various educational sessions to each grade level while Van Oss worked with the town officials.
"Quinnipiac's occupational therapy department is a co-leader for our Safe Kids Greater New Haven Chapter," said Karen Brock Gallo, director of Safe Kids Connecticut.
Van Oss applied for the grant last June, and worked with the students this academic year.
"Quinnipiac has been great," Gallo said. "I think the students did an excellent job."
The Quinnipiac students developed interactive pedestrian safety simulation activities equipped with safety signs and scooters representing cars, a "Family Feud"-style trivia game about pedestrian safety, pedestrian bingo, safety videos and a poster-drawing competition showcasing what was learned.
"We want to reduce accidents from happening," said St. Rose, who helped develop the strategies as part of the capstone project.
The students said the project helped them to develop better interprofessional skills. "This capstone is really unique," Najarian said. "It gave us the opportunity to connect with people in the community, like police officers and school officials. It's a unique experience a lot of people don't get to have."
The students implemented many of the skills they learned at Quinnipiac, St. Rose said. "We have been able to utilize the skills and knowledge we've developed," she said.
Van Oss said the capstone helped to give the students a better idea of what their chosen careers entail. "My personal hope as an occupational therapist is rather than treating a child who is injured in a pedestrian accident is to prevent the injury in the first place," she said.
There were 26 instances between 2005 and 2010 where pedestrians were struck by vehicles in New Haven County, according to the Connecticut Department of Transportation. In those cases, two people died and two people were incapacitated.
Nationwide, Safe Kids Worldwide and FedEx focus task-force efforts on making physical modifications to environments where children have been involved in vehicle crashes as pedestrians. The program is designed to change physical conditions and make the environment for children to walk safely.
Learn more about the Quinnipiac students' efforts to heighten awareness of pedestrian safety.