Dr. Sally Lindsay has been appointed to a full professor (status only) * at University of Toronto’s Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy and the Rehabilitation Sciences Institute. Her appointment will take effect on July 1, 2023.

“As a senior scientist and head of the of the TRAIL (Transitions and Inclusive Environments) Lab, Dr. Lindsay is a trailblazer for her research co-designing solutions with clients and families to address challenges that youth with disabilities face when it comes to social inclusion and well-being,” said Dr. Evdokia Anagnostou. “We are proud of her research accomplishments and her dedication to mentoring future generations of scientists in research prioritizing meaningful inclusion in childhood disability and developmental differences.”

"We are pleased to have Professor Sally Lindsay as a professor (status only) in the Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy," said Dr. Mary Forhan, the department's chair. "We are grateful for the breadth of knowledge and experience Dr. Lindsay brings to our department."

Since Dr. Lindsay’s appointment in 2009 at the BRI and at U of T, she and her research team have made notable contributions in creating inclusive spaces in the workplace, in education, and in healthcare spanning 26 countries worldwide.

Dr. Lindsay’s research impact is equally impressive: she has secured over $9.2million in funding (half of that as a principal investor), has 180 publications with leading or high-impact journals, and has given over 300 presentations, almost third of them to international audiences. The award-winning scientist is an elected member of Royal Society of Canada’s College of New Scholars, Artists and Scientists.

Her passion to create a world where everyone belongs is also clearly evident – whether it’s her work with the hospital’s Evidence to Care team in developing HAPPY, a toolkit for youth with disabilities and employers to enhance workplace accessibility, or her work in creating solutions for accessible transportation and sidewalks, or her work with our Foundation team’s anti-ableism advocacy campaigns.

Still passing her knowledge onto future generations of scientists who will forge new pathways in childhood disability and developmental differences to help create a more inclusive world for all is core to her work.

“To best engage students, especially in my research supervision, I feel it is important to align their interests and passions within my research program,” said Dr. Lindsay. “I give them the freedom to explore what interests and excites them while guiding them in a direction that addresses a novel gap in the field.”

What gives her the most joy is her continued connection with her students, both past and present.

“One of the greatest joys of teaching and supervising students is to see them succeed, not only in the current context that you know them but when they get in touch with you several years later to let you know how they are doing. You feel that you played a part of their journey.”

Congratulations Dr. Lindsay!

*Note: Full professor (status only) holds the same academic ranking as professor (status only)at the University of Toronto.