Pro Bono & Community Participant Labs

The Community Participant Labs are both a service to the community and a required student learning experience. Students in the occupational therapy and physical therapy programs provide services to members of the community under the direct supervision of licensed faculty as part of courses student therapists are enrolled in. See below for schedules, these opportunities occur year-round.

Pro Bono Experiences are either individual sessions with small groups of physical therapy students and a faculty member or group classes with students leading the class under faculty supervision. These sessions are scheduled in the Summer and Fall terms.

About the Community Participant Lab Opportunities

These are educational experiences for our physical therapy and occupational therapy students, integrated into specific courses. Each session consists of collaborative and learning-focused activities where participants work toward their goals with students, student observers, and licensed faculty.

Pediatric Occupational Therapy: eight sessions running February through March
Adult Physical Therapy: five weekly sessions starting in March
Adult Occupational Therapy: eight sessions running October through November

See detailed information below to determine which experience fits your needs and schedule. Contact information is located at the bottom of the page, should you be interested or have additional questions.

About the Physical Therapy Pro Bono Experiences

Educational experiences for our Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) students, integrated into our curriculum as a series of courses (one each year in the program)
An opportunity for individuals with diagnosed neurologic conditions or a symptomatic orthopedic condition to contribute to our students’ education
A service for the East Bay community focused on providing mutual benefit for our students and the community members who participate. Community members may experience decreased symptoms, improved mobility and function, and fitness and wellness advice.
Visits are provided by Samuel Merritt University students under licensed, board-certified specialist faculty supervision and may include exercise, hands-on manual treatments, support in making health behavior changes, and individualized education.

Expand the areas below to view upcoming dates and information to see if you might benefit.

Physical Therapy Pro Bono Experiences Summer and Fall 2027

We are offering the following Pro Bono Experience opportunities in 2027:

Individual Physical Therapy: eight weekly sessions during the Summer 2027 term
- Work with our first-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 the Fall 2027 term
- Work with our third-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. First come, first served: spots fill quickly, so reach out now to ensure a space.

Physical Therapy Community Participant Labs Spring 2027

Opportunities to participate in the education of DPT students as a community participant happen in the spring term. 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

Participants must have a documented neurologic condition (such as stroke, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury, brain injury, or generalized balance problems)
Participants commit to attend five 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
We accept participants on a first-come, first-served basis, in conjunction with the educational needs of our students

Occupational Therapy Adult Community Participant Labs

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 up to eight 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.

2027 Dates

Monday afternoons
Eight 50-minute sessions starting at 1:30, 2:30, or 3:30 p.m.
Oct. 5 through Nov. 30, 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.

Email: OTlab@samuelmerritt.edu
Phone: 510.879.9200, ext. 7456
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: The enrollment form will contain your personal medical information, which is protected by HIPAA. Email is not considered a HIPAA-compliant method of communication; however, you may email your form to us if you wish.

Occupational Therapy Pediatric Community Participant Labs

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

2027 Information

Wednesday afternoons
Feb. 10 through March 31, 2027
Eight 50-minute sessions with start times at 1:30, 2:30, or 3:30 p.m.

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 50-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 Community Participant 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 2026:

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