Karen M. Dishman

Watch a Biography of Karen Dishman

Dr. Karen Dishman has been an OT practitioner for over 20 years. Prior to teaching at Gannon University, she taught full time for 3 years and adjunct for an additional 5 years in the Master of Occupational Therapy program and Occupational Therapy Assistant program at the University of Southern Indiana. She also served as the Chairperson for the Occupational Therapy Assistant program for 7 months. She has experience teaching foundational knowledge of OT; theory, models, and frames of reference; documentation; reimbursement; diseases and conditions; activities of daily living; interventions; and emerging practice areas.

Educational History

OTD, 2018, Eastern Kentucky University
MS, Occupational Therapy, 2016, Eastern Kentucky University
BS, Occupational Therapy, 1999, University of Southern Indiana

Professional Experience

Dr. Dishman's professional background includes 18 years of experience with children 3-22 in the school setting, as well as some outpatient pediatrics experience. This gave her ample experience in patients with cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, muscular dystrophy, orthopedic conditions, autism, learning disabilities, and many other conditions. Dr. Dishman also has 5 years of skilled nursing experience with an emphasis on patients with CVA, joint replacement, Parkinson’s disease, and dementia. Dr. Dishman also served as the assistive technology coordinator for 3 years in the school setting with extensive experience in many categories of assistive technology such as blind/low vision, hearing impairments, cognitive impairments, learning disabilities, and physical disabilities.

Scholarship-Research

Dr. Dishman’s research agenda is focused on assistive technology education provided in occupational therapy curricula and educational outcomes for students in the classroom related to teaching strategies including interprofessional education and community-based projects.

Dishman, K. M., Duckart, J., & Hardman, L. J. (2021). Perceptions of assistive technology education from occupational therapists certified as Assistive Technology Professionals. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 75, 7502205110. https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2021.041541

Dishman, K, Mason, J., & Arvin, M. K. (February 2020). Service-Learning: Perspectives of Assistive Technology for Participation in Unified Games. Abstract/Proceedings at Celebration of Teaching and Learning Symposium, Evansville, IN.

Dishman, K., & Mason, J. (January 2020). Motor Skills Participation Through Assistive Technology Innovation. Abstract/Proceedings at Assistive Technology Industry Association Conference, Orlando, FL

Mason, J., Dishman, K., & Arvin, M. K. (May 2019). Service-Learning: USI OT/OTA Toy Accessibility Project. Abstract/Proceedings at EKU Pedagogicon Conference, Richmond, KY

Mason, J., Dishman, K., & Arvin, M. K. (February 2019). USI OT/OTA Toy Accessibility Project.
Abstract/Proceedings at USI Teaching and Learning Symposium, Evansville, IN