Rate My Professor John Rider

John Rider is an Associate Professor of Occupational Therapy in the Department of Communication Disorders and Occupational Therapy at the University of Arkansas. He joined the university in 2025 as a tenured associate professor in the occupational therapy doctoral program after serving as an assistant professor at Touro University Nevada School of Occupational Therapy, where he received the 2023 Presidential Faculty Award for Excellence in Scholarship. Rider earned a PhD in Interdisciplinary Health Sciences from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, a Master of Science degree, and a BA in Deaf Studies and Linguistics from Utah Valley University. Holding certifications including OTR/L, BCPR, BCG, MSCS, and ATP, he brings extensive clinical expertise from roles in home health, hand therapy, skilled nursing facilities, regional hospitals, and outpatient settings. His international experience encompasses nearly two years at a school for the Deaf in Ghana with Signs of Hope International, where he taught English, developed educational materials for Deaf children, trained Ghanaian sign language interpreters, and created the first Ghanaian Sign Language Dictionary.

Rider's academic interests center on rehabilitation strategies for neurodegenerative diseases, fall prevention, behavioral health, chronic pain, and parenting with disabilities. His prolific research output includes publications such as "Psychological Factors Associated with Fear of Falling & Fear of Falling Avoidance Behavior in Older Adults" (2023), "Pediatric Complex Regional Pain Syndrome and Occupational Therapy Intervention: A Scoping Review" (2024), "Fear of Falling Avoidance Behavior in Parkinson’s Disease: Most Frequently Avoided Activities" (2022), "From Innovation to Integration: Exoskeletons in Rehabilitation Practice" (2025, CareManagement), and "Nerve Impingement" (2023). Additional contributions feature scoping reviews on ankylosing spondylitis, chapters on pain and cognitive beliefs, and studies on exoskeletons, wheelchair seating, and mental health interventions for ostomates. With over 300 citations, Rider's scholarship advances occupational therapy interventions for mobility impairments, pain management, and psychological factors in vulnerable populations including those with Parkinson's disease and complex regional pain syndrome.