Steven D. Wheeler Ph.D., OTR/L

Dr. Wheeler has practiced occupational therapy for twenty years in a variety of practice settings. He completed his Ph.D. at Virginia Commonwealth University and is a graduate of the OT Program at the University of Western Ontario. He received his Master of Education degree with a specialization in Applied Developmental Psychology from the University of Toronto. After working in mental health and serving as an outpatient rehabilitation program administrator, he joined the Occupational Therapy faculty at Shawnee State University in Portsmouth Ohio in 1998. He began teaching at West Virginia University in 2000. His primary areas of teaching are occupational therapy management, cognition and perception, and work rehabilitation. Research interests include investigating the process of community reintegration following traumatic brain injury, brain injury rehabilitation, and assessment and treatment approaches for various neurological conditions throughout the lifespan. He has presented at local, state, and national conferences on various aspects of occupational therapy assessment and intervention with neurological populations.

Publications:

Wheeler, S. (2004). Transitions to Adult Life. In: Cronin, A & Mandich, M. (Eds.) Human Performance Across the Lifespan. Delmar/ Thompson Publishers.

Wheeler, S. (2004). The Effectiveness of a Community Based Rehabilitation for Traumatic Brain Injury Using a Life Skills Training Approach. Ph.D. Dissertation - Virginia Commonwealth University.

Wheeler, S., Lane, S., & McMahon, B. (2007). Community participation and life satisfaction following intensive community based rehabilitation using a life skills training approach. OTJR: Occupation, Participation and Health, Winter 2007.

Wheeler, S. (2007). Rehabilitation Update: Executive Cognitive Functions and the Challenge of Community Re-entry following Acquired Brain Injury. Newsletter of the WV TBI / SCI Rehabilitation Fund Board. Spring 2007 Edition.

Wheeler, S. (2008). The Challenge of Regaining Important Life Roles following Traumatic Brain Injury. Advocare: A Publication of the West Virginia Advocates, Inc. Summer 2008 edition, pp. 10-11.

Wheeler, S. (2010). Radical Recoveries: OT is Vital to Community Reintegration following Severe TBI. OT Practice, February 22, 2010 Edition.

Chetlin, R., Wheeler, S., Crane, S., Morris, C., & Sherlock, L. (2010). The effects of combined aquatic and occupational therapy in stroke patients: A retrospective study. International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education, 4.

Wheeler, S. (2010). Innovative, real-world solutions to brain injury rehabilitation, Image Magazine, May-June 2010 Edition.

Presentations:

Wheeler, S. Cognitive Factors Affecting Successful Community Re-entry following Traumatic Brain Injury. American Occupational Therapy Association 2002 Annual Conference and Expo, Miami, FL, May 2002.

Wheeler, S. & Phifer, J. Facilitating Successful Community Re-entry Following Traumatic Brain Injury Using a Life Skills Trainer Approach. Kentucky Mental Health Institute, Louisville, KY, October 2002.

Phifer, J. & Wheeler, S. Integrating Traumatic Brain Injury Rehabilitation into the Community. Kentucky Brain Injury Summit, Lexington, KY, April 2003.

Wheeler, S. Rehabilitation of the Individual with Cognitive and Perceptual Impairment. West Virginia Occupational Therapy Association Annual Conference, Charleston, WV, October 2003.

Wheeler, S. Assessment and Management of Executive Cognitive Functions Following Acquired Brain Injury. West Virginia Occupational Therapy Association Annual Conference, Charleston, WV, October 2004.

Phifer, J. & Wheeler, S. Return to Community Issues following TBI. Charleston Area Medical Center TBI Conference, Charleston, West Virginia, December 2004.

Wheeler, S. & Neal, J. Assessment and Management of Visual Neglect following Acquired Brain Injury. West Virginia Occupational Therapy Association Annual Conference, Charleston, West Virginia, October 2005.

Wheeler, S. Life Satisfaction and Community Participation following TBI. WVU Division of Occupational Therapy Rehab Symposium, Morgantown, West Virginia, November 2005.

Wheeler, S. The Impact of Skills Training on Participation and Life Satisfaction Post-TBI: A One Year Follow-up. American Occupational Therapy Association Annual Conference, Charlotte, North Carolina, April 2006.

Wheeler, S. The Impact of Awareness Deficit on Community Participation and Life Satisfaction following TBI. American Occupational Therapy Association Annual Conference, St. Louis, Missouri, April 23, 2007.

Wheeler, S. Impairments Affecting Community Re-entry following Severe TBI. West Virginia Occupational Therapy Association Conference, Charleston, WV, October 6, 2007.

Wheeler, S.  The Impact of Skills Training on Participation and Life Satisfaction post-TBI: A Two Year Follow-up.     American Occupational Therapy Association Annual Conference, Long Beach, California, April 12, 2008.

Wheeler, S., Davis, D., Graebe G. Low Vision Seminar – West Virginia Occupational Therapy Association Conference Special Session Seminar, Morgantown, WV, October 17, 2008.

Wheeler, S. Successful Clinical Practice in a Competitive Healthcare Environment – The 2008 Devereaux Lecture. West Virginia Occupational Therapy Association Conference, Morgantown, WV, October 18, 2008.

Wheeler, S. Assessment and Treatment of Executive Cognitive Functions following Traumatic Brain Injury: Facilitating Successful Community Participation. American Occupational Therapy Association Annual Conference and Expo, Houston, TX, April 23, 2009.

Phifer, J. & Wheeler, S. Facilitating Successful Community Participation following Traumatic Brain Injury. Allegany College of Maryland Continuing Education Program, Cumberland, MD, April 17, 2009.

Wheeler, S. The Role of Therapeutic Relationship Building in the Management of Executive Functions Following TBI. West Virginia Occupational Therapy Association Annual Conference, Charleston, WV, October 31, 2009.

Wheeler, S. Managing Executive Cognitive Functions following Traumatic Brain Injury. Ohio Occupational Therapy Association Annual Conference, Dayton, OH, November 6, 2009.

Wheeler, S. Therapeutic Relationship Building and Executive Cognitive Functions following Traumatic Brain Injury. American Occupational Therapy Association Annual Conference and Expo, Orlando, FL, May 1, 2010.

Wheeler, S. Strategies to Improve Executive Cognitive Functions following Traumatic Brain Injury. West Virginia Occupational Therapy association Annual Conference, Beckley, WV, October 2, 2010.