Research and Publications

Research

Glenda Hux

Glenda Hux, OTD

The Hux Occupation Lab conducts research to support populations experiencing prolonged stress. Our primary focus is on caregivers of children and youth with special healthcare needs.

The lab is directed by Glenda Hux, OTD, OTR/L, IHC, FNAP, assistant professor of occupational therapy. She is a faculty member in the Department of Communication Disorders and Occupational Therapy in the College of Education and Health Professions at the University of Arkansas in partnership with the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences.

Research and Selected Publications

  • Hux, G. E., & Schoen, S. A. (2025). Integrative Neural Networks: A Novel Frame of Reference to Support Occupational Engagement in Caregivers. The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy, 13(4), 1-16. https://doi.org/10.15453/2168-6408.2362
  • Hux, G. E., & Schoen, S. (2025). Integrative Neural Networks Frame of Reference: Application in Practice. The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy, 13(4), 1-12. https://doi.org/10.15453/2168-6408.2466
  • Hux, G.E., King, N., Schoen, S.A. (2025). Characterizing the lived experiences of parents of CYSHCN ages 0-18. Manuscript in preparation.
  • Hux, G. (2025). Enhancing social participation for dementia care dyads: A student-led collaborative approach to volunteer engagement and funding in Community Settings. [Research Abstract]. American Journal of Occupational Therapy.
  • Hux, G. (2025). Impact of classroom behaviors on teacher stress and the role of interprofessional education: Insights from an elementary school in a rural state. [Research Abstract]. American Journal of Occupational Therapy.
  • Rice, S. & Hux, G. (2025). Impacts of gardening-based interventions on occupational engagement in youth with a history of ACEs. [Research Abstract]. American Journal of Occupational Therapy.
  • Hux, G., Hart, E., LaRosa, J., Sears, C., Strahan, K. Occupational and health implications of prolonged stress on parents of children and youth with special healthcare needs (CYSHCN): A scoping review. Manuscript in preparation.
    Hux Occupation Lab

John Rider

Johnny Rider, Ph.D.

The Occupational Performance and Experience Lab (OPEx Lab) directed by John V. Rider, Ph.D., OTR/L, BCPR, BCG, ATP, focuses on understanding how people participate in meaningful life roles while living with chronic conditions, disability and complex health experiences. Grounded in occupational science, interdisciplinary health sciences and rehabilitation research, the lab serves as a centralized research, training and dissemination hub advancing occupation-centered scholarship. OPEx intentionally integrates occupational performance — what people do and how they do it — with occupational experience — how occupations are perceived, valued, and emotionally experienced. The lab emphasizes psychosocial health as a central mechanism influencing participation, adaptation, health and well-being, particularly among individuals living with long-term health conditions. Using both quantitative and qualitative methods, the OPEx lab seeks to identify factors that influence occupational engagement and long-term participation across home and community contexts.

Recent projects include research on fear of falling avoidance behavior in Parkinson’s disease and on early motor and psychosocial predictors of later decline in activities of daily living. Additional projects have explored parenting with disability and chronic health conditions, with attention to service access, environmental supports, identity development, and relational experiences within the parenting role. In adaptive and wheelchair sports research, Dr. Rider has examined upper extremity health, participation outcomes, and quality of life among athletes. Dr. Rider is also working on projects that contribute to scholarship on living with chronic pain, particularly on how psychological processes shape engagement in valued occupations. A key function of the OPEx lab is to house and advance the Occupational Experience Profile (OEP), an innovative occupation-focused assessment currently in its second iteration and used by academic programs, clinicians and researchers internationally. The lab oversees its continued development, evaluation, and digital dissemination, which support research, student engagement and sustainability.

Research and Selected Publications

For additional information about ongoing projects, publications or collaboration opportunities, individuals are welcome to contact Dr. Rider.

 

Occupational Performance Lab

 

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OTD Clinical Learning Services and Community Engagement

Go Baby Go project

Go Baby Go

Go Baby Go, a collaboration between the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and the University of Arkansas, held its first event in October 2024, distributing three cars to families. This year, the project scaled up to provide five cars and held its “distribution day” event for the families on Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025.

GoBabyGo has formally recognized 25 branches in the United States, with the closest branches to Northwest Arkansas being in Lincoln, Nebraska, and St. Louis. Before 2024, local families seeking GoBabyGo aid were being referred to branches more than 300 miles away.

A key change this year was the restructuring of the student training process. Students, including those from the Biomedical Engineering Student Association, the World Health Organization of Engineering, and Biomedical and Mechanical senior design projects now go through a series of hands-on training stations to learn how to modify the cars.

Go Baby Go Online

carFit student working with faculty

CarFit

CarFit is a community-based educational program created in 2006 in collaboration by AARP and the American Occupational Therapy Association. The program promotes continued safe driving and mobility among older drivers by focusing on safety, comfort, and fit in a driver's personal vehicle.

A proper fit in one's vehicle can greatly increase the safety of the driver and the safety of others. Even though older drivers are often the safest drivers because they are more likely to wear seat belts, and less likely to speed or drive impaired, they are at higher risk for death or serious injury during a crash due to the increased fragility of our bodies as we age. (Source: NHTSA)

Trained CarFit Technician volunteers educate drivers on key areas like mirror adjustments, seat position, steering wheel tilt, and more so the driver can make adjustments to their vehicle to achieve a safer fit. CarFit education is availble at in-person events in many communities, as well as online in virtual and on-demand workshops. Use Find an Event to locate a workshop in your community.