Grajo, Lenin, PhD, EdM, OTR/L, CLA

Clinical Interests

Children and youth with reading difficulties, people with literacy challenges across the lifespan, children and youth with learning disabilities and other neurological disorders, functional cognition in children

Research Interests

Literacy and community participation of people across the lifespan; instrument development and psychometrics particularly the use of the Rasch model of measurement, scholarship of teaching and learning particularly the use of educational technologies, active learning models, and international collaborations

Teaching Roles

Dr. Grajo teaches OT 6050: Analyzing, Adapting, and Teaching Occupations Across the Lifespan; OT 6155: Research Designs and Data Synthesis; and OT 6250: Introduction to OT Assessment.

Education

2015: PhD in Occupational Therapy, Texas Woman’s University
2010: EdM in Human Development and Psychology, Harvard University
2003: BS in Occupational Therapy, University of the Philippines

Background

Dr. Grajo is a national leader, educator, researcher and pediatric occupational therapist. His practice and scholarship interests include the scholarship of teaching and learning (outcomes of teaching innovations, effectiveness of international collaborations in occupational therapy curricula); effectiveness of occupational therapy interventions to support children and adults with reading and learning difficulties; development of occupation and participation measures of children’s literacy; and reconceptualization of the construct and theory of occupational adaptation. He is a champion of integrating anti-racist and inclusive pedagogy in medical and occupational therapy education, and through his service work with the American Occupational Therapy Association, he led a national mentorship program for occupational therapy educators.

Selected Publications

Perez, J. & Grajo, L. (2024). The development and content validation of the self-assessment for student success (SASS): An instrument measuring areas impacting student success in higher education, Occupational Therapy in Mental Health, Advanced online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/0164212X.2024.2376569

Ching, P., Santos, T. N., Grajo, L., Cabatan, M. C. & Tan Pascual, A. (2024). Cross-cultural adaptation of the Inventory of Reading Occupations-Adult into Filipino and its content validation. Open Journal of Occupational Therapy, 12(1). Article 4. doi: 10.15453/2168-6408.2147

Steele, V., & Grajo, L. (2023). Brief Report—A preliminary study on the content validity of the Family Assessment of Quality in Self-Care Engagement. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 77, 7702185030. https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2023.050112

Guzman, J. & Grajo, L. (2023). Preliminary Rasch construct and reliability validation of TeleWrite: A telehealth-based handwriting assessment. OTJR: Occupational Therapy Journal of Research. OnlineFirst. https://doi.org/10.1177/15394492231151883

Davey, K. Winterbottom, L., Bucaj, S. & Grajo, L. (2022). Content validity of the left ventricular assist device bathing assessment. OTJR: Occupation, Participation, and Health. Advanced online publication. https://doi.org/10.1177/15394492221138518

Lemmon, V. & Grajo, L. (2022). The development and content validity of the assessment of written expression adaptivity for assistive technology. Journal of Occupational Therapy, Schools, & Early Intervention. Advanced online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/19411243.2022.211457

Rushanan, S., Nilsen, D., Grajo, L. & Carroll, K. (2022). Assessing and building clinical competence in occupational therapists treating Patients with neurodegenerative disease: A community of practice study. Occupational Therapy in Healthcare. Advanced online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/07380577.2022.2105470

Guzman, J., & Grajo, L. (2022). The development and preliminary psychometric properties of the Telewrite: A telehealth-based handwriting assessment for school-aged children. Advanced online publication. Occupational Therapy in Healthcare. https://doi.org/10.1080/07380577.2022.2025553

Simon, P. & Grajo, L. & Dirette, D. (2021). The role of occupational therapy in supporting the needs of older adults who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, and/or transgender (LGBT). The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy, 9(4), 1-9. https://doi.org/10.15453/2168-6408.1742

Rushanan, S., Nilsen, D., & Grajo, L. (2021). Determining the initial content validity of the clinical competency assessment tool for occupational therapists treating patients with neuro-degenerative disease. The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy, 9(4), 1-11. https://doi.org/ 10.15453/2168-6408.1798

Lange, A. & Grajo, L. (2021). Promoting social participation for adolescents with burn injury: A proposed guideline for occupational therapy practice. The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy, 9(4), 1-15. https://doi.org/10.15453/2168-6408.1805

