Prof. Yani Hamdani is featured in a story in Ryerson University’s paper The Ryersonian about autism in women attending university:

“As of 2013, anyone who was given an Asperger syndrome diagnosis is considered to have Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) instead. Practitioners can no longer officially diagnose an individual with Asperger syndrome, the developmental disorder characterised by significant difficulties in social interaction as well as restricted and repetitive patterns of behaviour and interests.

Not all people like the term ASD or that it is positioned as a medical disorder. Some prefer the terms “autism” or “on the autism spectrum” instead. Autism is a developmental disorder of variable severity that is characterized by difficulty in social interaction and communication and by restricted or repetitive patterns of thought and behaviour. There are stigmas that get associated with the term which have created tensions and various approaches to providing proper support and health care.

According to Yani Hamdani, an assistant professor in the Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy at the University of Toronto and a Clinician-Scientist at the Azrieli Adult Neurodevelopmental Centre at CAMH, “there was a desire to reflect the wide range of ways that autism presents in individuals — it’s a spectrum. It was difficult to distinguish between some of the diagnostic criteria for similar and related diagnoses.”

Along with the potential for blurred lines as to where people sit on this spectrum, there are other factors that make it complicated to navigate exactly where you fit in.

Some of these complications differ depending on your gender. Girls are typically known to be better at hiding autistic traits and mimicking their peers to fit in, which is why they often — more so than boys — get overlooked, misdiagnosed or left with no diagnosis at all. More research is coming out which shows “masking” or “camouflaging” traits are not solely girl-specific though; some boys and men also camouflage and some don’t camouflage at all.

One of the reasons that girls are less likely to be diagnosed with autism than boys is because this ability to mask their traits well makes them appear neurotypical, so they slip under the diagnostic radar, so much so that some are left undiagnosed until adulthood.

“The most commonly reported male:female ratio of autism diagnosis is 4:1,” Hamdani said. “Researchers in Canada, U.K. and the U.S. are exploring if there is a female ‘version’ of autism, or if the characteristics for diagnosis are expressed differently in girls.”

Other research, like Hamdani’s own, explores if there are gender differences in the experiences of autism. “For example, girls may be socialized differently than boys and may be more adept at learning social skills in order to ‘fit in.’”

Continue reading the full article, Autism in females may be harder to spot and diagnose, but they still need adequate university services and support, by Sami Chasonoff (January 20, 2020).

“I’m so pleased to be in a position to tell stories about therapists – both physical and occupational – all of whom have played a part in changing the world in ways that may be small but are important to all of us. These thoughts are swirling as I’m beginning to write about Susan Hannah.”

Wendy Campbell of the PT/OT Alumni Association wrote these words and more about alumna and lecturer in the Dept. of OS&OT.  Read the full alumni profile of Sue.

 

 

Congratulations to Prof. Susan Rappolt, recipient of the 2019 Ontario Society of Occupational Therapists Honourary Life Membership Award.

“The Society’s most valued award recognizes and honours an individual who has rendered distinguished and longstanding service to the profession of Occupational Therapy or to the Society.  Susan’s career and her contributions, commitment, and passion for the profession of occupational therapy exemplify valued service to both the profession and the Society.” (OSOT, Nov 6, 2019)

From the nomination:

Following graduation from Queen’s University, Susan practised occupational therapy for a decade in Kingston, Hamilton, London, and Toronto. During this period, she was a staff therapist, a senior therapist in neurorehabilitation, an acting manager, and a community-based occupational therapist. These experiences provided her with an understanding of practice with various populations and different treatment settings within Ontario.

Susan joined the Department of Occupational Therapy at the University of Toronto in 1996 after having completed a PhD on the sociology of the health care professions. Her teaching and research activities have helped to shape the development of occupational therapy in Ontario. For example, Susan developed the three Professional Issues courses for the MScOT Program, incorporating new content on professionalism, practice processes, health and rehabilitation policy, and research utilization. She also incorporated College of Occupational Therapists of Ontario PREP modules into the Professional Issues courses, making U of T the first program to include these modules in entry-level programs.

As Chair of the Department of OS&OT since 2009, She oversaw the oldest and largest program of occupational therapy in Canada and ensured its ongoing development. Among Susan’s most significant achievements is the expansion of the occupational therapy program at U of T to include a cohort of students on U of T’s Mississauga (UTM) campus. Similar to the program for medical students already in place, the occupational therapy program at UTM provides an opportunity for learning in a smaller setting, in a fast-growing geographical area where there is a clear need for more health professionals. The aim of the enrolment expansion at UTM has been for the Department to work with its hospital and community partners to build occupational therapy capacity in established and evolving roles across Peel, one of the fastest growing regions in Canada.

Another program under Susan’s management is the Advanced Standing Option designed for occupational therapists with an undergraduate degree in Occupational Therapy who wish to obtain an MScOT degree. The program was seen as not only meeting an important need for clinicians to upgrade but also as “a transformative learning experience since the students’ newly developed knowledge translation skills were immediately applied to their real-life practice issues”. While the program is currently on hold, it will soon continue to provide established occupational therapists with research training to create new evidence for occupational therapy practice.

As Chair of OS&OT, she led the faculty in the development of its theoretically based pedagogy and scholarship. She has helped develop new faculty positions which will support research and teaching in areas important for the growth of the profession.

Photo credited to the Ontario Society of Occupational Therapists, October 2019. Featured, from left, are Sylvia Davidson, OSOT Past-President, Susan Rappolt, and Christie Brenchley, OSOT Executive Director

Prof. Rappolt completed her term as Chair of the Dept. of  OS&OT in 2019.

 

Alex Mihailidis, a leading researcher in intelligent health systems and the use of technology to help older adults, has been appointed associate vice-president, international partnerships at the University of Toronto.

In his new role, Mihailidis will be tasked with nurturing alliances with academic and industry partners across the globe, as well as securing sponsored reserach, support for entrepreneurs and philanthropic support for the university’s academic and translation mandates from international sources. He will also promote Toronto’s thriving innovation ecosystem.

“Partnerships really strengthen the research that we’re doing here at U of T,” said Mihailidis, a professor in the Faculty of Medicine’s Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy and the Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering who is also cross-appointed to the department of computer science.

Read the full story from U of T News (May 9, 2019).