We are offering the following Pro Bono Experience opportunities in 2026:

• Individual Physical Therapy: eight weekly sessions during Summer 2026 term
  • Work with our 1st year students under the supervision of a licensed and board-certified physical therapist faculty member.
  • Priority is given to those with musculoskeletal conditions such as low back pain, hip pain, knee pain, ankle pain, and/or foot pain. 
     
• Individual Physical Therapy: eight weekly sessions during Fall 2026 term
  • Work with our 3rd year students under the supervision of a licensed and board-certified physical therapist faculty member.
  • We can accommodate a mix of health conditions and medical diagnoses, including musculoskeletal conditions and neuromuscular conditions.
  • Priority is given to those with limited physical therapy coverage and/or benefits. 

To sign up, email the contact listed near the bottom of this page. 1st come, 1st served...spots fill quickly, so reach out now to ensure a space. 

Opportunities to participate in the education of DPT students as a community participant happen in spring and fall terms, but vary depending on your problem and the content DPT students are learning. Visits are provided by SMU DPT students under licensed physical therapist supervision and may include exercise, hands on manual treatments, support in making health behavior changes, and individualized education. The Community Participant Labs are highly collaborative with a goal of mutual learning for both the participants and our students. 

Eligibility to participate in SMU’s Physical Therapy Community Participant Lab includes the following:

• Spring: we need participants with a documented neurologic condition (such as stroke, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury, brain injury, or generalized balance problems) for 5 sessions starting in March. Participants must be able to walk/wheel independently or require no more than minimal assistance from one other person to move around.
• Fall: we need participants with an orthopedic condition that is symptomatic and/or results in dysfunctional movement (such as shoulder pain limiting your ability to participate in your hobbies) for 4 sessions starting in October.
• Commitment to attending all scheduled sessions
• Understanding that we accept participants on a first-come, first-served basis, in conjunction with the educational needs of our students    

What is the Occupational Therapy Adult Community Participant Lab?

• An opportunity for individuals with a diagnosed neurological condition to contribute to our students’ education. Some conditions that might bring a client in for services are a stroke, brain injury, spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis, or Parkinson's disease, for example.
• A student-led program, supervised by licensed occupational therapy faculty.
• A service for the Bay Area community focused on promoting participation and engagement in personal occupations. Personal occupations include activities of daily living such as personal care and home tasks, as well as work and leisure activities. 

About the Occupational Therapy Adult Community Participant Lab Program

Our program consists of nine visits, with the first visit being an examination followed by treatment sessions and concluding with a home program and recommended adaptive devices, equipment, and strategies to improve function in daily tasks.

Visits are designed to improve an important area of functioning in the participant's daily life, such as:

• Self-care tasks (dressing, grooming, bathing, using the toilet)
• Home tasks (cooking, dishes, cleaning, bills, etc.)
• Work activities (transportation, use of the computer, endurance, mental focus)
• Leisure tasks (going out to eat, socializing, playing sports, etc.).
• Exercises to improve strength or mobility in order to complete daily tasks
• Recommendation of adapted devices, equipment or strategies to improve function in daily tasks.

Please note: If the main objective is to improve walking, please see the Community Participant Lab offered by the Physical Therapy program.

2026 Dates:

• Monday afternoons
• Nine 50 minute sessions starting at 1:30, 2:30 or 3:30 pm
• February 2 through April 6, 2026

Eligibility: You are eligible to participate if you

• Have a desire for improvement in an area of daily function such as those described above
• Can commit to attending all scheduled sessions
• Understand that we accept participants on a first-come, first-served basis, in conjunction with the educational needs of our students

How to Apply

Please complete the Adult OT CPL Enrollment Form and return it to us via email*, fax, or mail. The form is a fillable pdf and can be completed on your computer or printed.

Email:dembrey@samuelmerritt.edu     
Phone: 510-701-5990
Mail: 
Samuel Merritt University
Occupational Therapy Department
525 12th Street
Oakland, CA 94607

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact us!

*Please note that the enrollment form will contain your personal medical information which is protected by HIPPA. Email is not considered a HIPPA compliant method of communication, however, you may email your form to us if you wish.

What is the Occupational Therapy Pediatric Community Participant Lab?

A free occupational therapy service for children ages 6 months to 16 years who have difficulty participating in typical childhood activities due to medical conditions, developmental challenges, or injury.

Our OT student-run lab helps children in the community build skills to enhance their participation in self-care, play, and school activities. Students from Samuel Merritt University’s Occupational Therapy program provide these services under the supervision of licensed OT faculty.

About the Pediatric Occupational Therapy Community Participant Lab

Coming in January 2027. 

The program consists of eight sessions, with a combination of evaluation, treatment, and a home program to help support continued progress outside of therapy.

Each 45-minute session is individualized and designed to improve key areas of functioning, such as:

• Self-care skills (e.g., brushing teeth, dressing, self-feeding)

• Visual-motor and visual perceptual skills (e.g., eye-hand coordination, handwriting)

• Fine motor skills (e.g., using hands to manipulate toys, tools, or materials)

• Functional gross motor skills for play (e.g., movement through space, coordination)

• Social skills (e.g., turn-taking, communication, play skills)

• Attention and self-regulation (e.g., controlling energy levels, focusing on tasks)

• Environmental modifications to support participation in daily activities

Please note: Due to the educational nature of our program, we are not able to serve children with complex behavioral challenges, advanced sensory processing needs, or swallowing/feeding disorders. These areas are considered advanced practice and should be addressed by licensed occupational therapists with specialized training. Children who would benefit from skill-building in the areas listed above are best suited for this program.

Who's Eligible for Occupational Therapy Pediatric Lab Services?

• Families with a child (ages 6 months–16 years) who has developmental needs in one or more of the areas listed above

• Families who can commit to consistent weekly attendance

• Families who understand that enrollment is based on a first-come, first-served basis and aligned with student learning needs

How to Apply

Enrollment for 2027 will open in Fall of 2026:
English Version
Spanish Version


Submitting Your Form

Forms must be submitted by the child’s parent or legal guardian. These forms may contain protected health information (PHI) under HIPAA regulations.

While we allow families to email forms for convenience, please note that email is not a HIPAA-compliant method. You may choose one of the following submission options:

Email:dembrey@samuelmerritt.edu     
Phone: 510-701-5990
Mail: 
Samuel Merritt University
Occupational Therapy Department
525 12th Street
Oakland, CA 94607