Dumas, C. & Grajo, L. (2021). The content validity and interrater reliability of the occupational therapy pediatric inventory of cognitive skills (OT-PICS): An assessment tool of functional cognition in children. Occupational Therapy in Health Care. Advanced online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/07380577.2021.1972381

Raphael-Greenfield, E. & Grajo, L. (2021). The clinical utility of the dream home assessment (DHA). Occupational Therapy in Mental Health. Advanced online publication. doi: 10.1080/0164212X.2021.1971137

Dumas, C. M., & Grajo, L. (2021). Functional Cognition in Critically Ill Children: Asserting the Role of Occupational Therapy. The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy, 9(2), 1-9. https://doi.org/10.15453/2168-6408.1793

Cabatan, M.C., Grajo, L., Sana, E. (2021). Building the capacity of the Philippine occupational therapy academic workforce: Insights from an occupational profile study. Acta Medica Philippina, online first. https://actamedicaphilippina.upm.edu.ph/index.php/acta/article/view/1441/2167

Mahoney, D., Grajo, L., & Gillen, G. (2021). Content validity of the occupational therapy anticipatory awareness test: A functional cognitive assessment for adults with neurological conditions. The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy, 9(1) 1-12. https://doi.org/10.15453/2168-6408.1740

Alonzi-Gold, D. & Grajo, L. (2020). The content validity and clinical utility of the kindergarten readiness inventory (K-READI): A screening tool of school readiness for children on the autism spectrum. Journal of Occupational Therapy, Schools, and Early Intervention. Advanced online publication. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/19411243.2020.1822257

Cabatan, M.C., Grajo, L., & Sana, E. (2020). Development and content validation of the adaptation process in academia questionnaire for occupational therapy educators. Acta Medica Philippina, 54(2), 142-150. Retrieved from: https://actamedicaphilippina.upm.edu.ph/index.php/acta/article/view/1537

Cabatan, M.C., Grajo, L., & Sana, E. (2020). Occupational adaptation as a lived experience: The case of Filipino occupational therapy academic educators. Journal of Occupational Science. Advanced online publication. doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/14427591.2020.1741020

Grajo, L. C., Candler, C., & Sarafian, A. (2020). Interventions within the scope of occupational therapy to improve children’s academic participation: A systematic review. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 74, 7402180030. https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2020.039016

Raphael-Greenfield, E., Grajo, L., Westover, L. & Fong, C. (2019). Determining the internal validity and test reliability of the Dream Home Assessment: A performance-based measure of executive function for adults with mental illness. Occupational Therapy in Mental Health. Advanced online publication. doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/0164212X.2019.1678446

Grajo, L. Gutman, S., Gelb, H., Langan, K., Marx, K., Paciello, D.,…Teng, K. (2019). A Rasch Analysis Study Determining the Internal Validity and Separation Reliability of the Inventory of Reading Occupations - Adult: A Measure of Functional Literacy Participation. Occupational Therapy in Health Care, 33(4), 394-412. doi: 10.1080/07380577.2019.1678216

Candler, C. & Grajo, L. (2019). Reading participation profiles of school-aged children: Use of the inventory of reading occupations-pediatric. Journal of Occupational Therapy, Schools, and Early Intervention. doi: 10.1080/19411243.2019.1636747

Grajo, L., Gutman, S., Gelb, H., Langan, K., Marx, K., Paciello, D.,…Teng, K. (2019). Effectiveness of a functional literacy program for sheltered homeless adults: A two-group controlled study. OTJR: Occupation, Participation, and Health. Advanced online publication. https://doi.org/10.1177%2F1539449219850126

Grajo, L. & Gutman, S. (2019). The role of occupational therapy in functional literacy. The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy, 7(1), Article 13. https://doi.org/10.15453/2168-6408.1511

Cabatan, M.C., Grajo, L., Sana, E. (2019). A scoping review of challenges and the adaptation process in academia: Implications for occupational therapy educators. The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy, 7(1), Article 8. https://doi.org/10.15453/2168-6408.1523

