Georgia State University’s Byrdine F. Lewis College of Nursing and Health Professions has received a $1.25 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education to support the training of occupational and physical therapy students in the care of infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families.
The new initiative, Georgia Advancing Service Training for Early Rehabilitation (ASTER), will provide a one-year specialty program for students enrolled in occupational therapy or physical therapy degree programs. The training focuses on children from birth to age three who have disabilities.
“Our project will increase and improve early intervention services by increasing the number of occupational therapy and physical therapy personnel who are fully qualified to serve these children,” said Sutanuka Bhattacharjya, assistant professor of occupational therapy at the Lewis College and leader of the ASTER program.
Over four years, the program aims to train 40 students—five occupational therapy and five physical therapy students each year. The training includes three interdisciplinary courses, specialized field experiences, workshops, and mentorships with experts from various disciplines.
The program is designed to differ from other pediatric training by emphasizing trauma-informed, family-centered care. Bhattacharjya explained, “PT and OT programs train generalists. They can jump in with any population. The biggest hurdle when working with infants and toddlers with disabilities is the lack of providers and the lack of providers with training and experience.”
Students participating in ASTER will learn about psychosocial and developmental delays in young children, strategies for coaching parents, and how to handle difficult conversations with families. Karen Wortham McWaters, clinical assistant professor of occupational therapy and co-director of the program, said, “This program will help occupational and physical therapists look at their patients with a more holistic viewpoint.”
The curriculum also covers how to recognize signs of exhaustion and stress among both families and practitioners. Wortham McWaters noted that therapists specializing in pediatric disabilities often face high rates of burnout.
Bhattacharjya added, “We want the students to practice family-centered care. They are not just working with the child. Services must be inclusive of the family. We want to make sure the family is ready and capable to care for the child.”
Students accepted into ASTER will receive at least $15,000 as a stipend to cover educational costs such as travel to professional conferences. In return, they are expected to work for two years after graduation with young children with disabilities. The training can be completed alongside their degree coursework. Applications open to Georgia State PT and OT students in spring 2026.
Kinsuk Maitra, professor and chair of the Department of Occupational Therapy, commented, “This grant exemplifies the spirit of interdisciplinary collaboration within Lewis College, led by Dr. Bhattacharjya and her team. The Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy departments strongly support and encourage such initiatives, as they directly advance one of the key pillars of Georgia State’s strategic plan, student success.”
