Donna Case, an intermittent lecturer in occupational therapy in the College of Health Sciences at UM-Flint, was honored with the 2026 Provost Teaching Innovation Prize during the university’s Faculty and Staff Convocation on Aug. 20.
Case’s work brings together teaching, technology and community engagement, often through interdisciplinary projects that connect occupational therapy with other fields.
She is part of the faculty team behind Play Beyond Boundaries, which recently received an Engage Flint Grant for the 2026-27 academic year. The project adapts ride-on cars to create additional opportunities for children with disabilities to experience independent mobility and play. The new funding will support additional car adaptations and enhancements as well as advisory committees made up of professionals and parents of children with disabilities.
Case works on Play Beyond Boundaries with E. Shirl Donaldson and Thiago Ferreira from the College of Innovation and Technology.
She is also part of the Digital Divide Project, which received funding from the Center on Aging to continue helping older adults develop digital literacy skills. The project provides hands-on support at four senior centers throughout Genesee County and brings together Case, Sheryl Groden from Social Work and Michelle Sahli from Public Health.
Case’s work also extends into research on emerging technology and its role in supporting older adults. She recently co-authored research published in Frontiers in Dementia examining the complexities of integrating assistive robots into everyday life. The study explores how older adults, caregivers and service providers experience assistive robots in home and care settings.
Together, these projects reflect Case’s focus on using technology in practical ways to support participation, independence and quality of life while creating learning opportunities that reach beyond the classroom.
Congratulations to Case on this recognition and her continued contributions to occupational therapy education, research and community engagement at UM-Flint.