Grajo, L., Candler, C., Bowyer, P., Schultz, S., & Thomson, J. (2018). The clinical and classroom utility of the inventory of reading occupations: An assessment tool of children’s reading participation. The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy, 6(2), Article 2. Available at: https://doi.org/10.15453/2168-6408.1440

Grajo, L., Boisselle, A., & DaLomba, E. (2018). Occupational adaptation as a construct: A scoping review of literature. Open Journal of Occupational Therapy, 6(1), Article 2. doi: https://doi.org/10.15453/2168-6408.1400

Cabatan, M. C. C., & Grajo, L. C. (2017). Centennial Topics—Internationalization in an occupational therapy curriculum: A Philippine–American pilot collaboration. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 71, 1–9. https://doi.org/ 10.5014/ajot.2017.024653

Aldrich, R. M., & Grajo, L. C. (2017). International educational interactions and students’ critical consciousness: A pilot study. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 71, 1–10. https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2017.026724

Grajo, L. & Candler, C. (2017). The occupation and participation approach to reading intervention (OPARI): A community of practice study. Journal of Occupational Therapy, Schools, and Early Intervention, 10(1), 90-99, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/19411243.2016.1257967

Grajo, L. & Candler, C. (2016). An occupation and participation approach to reading intervention (OPARI) part II: Pilot clinical application. Journal of Occupational Therapy, Schools and Early Intervention, 9(1), 86-98. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/19411243.2016.1141083

Grajo, L. & Candler, C. (2016) An occupation and participation approach to reading intervention (OPARI) part I: Defining reading as an occupation. Journal of Occupational Therapy, Schools and Early Intervention, 9(1), 74-85. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/19411243.2016.1141082

Grajo, L. C., Candler, C., Bowyer, P., Schultz, S., Thomson, J., & Fong, K. (2016). Determining the internal validity of the Inventory of Reading Occupations: An assessment tool of children’s reading participation. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 70, 7003220010. http://dx.doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2016.017582

Book Chapters and Others

Grajo, L. & Boisselle, A. (2022). Adaptation, coping, and resilience in children and youth: A comprehensive occupational therapy approach. Thorofare, NJ: SLACK Inc.

Grajo, L. & Boisselle, A. (2022). Adaptation, coping, and resilience in children and youth: Definitions, models, and the critical role of occupational therapy. In L.C. Grajo & A.K. Boisselle (Eds). Adaptation, coping, and resilience in children and youth: A comprehensive occupational therapy approach. SLACK Inc.

Grajo, L. & Guzman, J. (2022). Adaptation, coping, and resilience in children and youth with specific learning disabilities. In L.C. Grajo & A.K. Boisselle (Eds). Adaptation, coping, and resilience in children and youth: A comprehensive occupational therapy approach. SLACK Inc.

Boisselle, A. & Grajo, L. (2022). The lived experience of adaptation, coping, and resilience by children, youth, and their families. In L.C. Grajo & A.K. Boisselle (Eds). Adaptation, coping, and resilience in children and youth: A comprehensive occupational therapy approach. SLACK Inc.

Grajo, L. & Rushanan, S. (2022). Ethical decision-making in occupational therapy practice. In J. Clifford O’Brien & J.W. Solomon (Eds). Occupational analysis and group process (2nd ed). Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier.

Taff, S., Grajo, L., & Hooper, B. (2020). Occupational therapy education: Weaving the past, present, and future. In S. Taff, L. C. Grajo, & B. Hooper (Eds.), Perspectives on OT education: Past, present, and future (pp. ). Thorofare, NJ: SLACK.

Harvison, N., Taff, S., Grajo, L., & Hooper, B. (2020). Imagining the landscape of occupational therapy education in 2050. In S. Taff, L. C. Grajo, & B. Hooper (Eds.), Perspectives on OT education: Past, present, and future (pp. ). Thorofare, NJ: SLACK.

Grajo, L., & Gutman, S. (2020). Measuring educational outcomes in OT: Curricular and professional perspectives. In S. Taff, L. C. Grajo, & B. Hooper (Eds.), Perspectives on OT education: Past, present, and future (pp. ). Thorofare, NJ: SLACK.

