Critical Disability Studies & the Politics of Intervention in Healthcare (Episode 117)

Susan Mahipaul is an occupational therapist, an educator, a researcher, and a disability and health naviagator and advocate who completed a PhD from McMaster University in Hamilton, ON in Rehabilitation Science (2015) and a clinical Master’s in Occupational Therapy from the University of Toronto (2004). She identifies as a disabled clinician and a critical disability scholar. Her doctoral work explored how her own reflections on living with spina bifida can be used to critique normative assumptions on disability within rehabilitation practices and society at large. Her research, teaching, and writing interests include advocating for equity, justice, and anti-oppressive practices within the rehabilitation sciences; academic ableism; how rehabilitation science programs often exclude disabled students; and using narrative research in teaching critical disability studies concepts within rehabilitation and disability studies programs. Susan teaches as an instructor within the undergraduate Disability Studies program at King’s University College at Western University Canada. She guest lectures extensively throughout many Canadian OT programs on critical disability studies and anti-oppressive clinical practice. She consults on several national research projects underpinned by critical disability studies and disability researching partnerships. Susan also has a professional practice where she consults with, advocates for, and supports disabled and chronically ill women in navigating their disability and health related needs. Susan is married and lives in London, ON with her husband and her retired racing greyhound. She grew up in Austria, Germany, and Canada and loves the outdoors. Susan comes from an active family and participated in many sports, committee work and volunteer and advocacy initiatives, until chronic pain and challenges with pacing led her to reimagine her work-life balance. Susan is an avid gardener who loves propagating plants and gifting them to anyone she can.

Follow Susan on Twitter @SMahipaul

Resources mentioned during this episode:
"Perspectives on Disability and Rehabilitation: Contesting Assumptions, Challenging Practice" by Karen Whalley Hammel, PhD, MSc, OT(C), DipCOT
"Disability Visability" by Alice Wong