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TRAIL Lab - Our Team

Meet the staff and students of TRAIL.

 


Scientists

Dr. Sally Lindsay, Principal Investigator, Affiliate Scientist at Toronto Rehabilitation Sciences Institute, and Leader of TRAIL.

Sally is a Senior Scientist in the Bloorview Research Institute and Associate Professor in the Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy and the Rehabilitation Sciences Institute, University of Toronto

See Dr. Sally Lindsay's full scientist profile


Staff 

RESEARCH COORDINATOR

Sharmigaa Ragunathan, MA. Sharmigaa received her MA in School and Clinical Child Psychology from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education- University of Toronto. She has previous clinical experience working with children who have learning, developmental and mental health-related disabilities in assessment and intervention settings. She is passionate about promoting inclusivity and increasing potential in individuals with disabilities.

RESEARCH ASSISTANT 

Lise Olds, BA. Lise received her BA in Indigenous Studies from Saskatchewan Indian Federated College (now First Nations University of Canada) at the University of Regina. She has a strong interest in inclusion and overall well-being. Lise is active in her community and also works in the Bloorview Research Institute as an Administrative Assistant. She contributes to the HB FIRST robotics and e-mentoring projects.

Shaelynn Hsu. Shaelynn is currently working towards her Honours BSc in the Biomedical Sciences program at York University. She hopes to combine her passion for working with youth and adults with disabilities and interest in research to develop inclusive strategies and facilitate independence. She is also currently working as a Life Skills Assistant in the VolunteerABLE program. 


Postdoctoral Fellows and Graduate Students

Over 150 people (trainees and highly qualified personnel) have trained in the TRAIL lab and most have been very successful with receiving external awards and scholarships (over $428,000 to date) and going on into careers in academics, health policy, government and health sciences.

POSTDOCTORAL FELLOW

Kristina Fuentes-Aiello, PhD, 2021-Present, Kristina received her PhD in Sociology from the London School of Economics and Political Science. Her research interests lie in workplace and labour market issues.

Yiyan Li, PhD, 2022-Present, Yiyan received her PhD in Sociology from the University of Saskatchewan. Her research interests focus on immigrants and Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI).

GRADUATE STUDENTS

Vanessa Tomas, PhD (Cand.), 2019-2023, Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Toronto. Vanessa has an MSc in Rehabilitation Sciences from McMaster University. Vanessa's thesis focuses on "Enabling workplace disability disclosure decisions among youth and young adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A multi-phased knowledge translation study."

Nadia Barrie, 2022-2023, MScOT, Dept. Occupational Science & Occupational Therapy, University of Toronto. Nadia did her undergraduate degree in Human Biology and a double minor in psychology and anthropology. 

Yiwen Li, 2022-2023, MScOT, Dept. Occupational Science & Occupational Therapy, University of Toronto. Yiwen graduated from the University of Toronto with an Honours Bachelor's of Science: double major in Neuroscience and Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, and a minor in French as a second language.


Alumni

Postdoctoral Fellows

Azar Varahra, PhD, 2019-2020, Azar's PhD was in Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, she specialized health promotion from the University of Western Ontario. Her work focused on promoting health in community, physical activity/exercise, and improving independent life for individuals with disabilities.

Kendall Kolne,PhD, 2018-2020, She came from the School of Communication Sciences and Disorders from McGill University. Her work focused on improving the inclusion of females with disabilities in STEM education and careers.

Mana Rezai, PhD, 2018-2020, Mana's PhD was in Epidemiology from the Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto. She contributed to the CIHR-SSHRC partnership grant on healthy and productive work for youth with disabilities.

De-Lawrence Lamptey, PhD, Post-doctoral fellow, 2017-2018

Laura Hartman, PhD, Post-doctoral Fellow, 2014-2015, "Hospital to school transitions for youth with ABI."

Anne-Marie Depape, PhD, Post-doctoral Fellow 2013-2014, “Youth with autism spectrum disorder in sheltered workshops and supported employment.”

Athena Goodfellow, PhD, Post-doctoral Fellow, 2013-2014, “Scoping review of best practices in improving inclusion and employment opportunities for people with disabilities.”

Melissa Fellin, PhD, Post-doctoral Fellow, 2013-2014, “Culturally sensitive care in rehabilitation”

Irina Tsybina, PhD, Post-doctoral Fellow, 2011, “Exploring unmet needs for communication devices”

Clinical Fellows

Mohammad Zubairi, MD, 2012-2014, “Delivering developmental diagnoses through culturally competent patient-provider partnership simulation”

Graduate Students

Sara Hanafy, PhD (Cand.), 2018-2022, Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Toronto. Sara has a MSc in Biomedical and Molecular Sciences from Queen's University. Sara's thesis focuses on "Sex and gender in Traumatic Brain Injury Population."

Yoyo Yuen, 2021-2022, MScOT, Dept. Occupational Science & Occupational Therapy, University of Toronto.

Lovina Ng, 2021-2022, MScOT, Dept. Occupational Science & Occupational Therapy, University of Toronto.

Abby Vijayakumar, MSc, 2019-2021, Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Toronto. Abby has an Honors BSc in Life Sciences from the University of Toronto. Abby’s thesis focused on “Coping mechanisms among youth and young adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder in employment.” Her work was supported through a SSHRC Master’s scholarship.

Aleah Johnson,  2020-2021, MScOT, Dept. Occupational Science & Occupational Therapy, University of Toronto.

Zahra Karmali,  2020-2021, MScOT, Dept. Occupational Science & Occupational Therapy, University of Toronto.

Sunny Bui,  MSc,2018-2020, Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Toronto. Sunny has a Bachelor of Social Sciences from the University of Ottawa.

