The Institute on Development and Disability (IDD) is dedicated to advancing knowledge and supporting individuals with disabilities through collaboration, innovation and commitment to inclusion. Our mission is to empower individuals with disabilities by enhancing their participation, independence, and quality of life across all stages of life.
The selected intern will assist in ongoing Child Development & Rehabilitation Center (CDRC) Physical Therapy research and clinical projects. The CDRC is a nationally recognized leader in pediatric rehabilitation, focusing on improving the lives of children with disabilities through clinical care, education, and research. By participating in this internship, you will contribute to enhancing access, inclusion, and opportunities for individuals with disabilities thrive and participate as active members of their communities. In addition to supporting clinical research, this internship offers opportunities to engage in engineering and fabrication projects related to assistive technology. This is a part-time internship, with the expectation that the intern will work at least 200 hours over the course of the summer.
Internship Highlights:
- Clinical Research Experience: Assist with institutional Review Board (IRB) approved studies, including research on powered mobility and assistive technology for children under the age of three
- Engineering Exploration: This internship provides opportunities related to physical computing, fabrication, robotics, or prototyping. You will work with powered mobility equipment and other assistive technologies tailored for children under the age of three, gaining hands-on experience at the intersection of healthcare, engineering, and rehabilitation.
- Clinic Observation: Gain exposure to clinics related to the research projects you support, allowing you to observe pediatric rehabilitation practices in action.
- Professional Growth: Work alongside a multidisciplinary healthcare team, building meaningful connections and learning about collaborative care models.
Learning Objectives:
By the end of the internship, participants will:
- Gain hands-on experience with clinical research in pediatric physical therapy
- Develop skills in data acquisition, literature reviews, and data analysis
- Understand the application of assistive technologies for children under the age of three.
- Build professional connections with a multidisciplinary healthcare team.
Mentorship Philosophy: The mentor’s approach incorporates principles of Universal Design for Learning (UDL), ensuring that opportunities are accessible, flexible, and tailored to the diverse strengths and needs of all participants. It is the mentors goal for interns to explore the joys and rewards of pediatric rehabilitation and the meaningful impact of research. They believe diversity strengthens their work, and are committed to fostering a supportive and inclusive environment for all interns. If you’re passionate about pediatric rehabilitation and research, you are encouraged to apply!
Students must be minimum age specified by June 16. These age requirements are strictly enforced by the mentoring organization, and there are no exceptions. Applicants must have a reliable way to commute to the internship site. If you face transportation barriers, please reach out to ASE to discuss potential solutions. On-site parking may be limited or unavailable. Interns are encouraged to use public transit or other accessible transportation options. If you require accommodations for transportation, please let us know. We are happy to work with interns to explore transportation accommodations or solutions, such as carpooling options.
We strongly encourage students to apply who are from one or more systemically and historically excluded group, including but not limited to, non-cis-gendered students, girls, BIPOC, first-generation college bound students, low-income/low-resourced students, students with disabilities, who are neurodivergent, and those who speak a primary language other than English.
This internship will be hybrid, combining the benefits of virtual engagement with hands-on learning through 1-2 days of in-person participation each week as permitted by Federal/State/Local/OHSU guidelines. To reduce the risks of coronavirus exposure, mentors and interns will act in accordance with applicable COVID guidelines and procedures. Selected applicants will be required to review and sign a waiver agreement.
Please note: OHSU policy states that applicants must have received current and up-to-date vaccines for both Flu and COVID-19 (given after September 12, 2023) and have them recorded in Enterprise Health, or they must submit a declination form for the Flu or COVID vaccines in Enterprise Health. Applicants receive access to Enterprise Health during their onboarding. Applicants who decline to receive Covid-Flu vaccines must adhere to OHSU guidelines for the prevention of infectious disease.
If you have any questions about the application, website technical issues and/or this position description, please contact Saturday Academy at ase@saturdayacademy.org. Do not contact the mentor directly. Contacting the mentor directly is grounds for disqualification of your ASE application.