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Dr. Julie Ann Nastasi, Associate Professor

Julie Ann Nastasi, ScD, OTD, OTR/L, SCLV, CLA, FAOTA earned a bachelor’s degree in occupational therapy from the ²ÝÁñÉçÇø, a post-professional master’s degree from Tufts University, and a post-professional doctoral degree from Boston University. In addition, she has earned a research doctorate in occupational science from Towson University. Dr. Nastasi has specialized in low vision rehabilitation, earning a graduate certificate in low vision rehabilitation from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and specialty certification in low vision from the American Occupational Therapy Association. In 2014, Dr. Nastasi was named to the American Occupational Therapy Association’s Roster of Fellows for her contributions to low vision rehabilitation and the field of occupational therapy. During 2016-2017, Dr. Nastasi completed the inaugural Academic Leadership Institute through the American Occupational Therapy Association and became a Credentialed Leader in Academia (CLA).

Dr. Nastasi serves the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) as a reviewer for the American Journal of Occupational Therapy. In past she served AOTA as Chairperson for the Productive Aging Special Interest Section (PASIS), Representative Assembly Rep. for Pennsylvania, a reviewer for specialty certification in low vision, and as monitor for the low vision forum. Dr. Nastasi currently serves the Pennsylvania Occupational Therapy Association on the Vision Task-Force. Dr. Nastasi previously served as a central committee member for the Commission on Conference, the Commissioner on Education for POTA, and as Local Conference Co-Chair for the 2015 state conference. While residing in New York, Dr. Nastasi held a number of positions within the New York State Occupational Therapy Association (NYSOTA) and the Hudson Taconic District (HTD) of NYSOTA including: Membership Chair (NYSOTA), Putnam/Dutchess Representative (HTD), Secretary (HTD), and Co-Chair of the Program Committee for the 2003 and 2011 Conferences (HTD). In addition, Dr. Nastasi served as an Item-Writer and Item-Developer for the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT).

Dr. Nastasi has presented at American Occupational Therapy Association’s Annual Conference, Pennsylvania Occupational Therapy Association’s Annual Conference, New York State Occupational Therapy Association’s Annual Conference, Envision Conference, the Fourth Cooperative Meeting of the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers and Americas Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis, and the 6th International Symposium on Gait and Balance in Multiple Sclerosis Sensory Contributions.

Dr. Nastasi's publications include:

Nastasi, J. A. (2024). The strategies used by adults with visual impairment. British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 87(4), 213-220. doi: 10.1177/03080226231214369

Nastasi, J. A., Corcoran, K., Divinagracia., C., Erickson, E., Fernandez, R., Hernandez, J., Shuck, D., & Wisner, K. (2022). Loneliness in older adults with visual impairment. Topics in Geriatric Rehabilitation, 38(4), 261-269. doi: 10.1097/TGR. 0000000000000373

Nastasi, J. A. (2022). Preface: Special issue on low vision. Topics in Geriatric Rehabilitation, 38(3), 175. doi: 10.1097/TGR.0000000000000359

Nastasi, J. A., Blasland, R., Desseyn, D., Gaynor, S., Grieco, A., Kelly, E., McMullen, B., Rice, L., & Strassle, B. (2022). Low-vision evaluations and interventions used in practice. Topics in Geriatric Rehabilitation, 38(3), 176-186. doi: 10.1097/TGR.0000000000000360

Nastasi, J. A., Kenyon, K., & Tirney, D. (2022). Physical activity in older adults with visual impairment. Topics in Geriatric Rehabilitation, 38(3), 215-224. doi: 10.1097/TGR.0000000000000365

Nastasi, J. A., & Harris, L. (2021). Evidence for occupational therapy interventions supporting work and social participation for adults with multiple sclerosis: A systematic review. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 75, 7504190020. https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2021.048058

Nastasi, J. (2021). Exploring preferred and actual lighting levels for reading for adults with visual impairment at a center for the blind. British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 84(6), 388-394. doi:10.1177/0308022620946642

Nastasi, J. A. (2020). Guest Editorial – Occupational therapy interventions for people with low vision. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 74, 7401170010. https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2020.741001