Suky Hong, MSc, 2017-2019, Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Toronto. Suky's thesis focused on "Exploring the development of play and STEM skills among children with disabilities." Her work was supported through a SSHRC Master's scholarship.

Hailey Benedict, MScOT, 2019-2020, Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, University of Toronto.

Jessica Todd, MScOT, 2019-2020, Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, University of Toronto.

Emily Chai, MScOT, 2018-2019, Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, University of Toronto. Her work focused on exploring the factors that impact play participation of children with ASD in an adapted robotics program.

Amanada Tong, MScOT, 2018-2019, Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, University of Toronto. Her work focusd s on exploring the factors that impact play participation of children with ASD in an adapted robotics program.

Mikhaela Albarico,MScOT, 2018-2019, Department of Occupational Science & Occupational Therapy, University of Toronto. Mikhalea has an Honors BA in Psychology from York University. Her work focused on exploring the factors that impact play participation of children with ASD in an adapted robotics program.

Celia Cassiani, MSc, 2015-2017 (Rehabilitation Sciences Institute) “Exploring the types of social support in an online e-mentoring intervention for youth with disabilities” (SSHRC funded)

Isabelle Ingles, MScOT, 2017-2018, (Occupational Science & Occupational Therapy), “A systematic review of career development interventions for youth with disabilities”

Larissa Lopez, MScOT, 2017-2018, (Occupational Science & Occupational Therapy), “A systematic review of career development interventions for youth with disabilities”

Alicia Pannicia, MSc, 2014-2016 (Rehabilitation Sciences Institute), “Exploring the experiences of young adults with ABI as they transition to work-related roles.” (OGS-funded)

Winnie Lieu, and Cara Uy, MScOT, 2016-2017, Occupational Science & Occupational Therapy, “The role of e-mentoring to improve transition to employment for youth with physical disabilities”

Patricia Bo-Ran and Cindy Ma, MScOT, 2015-2016, "Transitions to post-secondary education and employment for youth with disabilities."

Emma Skinner and Nikita Findlay, MScOT, 2014-2015, "The effects of the Lifespan model on social participation for adolescents with disabilities in transition to adulthood.

Karen Yau and Xuqing Qie, MScOT, 2014-2015, "Workplace discrimination and stigma amongst cancer survivors"

Danielle D’Allessandro and Andie Hickling, MScOT, 2013-2014, “Understanding the transition to adulthood for youth with autism spectrum disorder”

Halie Peters and Shakira Hanif, MScOT, 2013-2014, “Best practices in employment readiness interventions for youth with physical disabilities”

Kathryn English and Rachael Authors, MScOT, 2013-2014, “Exploring the use of role play exercises as a tool to enhance employment readiness for youth with disabilities”

Nicole Van Riel and Laura Kim, MScOT, 2012-2013, “A systematic review of pediatric occupational therapy interventions for children with cerebral palsy”

Amanda Dresch and Kelsey Bick, MScOT, 2012-2013, “A systematic review of pediatric feeding assessments in occupational therapy”

Jennifer Woo and Melanie Kasner, MScOT, 2012-2013, “Best practices in OT handwriting computer assessments for children with cerebral palsy”

Jane Bell, MPH, 2006-2007, “The impact of a support group on heart health” (University of Salford, UK)

Undergraduates

Stuti Patel, HBSc, University of Toronto, 2022

Adyasha Pradhan, BSc, University of British Columbia, 2021-2022

Jaclyn Dyson, Health Sciences, Queen's University, 2022

Luiza Lamaj, Biomedical Sciences, Ryerson University, 2022

Mara Primucci, Medical Sciences, Western University, 2021

Sara Abrahamson, BSc, Western University, 2021

Sierra Pulver, BSc Honours, B.Ed, Queen’s University 2021

Karen Wong, BSc, Western University, 2021

Demitra Apostolopoulos, BSc, Wilfrid Laurier, 2020

Sara Ewen,B.Comm, B.Ed, York University, 2019

Layana Kirubainathan, Health Studies, University of Waterloo, 2018

Thaneya Kugansan, Health Studies, University of Toronto, 2018

Joelle Li, Health Sciences, McMaster University, 2018

Leora Karon, Geography, York University, 2017-2018

Mikhaela Albarico, Psychology, York University, 2016-1017

Dilakshan Srikanthan, Honours Bachelor of Science, University of Toronto, 2016-2017

Sara Cancelliere, Women and Gender Studies and Sociology at the University of Toronto, 2016

Ashley Lam, Health Sciences, McMaster, 2016

Erica Li, Medical Sciences, Western, 2016

Emily Chan, "Benefits and challenges of volunteering among youth with disabilities" (University of Toronto SSHRC Excellence Award), 2016

Monika Mistry, "Science of social inclusion" 2015-2016

Andrei Stoica, Psychology, York University,  2015-2016

Tania Mahendiran, "Transitions of youth with DMD to adult health care" 2015-2016

Anzhela Povar, "Transitions of youth with spina bifida", 2014

Samantha Burns, “Employment readiness among youth with a disability” 2013-2014

Finola D’Souza, “Development of a rubric for employment readiness for youth with a disability” 2013

Fionny Hau,“Employment readiness among youth with a disability”, 2013

Julia Ma, “Gender differences in acquired brain injury”, 2013

Celia Cassiani, “Exploring the role of winter on youth with disabilities”, 2013

Brigitte Corran, “Culturally sensitive care in pediatric rehabilitation”, 2012

Ashley Edwards, “A systematic review of disability awareness and social inclusion interventions for children with disabilities”, 2011

Suzanne Robinson, “Employer perceptions of working with youth who have a disability”, 2010

Andy Tran, “Exploring social inequalities among children with vision and hearing impairments, 2009-2010