Bringing Backpack Safety to PS 235
By Office of the President | Oct 21, 2025
Just a few blocks from campus, Downstate Occupational Therapy students transformed P.S. 235 Janice Marie Knight School into a hands-on classroom for Annual Backpack Awareness Day. Through “weigh-and-learn” stations, posture screenings, load adjustments, and peer coaching, we demonstrated to more than 500 elementary school children how backpack size, fit, and weight impact posture, fatigue, comfort, and long-term musculoskeletal health.
Although it was a one-day outreach, the event provided an opportunity for Downstate students to exemplify community engagement, linking classroom learning with neighborhood impact. Because PS 235 is part of East Flatbush, the same community our students walk through daily, this collaboration reflects the connection between Downstate’s students and their neighbors.
What may seem like a simple daily habit of carrying a backpack can have lasting consequences
if not done correctly. Overloaded or poorly fitted backpacks place uneven strain on
developing muscles and joints, contributing to back pain, shoulder and neck tension,
and even long-term spinal misalignment. Research shows that children who carry more
than 10 to 15 percent of their body weight on their backs are at greater risk for
chronic discomfort and poor posture habits that can persist into adulthood.
Led by the Student Occupational Therapy Association (SOTA) and the Coalition of Occupational Therapy Advocates for Diversity (COTAD), more than 60 OT students served as station leaders, one-on-one coaches, data gatherers, and resource developers. Students didn’t just present information—they measured, adapted, and responded to each child’s needs. Planning began weeks in advance, with student teams working alongside teachers to identify the heaviest book loads, adjust to school schedules, and even pre-test sample backpacks.
By engaging in this work so close to home, OT students learn firsthand how their profession can shape health in everyday contexts, while reinforcing that a university’s strength comes from its relationship with the communities around it.
Kudos to our OT students and faculty for showing what compassionate, community-centered education looks like. Special thanks to Efekona Nuwere, Ed.D., MPH, OTR/L, Program Chair; Vikram Pagpatan, Ed.D., OTR/L, Associate Professor and OT Admissions Coordinator; and Allen Lewis, Ph.D., CRC, Dean of the School of Health Professions, for their leadership that transforms classroom lessons into community impact.