Nastasi, J. A. (2020). Occupational therapy interventions supporting leisure and social participation for older adults with low vision: A systematic review. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 74, 7401185020. https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2020.038521

Nastasi, J. (2019). The social participation of older adults living with a visual impairment. Physical & Occupational Therapy in Geriatrics, 37(4), 282-297. doi: 10.1080/02703181.2019.1648625

Nastasi, J. (2018). The everyday lives of older adults with visual impairment: An occupational perspective. British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 81(5), 266-275. doi: 10.1177/0308022617752093

Nastasi, J., Baumann, B., Glanton, S., Gordan, S., Gower, N., Kennedy, C., Mertz, L., Russo, D., & Williams, C. (2017). Community lighting for older adults. Topics in Geriatric Rehabilitation, 33(4), 250-254.

Nastasi, J., Annunziato, P., Eife, B., Grave, E., Priolo, M., Rojas, M., & Zaloga, A. (2016). Developing a better understanding of functional visual performance: A mixed methods study. Visibility, 10(3&4). Retrieved from: https://university.envisionus.com/Visibility/Volume-10-Issue-3-4.

Nastasi, J. (2015). Occupational leadership to facilitate occupational engagement in older adults with visual impairment. Topics in Geriatric Rehabilitation, 31(2), 121-128.

Nastasi, J. (2015). Low vision rehabilitation for Multiple Sclerosis. Visibility, 8(3-4), 1-7.

Nastasi, J. (2013). Fieldwork. Work, 43(3), 245.

Nastasi, J. (2013). Specialty level II fieldwork in low vision rehabilitation. Work, 43(3), 361-378.

Nastasi, J. (2020). Conducting collective case studies: Exploring the occupational lives of older adults with visual impairment. SAGE Research Methods Cases. doi:10.4135/9781529735130

Nastasi, J. A. (2023). Chapter 9 – Occupations and contexts. In Blount, M.L., & Kramer, P. (Editors). The textures of life occupations and related activities, 5th ed. AOTA Press.

Nastasi, J. A. & Braveman, B. (2022). Chapter 16 – Marketing occupational therapy services. In Braveman, B. (Editor). Leading & managing occupational therapy services an evidence-based approach, 3rd ed. F. A. Davis.

Nastasi, J. (2020). Chapter 17 – How the dark side of occupation can be instructed in a course: Learning from occupational therapy. In R. Twinley (Editor), Illuminating the dark side of occupation: International perspectives from occupational therapy and occupational science. Routledge.

Nastasi, J. (2017). Chapter 7 – Meaning and dynamic of occupation and activity. In K. Jacobs, & N. MacRae (Editors), Occupational therapy essentials for clinical competence, 3rd ed. Slack Incorporated.

Nastasi, J. (2017). Chapter 37 – Consultation, referral, monitoring, and discharge planning. In K. Jacobs, & N. MacRae (Editors), Occupational therapy essentials for clinical competence, 3rd ed. Slack Incorporated.

Nastasi, J. (2017). Chapter 45 – Fieldwork education. In K. Jacobs, & N. MacRae (Editors), Occupational therapy essentials for clinical competence, 3rd ed. Slack Incorporated.

Braveman, B. & Nastasi, J. (2016). Chapter 14 – Marketing occupational therapy services. In Braveman, B. (Editor), Leading & managing occupational therapy services an evidence-based approach, 2nd ed. F.A. Davis.

Nastasi, J. (2015). Chapter 8 – Fieldwork. In K. Jacobs (Editor), Management and administration for the OTA: Leadership and application skills. Slack Incorporated.

Nastasi, J. (2014). Chapter 6 – Meaning and dynamic of occupation and activity. In K. Jacobs, N. MacRae, & K. Sladyk (Editors), Occupational therapy essentials for clinical competence, 2nd ed. Slack Incorporated.

Nastasi, J. (2014). Chapter 43 – Fieldwork education. In K. Jacobs, N. MacRae, & K. Sladyk (Editors), Occupational therapy essentials for clinical competence, 2nd ed. Slack Incorporated.

Nastasi, J., Krieger, S., & Rucker, J. (2012). Chapter 11 – Rehabilitation for visual impairments. In M. Finlayson (Editor), Multiple sclerosis rehabilitation: From impairment to participation. CRC Press/Taylor Francis.

