Grace Hayworth, OTS: A Success Story from USD's School of Health Sciences

By Alex Strauss

Grace Hayworth, OTS 

Degree: Doctor of Occupational Therapy (In Progress), Applied Behavior Analysis Certificate 

Current Position: Third-Year Occupational Therapy Student 

Grace Hayworth had her sights set on a career in Occupational Therapy since she was a young teen. So when she was exposed to Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy during her undergraduate special education fieldwork, she "put it in the back of her mind".  

"I found it fascinating, but I already had my plans to pursue OT at USD, so I just let it go for the time being," she says.  

But that early exposure had planted a seed that was destined to flourish in graduate school. As Hayworth progressed through USD's Doctor of Occupational Therapy program, the connections between OT and behavioral therapy became increasingly apparent. It wasn't until she began working on her doctoral capstone project that everything clicked into place. 

"The capstone has given me the opportunity to really explore the collaboration between occupational therapy and ABA therapy," says Hayworth, who has already received more than 50 responses to her needs-based assessment. When she discussed the project with the head of the ABA program at USD, he suggested that she take her interest to the next level.  

"He encouraged me to apply to the ABA certificate program at USD," says Hayworth. "Because I'm already in the graduate program, I could just add on the certificate, which would only take two years. So I thought, 'Why wouldn't I?'" 

This spring, Hayworth will graduate with her doctorate and complete her first year of ABA coursework, which she views as a natural extension of her professional journey.  

"I think having dual expertise in OT and ABA is really going to give me a perspective that not a lot of people have," says Hayworth. "There is a significant knowledge gap between these two professions, but the goal of both OTs and ABA therapists who work with children is to provide them with meaningful and fulfilling lives. The School of Health Sciences does a great job of incorporating the idea of interdisciplinary teamwork, which is what we really need to deliver the best healthcare."