CHRIM recognizes Dr. Jacquie Ripat for the clinically driven research she does within the research theme ENRRICH: Excellence in Neurodevelopment and Rehabilitation Research in Child Health.
We had the opportunity to speak with her about what valuable skills occupational therapists bring to research..
Professor in the Department of Occupational Therapy and the Chair of Technology for Assisted Living in the College of Rehabilitation Sciences, and an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Biosystems.
Dr. Ripat’s contributions at CHRIM have allowed her to find ways to use assistive technology to support the inclusion of people with disabilities and promote community participation.
She is currently working on POWER UP, a study that has received funding from CHRIM through the ENRRICH Catalyst Grant. In this study, the research team is exploring the ways Power Mobility Devices (PMD) become linked with well-being, social identity, and social skills. This project will increase the opportunity for children to have increased independent mobility, allowing for more autonomy and developmental opportunities. Exploring how having a PMD can give more opportunities for children to engage in their community further supports the advancement of tools that can create healthy environments.
She is also involved in other research projects that promote inclusion and accessibility, such as Level-Up, working with orthotics and prosthetic clinicians and engineers to provide adaptive technology to children with limb differences to allow them to play video games. Additionally, she is working with engineering and kinesiology to develop a smart assessment adaptive bike to measure how adaptive biking can improve physical and social function in children.
Ripat shared her insights about how occupational therapists can integrate their skill sets into research practices. “They possess a well-rounded skill set that allows them to understand children’s needs,” Dr. Ripat commented. “Using a holistic perspective, they work to understand the physical, emotional, and psycho-social aspects of children’s lives. Occupational therapy researchers are involved in research that supports children’s engagement and participation in the important activities of their lives.”
Dr. Jacquie Ripat’s research with ENRRICH is highly appreciated by CHRIM and the families she works with. She is committed to exploring ways to integrate assistive technology and her advocacy knows no bounds!