Nastasi, J. A. (2012). Occupational Therapy Consultant. In M. Cameron (Editor), Physical agents in rehabilitation from research to practice, 4th ed. Elsevier.

Nastasi, J., and Harris, L. (2020). Interventions that support effective outcomes in work and social participation for adults with multiple sclerosis: Systematic review of related literature from 2011 – 2018 [Critically Appraised Topic]. Bethesda, MD: American Occupational Therapy Association.

Nastasi, J. A. (2019). Welcome from the PASIS chairperson. SIS Quarterly Practice Connections, 4(4), 26.

Nastasi, J., & Blair, C. (2018). AOTA critically appraised topic on the evidence-based literature review question: What is the evidence for the effectiveness of self-efficacy related interventions within the scope of occupational therapy practice to maintain, restore, and improve performance and quality of life in leisure, social participation, work, education, and rest and sleep for older adults with low vision? Retrieved from https://www.aota.org/~/media/Corporate/Files/Secure/Practice/CCL/Low-Vision/LV_miniCAT_self-efficacy.pdf

Nastasi, J., & Masci, E. (2018). AOTA critically appraised topic on the evidence-based literature review question: What is the evidence for the effectiveness of physical activity within the scope of occupational therapy practice to maintain, restore, and improve performance and quality of life in leisure, social participation, work, education, and rest and sleep for older

adults with low vision? Retrieved from https://www.aota.org/~/media/corporate/files/secure/practice/ccl/low-vision/lv_minicat_physical_activity.pdf

Nastasi, J., & Masci, E. (2018). AOTA critically appraised topic on the evidence-based literature review question: What is the evidence for the effectiveness of social participation interventions within the scope of occupational therapy practice to maintain, restore, and improve performance and quality of life in leisure, social participation, work, education, and rest and sleep for older adults with low vision? Retrieved from https://www.aota.org/~/media/Corporate/Files/Secure/Practice/CCL/Low-Vision/LV_miniCAT_social-participation.pdf

Nastasi, J. (2018). Maximizing independence in older adults with visual impairment and hearing loss. SIS Quarterly Practice Connections, 3(3), 20-22.

Nastasi, J. (2018). Tools, techniques, and recommendations for addressing clients’ lighting needs. OT Practice, 23(10), 21-23.

Nastasi, J. (2016). Addressing low vision in hospitals and other settings. OT Practice, 21(3), 17-18.

Nastasi, J., Bello, A., Bender, E., Davitt, K., Mahon, K., Marandino, A., Menendez, N., Munoz, M., Tripodi, C., & Zubia, S. (2013). Living with low vision tip sheet. Bethesda, MD: American Occupational Therapy Association.

Stav, W., & Nastasi, J. (2013). Critically appraised topic on evidence-based literature review question: What is the evidence for the effect of policy and community mobility programs (e.g., alternative transportation, walkable communities, education, driving cessation programs) on the performance and participation of older adults. Retrieved from http://www.aota.org/ccl/od/community-mobility.aspx

Nastasi, J. A. (2012, June). Specialty level II fieldwork in low vision rehabilitation. OT Practice, 17(11), 13-16.

Nastasi, J. (2014). The occupational lives of individuals with visual impairment. (Unpublished doctoral dissertation). Towson University, Towson, Maryland.

Nastasi, J. (2010). Specialty level II fieldwork in low vision rehabilitation. (Unpublished doctoral dissertation). Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts.

Nastasi, J. (2002). Student involvement with clients in the academic setting: Perceptions of program directors. (Unpublished thesis). Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts.

Prior to joining the faculty at the ²ÝÁñÉçÇø, Dr. Nastasi served on the faculty of the occupational therapy program at Ithaca College and as the Associate Director / Clinical Education Coordinator for the occupational therapy assistant program at Mercy College. She has worked as an occupational therapist at Danbury Hospital (out-patients), Northern Westchester Hospital (out-patients and in-patients), and Lawrence Hospital Center (out-patients and in-patients). Dr. Nastasi’s research focuses on visual impairment (low vision and blindness).  Her clinical expertise includes low vision rehabilitation, hand therapy, splinting, and orthopedic and neurological conditions.