Biography
Nancy's research, teaching and life experiences created a career path that intertwines health professional practice, critical disability theory and community engagement through participatory research approaches. She is particularly concerned with how ableism quietly shapes the interactions between health professionals, people with disabilities and the societies we all re/create. It is vital that these tensions be examined through novel education and research initiatives. This is timely as we move into an era that brings with it the challenges of limited resources, an aging population, a shift to new models of care, and greater interprofessional collaboration.
Nancy's healthcare practice for over 2 decades and more recently her research career involves supporting people with disabilities to live well in homes and communities they choose. Working for many years as a community-based occupational therapist in Canada and the US enabled Nancy to identify similarities in the lives of people with disabilities across jurisdictions. A sense of urgency to address the institutional structures that shape the experiences of people with disabilities and their families prompted her to pursue a Interdisciplinary PhD in Disability Studies at Dalhousie University, Canada.
Upon completing her PhD Nancy took up a lecturing post at the University of Limerick in the Department of Clinical Therapies in 2011. She was awarded a Marie Curie Career Integration Grant (2012-2016) for a multi-stranded research studyNavigating Stigmacomprised of 3 interdependent projects guided by the overarching question, How do people with disabilities navigate stigma to create sustainable relationships at home, at work/school, and in their communities?
Commitments that guide Nancy's research and teaching include: equity and social justice, community engagement, person-centred professional practice and interprofessional healthcare education.
Research Interests
Inclusive research practice, social justice, equity, transition to community living and interprofessional education for healthcare students are all aspects of Nancy's programme of research.A significant aspect of Marie Curie project (2012-2016) involved creating, piloting and publishing about Public and Patient Involvement in Research through the Research Active Programme (RAP)a module designed to support people with intellectual disabilities to develop research skills. Nancy's commitment to supporting disability rights, along with her work on RAP, enabled a connection with the Irish Inclusive Research Network. Nancy is now an academic supporter to this exemplary self-advocate lead research collaborative.
Nancy's expertise in qualitative research approaches was strengthened through 'Moving Home', the second strand of the Marie Curie project. This was a series of 3 international case studies focused on people with intellectual disabilities moving from institutions to community living in the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland and Nova Scotia, Canada. The value of peer support, independent advocacy services and an explicit commitment from government were key themes identified.
Continuing to build upon existing research connections to complete funded international research projects that address issues identified by people with disabilities drives Nancy's programme of research. Communication between people with disabilities and healthcare professionals, supporting social inclusion of self-advocates with intellectual disabilities in community living, promoting mental health initiatives and deepening her understanding of participatory research practices will remain central to Nancy's programme of research.