For the last 12 years, occupational therapy (OT) graduate students at UNH have made an impact on the lives of stroke survivors through the Stroke Survivor Group—which is part of the Enabling Participation in Community Groups course.
Students work weekly with 8-12 stroke survivors on therapeutic activities and exercises tailored to support various physical and cognitive needs, helping them regain confidence and independence in their daily lives.
This fall, Ian Miller ’25G and Emelia Toursie ’25G led the group alongside lab instructor Hana Chouinard ’23G, MS, OTR/L.
What Makes the UNH Stroke Survivor Group Stand Out?
The Stroke Survivor Group combines physical rehabilitation with holistic wellness. Members work on rebuilding physical strength through strength exercises, aerobic workouts, and yoga, while music therapy, assistive technology training, horticulture, and cooking activities support emotional and social well-being.
“We encourage them to tell us what they're interested in, but it’s all research-based,” Toursie says. “These are all activities that have been proven to be effective for people who have had a stroke.”
Each activity has a level of accommodation built into it, Toursie adds. For example, some people may need seated exercises, while others require enhanced visual aids.
What Do Students Gain from Working with This Group?
Miller’s goal coming into the semester was to gain experience as a group leader who can run activities in a community behavioral health setting.
“It’s been beneficial to see how these activities connect the group members. They open up to one another about their shared experiences, and it’s great to see them grow together,” Miller says.
Toursie, who hopes to work in an inpatient rehab setting, says this experience has been valuable.
“Stroke is one of the most common diagnoses in the inpatient rehab setting,” Toursie says. “It’s also becoming increasingly prevalent, especially in younger populations. Working with people with a range of deficits and learning to adapt and modify treatments while seeing their recovery trajectory has been incredibly valuable for my future career.”
The Most Rewarding Part of Working with the Group
Miller says the benefit of the OT program at UNH is that you can work with a wide range of populations, and he’s gained an appreciation for the resiliency of stroke survivors.
“Hearing their stories is really eye-opening,” Miller says. “Simple things we often take for granted, like everyday tasks in the kitchen, can be challenging for them because of a limitation they have. But they push themselves and each other.”
Toursie adds, “For many, this is the highlight of their week, a time to connect with others in the community outside of their homes. The resilience and positive attitudes of the group members toward their future and daily activities have been inspiring. You can see the growth and progress, and that’s been so rewarding.”
Chouinard, now working professionally as an inpatient occupational therapist, returned to UNH to mentor students because of the impact this group had on her during her time in the program.
“Working with stroke survivors made me kind of change my path and get more interested in neurological conditions,” Chouinard says. “I now work regularly with patients who have had a stroke, as well as a variety of other neurological impairments, and I often think of my group experience.”
