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 & Volunteers
RESEARCH STAFF
Hiba Ahmed, MPH. Hiba received her Master of Public Health from the University of Toronto’s Dalla Lana School of Public Health. Hiba specialized in health promotion and public health policy. Her interests include evidence-based population health interventions, health evaluation, and knowledge translation.
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.
Polina Kosareva, BSc. Polina received her Bachelor of Science in Medical Sciences and Psychology from Western University. Her interests include supporting the social inclusion of children and youth with disabilities in all areas of life. Polina is also the Outreach Coordinator with the hospital’s Communications and Public Engagement Team, where she leads the Dear Everybody outreach program.
VOLUNTEERS
Karen Wong, is currently completing her Bachelor of Medical Sciences at Western University, with a specialization in Interdisciplinary Medical Sciences. She is passionate about promoting diversity and inclusion in sport, STEM, and healthcare. She is particularly interested in childhood disability and youth mental health.
Mara Primucci, is currently going into her third year of the Bachelor of Medical Sciences program at Western University. Her interests include working with children with disabilities, by helping them overcome any barriers they may face and developing inclusive environments for youth. She has been volunteering with Holland Bloorview in different areas for three years now.
Sara Abrahamson, is doing her BSc, Honours Specialization in Neuroscience at Western University. She has a passion for working with children and hopes to help enhance the inclusivity and improve the mental health of children with disabilities in the community. Over the past two years she has had the opportunity to help children with disabilities enhance their cognitive and motor skills through swimming lessons.
Sierra Pulver, is doing her BSc Honours in Life Sciences along with her BEd at Queen’s University. In 2019, she completed a teaching placement at Bloorview School Authority where she worked with JK/SK students focusing on their individual needs as learners. She has a passion for working with children with disabilities and is motivated to find ways to better the daily lives of individuals living with exceptionalities.
Postdoctoral Fellows and Graduate Students
Over 130 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 $406,000 to date) and going on into careers in academics, health policy, government and health sciences.
GRADUATE STUDENTS
Abby Vijayakumar, MSc (Cand.), 2019-2021, Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Toronto. Abby has an Honors BSc in Life Sciences from the University of Toronto. Abby’s thesis focuses on “Coping mechanisms among youth and young adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder in employment.” Her work is supported through a SSHRC Master’s scholarship.
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."
Vanessa Tomas, PhD student, 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."
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
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
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 focuses on "Exploring the development of play and STEM skills among children with disabilities." Her work is 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 (Cand.), 2018-2019, Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, University of Toronto. Her work focuses on exploring the factors that impact play participation of children with ASD in an adapted robotics program.
Amanada Tong, MScOT (Cand.), 2018-2019, Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, University of Toronto. Her work focuses on exploring the factors that impact play participation of children with ASD in an adapted robotics program.
Mikhaela Albarico, MScOT (Cand.), 2018-2019, Department of Occupational Science & Occupational Therapy, University of Toronto. Mikhalea has an Honors BA in Psychology from York University. Her work focuses 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 (Cand.), 2017-2018, (Occupational Science & Occupational Therapy), “A systematic review of career development interventions for youth with disabilities”
Larissa Lopez, MScOT (Cand.), 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)
UNDERGRADUATE
Demitra Apostolopoulos, BSc, Wilfrid Laurier, 2020
Sara Ewen, BComm, 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, 2013, “Employment readiness among youth with a disability”
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