Grajo, L., Guzman, J., Szklut, S. & Philibert, D. (2020). Learning disabilities and developmental coordination disorder. In R. Lazaro, S. Reina-Guerra, & M. Quiben (Eds). Umphred’s Neurological Rehabilitation (7th Ed). Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier.

Grajo, L. & Boisselle, A. (2020). The teaching and learning process. In D. Powers Dirette & S. A. Gutman (Eds.), Occupational therapy for physical dysfunction (8th ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Wolters Kluwer.

Grajo, L. (2019). Best practices in literacy: Reading to enhance participation. In G. Frolek Clark, J. Rioux, & B. Chandler (Eds). Best Practices for Occupational Therapy in Schools (2nd ed). Bethesda, MD: AOTA Press.

Grajo, L. (2019). Theory of occupational adaptation. In B.E.B. Schell & G. Gillen (Eds)., Willard and Spackman’s occupational therapy (13th ed.). Philadelphia: Lippincot Williams & Wilkins.

Grajo, L., Boisselle, A., & DaLomba, E. (2019). Defining the construct of occupational adaptation. In L.C. Grajo and A. Boisselle (Eds). Adaptation through occupation: Multidimensional perspectives. Thorofare, NJ: SLACK, Inc.

George-Paschal, L. & Grajo, L. (2019). Occupational adaptation as a measure of occupational participation. In L.C. Grajo and A. Boisselle (Eds). Adaptation through occupation: Multidimensional perspectives. Thorofare, NJ: SLACK, Inc

Grajo, L. (2019). Occupational adaptation as a normative and intervention process: Schkade and Schultz’s legacy. In L.C. Grajo and A. Boisselle (Eds). Adaptation through occupation: Multidimensional perspectives. Thorofare, NJ: SLACK, Inc.

Grajo, L. (2017). Occupational Adaptation. In J. Hinojosa, P. Kramer & C. Royeen (Eds). Perspectives on Human Occupation: Theories underlying practice (2nd ed; pp. 287-311).). Philadelphia, PA: FA Davis.

Royeen, C., Grajo, L., Luebben, A. (2014). Nonstandardized testing. In J. Hinojosa & P. Kramer (Eds.), Evaluation in Occupational Therapy: Obtaining and interpreting data (4th ed., pp. 121-141). Bethesda, MD: AOTA Press.

Books for the Medical and Health Professions Community

Grajo, L. & Boisselle, A. (2022). Adaptation, coping, and resilience in children and youth: A comprehensive occupational therapy approach. Thorofare, NJ: SLACK Inc.

Taff, S., Grajo, L., & Hooper, B. (2020). Perspectives on occupational therapy education: Past, present, and future. Thorofare, NJ: SLACK, Inc.

Grajo, L. & Boisselle, A. (2019). Adaptation through occupation: Multidimensional perspectives. Thorofare, NJ: SLACK, Inc.

Awards/Honors

2021: Service Commendation Award, Member, Addressing Cultural Awareness and Humility in OT Education Task Group, Commission on Education, American Occupational Therapy Association,
2019: Service Commendation Award, Member, Commission on Education; American Occupational Therapy Association
2019: Service Commendation Award, Chairperson of the Academic Education Special Interest Section; American Occupational Therapy Association
2016: Service Commendation, Professional Development Coordinator (Forums) for the Education Special Interest Section (EDSIS); American Occupational Therapy Association
2015: Outstanding Educator Award. Missouri Occupational Therapy Association
2015: Mary L. Stephen Faculty Fellow Award for Scholarly Teaching; SLU Reinert Center for Transformative Teaching and Learning
2013: Student Government Association Faculty Excellence Award for the Doisy College of Health Sciences; Saint Louis University
2006: University of the Philippines-Manila Chancellor’s Diamond Jubilee Faculty Award for Exemplary Teaching and Research Performance in Pediatric Occupational Therapy
2005: Outstanding Occupational Therapy Faculty, College of Allied Medical Professions; University of the Philippines Manila

Grajo, Lenin, PhD, EdM, OTR/L, CLA

Associate Professor of Occupational Therapy and Psychiatry
Director, Division of Professional Education
Associate Director, Program in Occupational Therapy
Associate Director, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Curriculum Vitae