Phone: (905) 525-9140 ext: 27803
Fax: (905) 524-0069
Office: Rm.409, IAHS
Email: stewartd@mcmaster.ca
Curriculum Vitae: Download

Profile

Debra Stewart, MSc. is an occupational therapist who is an associate professor in the School of Rehabilitation Science and an Investigator at CanChild Centre for Childhood Disability Research. Debra received her bachelors degree in occupational therapy from the University of Toronto, and her MSc. Degree in Design, Measurement and Evaluation from McMaster University in 1998.

Debra's teaching interests are in the study and theoretical underpinnings of occupation and person-environment interactions as well as in the practice area of pediatrics, in particular adolescence. She teaches primarily in the first and second terms of the occupational therapy curriculum.

Her primary research area is the transition to adulthood for youth with disabilities. Debra has been involved in the development and evaluation of an Information KIT (“Keeping It Together”) for parents of children and youth with special needs, and more recently in a Youth version of the KIT. Other research projects include the evaluation of an individualized funding approach and development of a resource manual for parents of young adults with disabilities, and best practice guidelines for transition to adulthood services and supports in Ontario.

Deb's clinical experience is primarily in the area of paediatrics, and she still does some private community work as part of REACH Therapy Services.

Lab/Research Institute

CanChild, McMaster University

Courses Taught

MSC (OT), McMaster University

2010 – 2011
Term 2 (Person, Environment & Occupation) Chair
Term 1 (Wellness, Health & Occupation) I&I 617
Term 1 (Wellness, Health & Occupation) Foundational Knowledge 616
Term 2 (Person, Environment & Occupation) I&I 627
Term 2 (Person, Environment & Occupation) Foundational Knowledge 626
Term 6 (Complexities of Contemporary Practice) PREP 738

2009 -2010
Term 1 (Wellness, Health & Occupation) PREP 618

2008 – 2009
Term 2 (Person, Environment & Occupation) I&I 627

2007 – 2008
Term 1 (Wellness, Health & Occupation) PREP 618 (co-coordinator)

Recent Research

2009
Funding Agency: HHS Innovations Fund
Amount: $199,000.00
Funding Period: March 2009 – Feb. 2011
Dept. Hamilton Health Sciences and CanChild
Title: The utilization, utility and impact of a Transition Coordinator and the Youth Kit© among adolescents with chronic health conditions as they transition to adulthood. A pilot study.
Investigators: Zubin Punthakee, Jan Willem Gorter, H. Brill, A. Don-Wauchope, C. Grant, D. Stewart, P. Rosenbaum.

Funding Agency: Children’s Rehabilitation Research Network
Amount: $5000.00
Funding Period: Sept. 2009 – 2010
Dept. CanChild and Hamilton Family Network
Title: A qualitative study of Personal Support Networks for youth with developmental disabilities in transition to adulthood
Investigators: Debra Stewart and Jan Burke-Gaffney

2008
Funding Agency: Human Resources & Social Development Canada (HRSDC)
Amount: $51,000.00
Funding Period: Feb 2008-Nov 2009
Dept: CanChild & School of Rehabilitation Science
Title: Understanding Transitional Tensions of Youth with Disabilities in Canada
Investigators: Deb Stewart, Mary Law, Nancy Young, Helen Healy, Jan Burke-Gaffney, Mary Forhan, Matt Freeman

Funding Agency: Pollock Foundation
Amount: $12,500
Funding Period: 2008-09
Dept: CanChild
Title: Development and Evaluation of Youth Kit Training Materials
Investigators: Deb Stewart, Mary Law, Cheryl Missiuna, Jan-Burke-Gaffney, Lorie Shimmell, Matt Freeman, Salina Jaffer

2007
Funding Agency: Children’s Rehabilitation Research Network
Amount: $5,000
Funding Period: Sept 2007 – Dec. 2007
Dept: CanChild Centre for Childhood Disability Research
Title: Follow-up on Best Practice Guidelines for Transition to Adulthood
Investigator: Deb Stewart