Projects

This study explores the process of job carving (or job crafting) as a contributor to the quality of employment experiences for people with disabilities. We conducted three sets of focus groups, two with staff members from organizations offering employment support for job seekers with disabilities and one with employers and HR personnel.

A poster for this project was presented at the 33rd Annual Conference of the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology (SIOP) in Chicago (April, 2018):

We propose that, to further enhance applied research, partnerships and integrating partner perspectives could be integral throughout the entire research process. An integrated partnered research approach has been fruitfully implemented in many other disciplines, particularly in the health sciences, including public health, rehabilitation science, kinesiology and community medicine, as well as in some areas of psychology such as community psychology.

This project explores the experiences of Canadians with mobility impairments who receive employment supports from community-based organizations. This national longitudinal research project examines employability, health and wellbeing, employment experiences, and other outcomes among individuals with physical health conditions who are receiving employment counselling services.

A poster was presented at the Canadian Association for Research on Work and Health (CARWH) conference in Vancourver (October, 2018):

Despite the benefits of participating in parasport and the growing acceptance of parasport for individuals with physical disabilities, there remain challenges with the uptake of parasport participation at both the individual and societal levels. The present study explored, from the perspectives of elite parasport athletes, psychosocial factors associated with transitioning into parasport.

The aim of this project was to describe the methodology used to propose design guidelines for accessible pedestrian infrastructures that are applicable in the province of Quebec's context. Three groups of experts were consulted separately: 1) individuals with motor, visual, and hearing disabilities (n=15), 2) health clinicians and researchers (n=11), 3) municipal employees, representatives from public transportation agencies and from the ministry of transportation.

A scoping review of educational online resources for mobility assistive technology users and their caregivers. The aims of this project are to: 1) Identify existing web-based educational resources intended to train people with disabilities and their caregivers on how to use their mobility devices (wheelchairs, walking aids); 2) Assess the quality of exiting educational resources; and 3) Develop a resources catalogue and a prototype of an online knowledge transfer tool to inform potential users of the availability of these educational resources.

The overall aim of this CDPP project is to continue evaluations of a peer-led manual wheelchair training program for community-living adults for improving wheelchair skills and participation. A peer-led wheelchair training program shows promise as a feasible intervention positively influences wheelchair use outcomes. Future studies will examine group-based training initiatives and will seek to further evaluate participation outcomes. Data collection on new projects will begin in Quebec City and Vancouver in Fall 2017.

The purposes of the study are 1) to describe how Canadian and Dutch governments promote high performance, recreational sports and physical activity among adults with disabilities on national level, and 2) to identify similarities and differences between both governmental approaches. Results indicated that both governments use different strategies to promote recreational sports and physical activities among people with disabilities. Moreover, the study discusses differences in governments’ views on the extent to which disability sports are integrated into non-disabled sports.

Despite the importance of physical activity, the evidence for effective intervention strategies for manual wheelchair (MWC) users is underdeveloped. Community-based programs and telephone-counselling interventions to increase physical activity among MWC users have had some success, but the uptake and adherence to these interventions remains low within this population. Although the physical activity needs of MWC users are not fully understood, there is reason to believe that including peers into intervention delivery may have benefits.

Three studies were conducted to examine quality of physical activity participation among military Veterans with a physical disability. The first study explored views of Veterans with a physical disability regarding quality physical activity experiences. Four quality elements were identified (group cohesion, challenge, having a role, and independence and choice), as well as three conditions that are important for supporting a quality experience (the physical and social environment, and program structure).

The purpose of this project is to seek input from reserachers and stakeholders as we establish a clearer understanding of the fundamental components of a quality of participation experience in disability sport, across levels of competition.

A MITACS-funded postdoctoral fellow has been working at the Sam Sullivan Disability Foundation (SSDF) on a series of program evaluation projects. Comprehensive interviews and focus groups have been undertaken with participants, volunteers and staff for each of the SSDF projects.  A survey is being prepared to assess a larger proportion of participants. A report will be prepared and results will be formulated into a case-book that can be used by other organizations to learn about challenges, opportunities, and best-practices in community programming for people with disabilities.

The purpose of this project is to examine predictors of parental support behaviour for sport participation among youth with disabilities.  Elicitation data have been collected (N=25) and were analyzed to inform the development of a questionnaire. Further data were collected using the developed questionnaire (N=114).  These data are currently being analyzed to be included in a manuscript.

The purpose of this project is to evaluate sport and physical activity participation among youth with physical and sensory disabilities across Canada. Two telephone-based interviews were conducted among 50 youth to collect data related to sport and physical activity participation, along with levels of motivation, and perceptions of parental social support for sport and physical activity.

This study aims to answer the following research questions:

1) Where do people who use different types of mobility assistive devices (i.e., power wheelchairs, manual wheelchairs, scooters, walkers, crutches, and canes) go?

2) What do people who use different types of mobility assistive devices do?

3) What are the personal and neighbourhood physical and social environmental facilitators and barriers for mobility and social participation among people with mobility impairments?

The aim of this sub-project is to conduct systematic reviews to determine the state of knowledge and research gaps among the mobility and social participation literature, and to develop a testable conceptual model of participation.

Published Reviews:

Smith, E.M., Sakakibara, B.M., & Miller, W.C. (2014). A review of factors influencing participation in social and community activities for wheelchair users. Disability and Rehabilitation Assistive Technology, 4, 1-14.

The purpose of this project is to quantify the net benefit of hiring and accommodating people with physical disabilities, through a formal cost-benefit analysis.  We have begun analyzing data provided by a large Canadian food services company, and are in the process of recruiting additional employers to participate in the project.

This project will test the hypothesis that performance appraisals of people with disabilities tend to be less constructive and useful to the employee than those of people without disabilities. We have completed data collection for a pilot study to help finalize the experimental protocol, and are set to begin preliminary data analysis.

Results from two undergraduate performance appraisal projects were presented at McMaster (2018):

This project examined the work experiences of young, (18-34 years), middle-aged (35-54 years) and older adults (55+ years) living with arthritis to determine the similarities and differences across the life course. We conducted semi-structured focus groups/interviews. Results found that the impact of arthritis on involvement in paid work is not uniform across the life course.

The purpose of this project is to classify the barriers to employment experienced by individuals with physical disabilities. The paper is available at https://doi.org/10.1007/s10869-018-9602-5

Bonaccio, S., Connelly, C. E., Gellatly, I. R., Jetha, A., & Martin Ginis, K. A. (2019). The Participation of People with Disabilities in the Workplace Across the Employment Cycle: Employer Concerns and Research Evidence. Journal of Business and Psychology, in press.