Keiko Shikako
Associate Professor
BSc OT, University of Sao Paulo, Brazil; PhD, Rehabilitation Science McGill
University, Canada; Postdoctorate Knowledge Translation in policymaking for children with
disabilities, McMaster University and Knowledge Translation in policymaking in
Environmental Design and Accessibility, Université de Montréal.
Occupational Solutions I - Pediatric Neurologic Conditions
Occupational Solutions II - Policies supporting the participation of children with disabilities
Knowledge Translation in Rehabilitation - Knowledge Translation to policymaking
Public Policy and Knowledge Translation
My research focuses on the promotion of healthy living and the human rights of children with disabilities AND knowledge translation science and practice. My research program adopts a participatory approach to engage different interested parties, including policymakers, children and their families in finding solutions to change the environment, informing policymaking and promoting the participation of children with disabilities in different life roles and activities.
Current research projects include:
- The Jooay App (www.jooay.com)
- The PLAY project - creating inclusive playgrounds and measuring human rights indicators through the right to play
- Accessibility Standards Canada - Youth Employment Accessibility through Healthy inclusive communities (YEAH!)
- Beyond Convention: The impact of the UN convention on the rights of persons with disabilities in Canada
Knowledge Translation Initiatives and projects that I am currently leading/involved in include:
- The Policy Hub in Childhood Disabilities
- The Knowledge Mobilization program at the CHILD-BRIGHT SPOR (www.child-bright.ca)
- The childhood disability LINK website (www.childhoddisability.ca)
- Canadian Civil Society Organizations reporting on the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and on the Rights of the Child
- Accessibility Standards Canada Technical Committee in Public Spaces
- CanNRT Neurodevelopmental Research Training Platform (https://www.cannrt.ca/)
Research Areas:
childhood disability
knowledge translation
participation
public policy
human rights
Policy Options- Well-being of children with disabilities calls for rights-based policies
Stanford Social Innovation - Shaping research to create more social impact
CBC - Radio Canada - Les Éclaireurs;L'application Jooay
Ami Télé (perfect parenting)- Jooay App and the rights of children with disabilities
Ami Télé (Une famille comme les autres) - Jooay App and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of children
- Interview on the UN: minutes 6:38 to 9:11 of the video.
- Interview on the Jooay application: minutes 6:38 to 9:11 of the video
CTV - Canada AM
LA PRESSE - Les besoins particuliers d'abord
Montreal Gazette - Jooay App helps children with disabilities find leisure activities
ComSanté - La promotion de la participation des enfants en situation de handicap
Globe and Mail - Data gaps in Canada
CIHR - International Day of Persons with Disabilities
CIHR - Jooay App: Helping children to access play!
Public Policy, Knowledge Translation, Childhood Disabilities
Shikako-Thomas K, Shevell M. (2018). Promoting the Human Rights of Children With Neurologic Conditions.Semin Pediatr Neurol. 2018 Oct;27:53-61.
Shikako et al. Evidence-informed stakeholder consultations to promote rights-based approaches for children with disabilities. Front. Rehabil. Sci., 29 April 2024. Sec. Disability, Rehabilitation, and Inclusion, Volume 5 - 2024 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fresc.2024.1322191
Shikako K et al., Jooay App Research Group. Designing User-Centered Mobile Health Initiatives to Promote Healthy Behaviors for Children With Disabilities: Development and Usability Study. JMIR Form Res 2021;5(9):e23877. doi: 10.2196/23877
Shikako K, Lencucha R, Hunt M, Jodoin S, Elsabbagh M, Hudon A, Cogburn D, Chandra A, Gignac-Eddy A, Ananthamoorthy N, Martens R. How Did Governments Address the Needs of People With Disabilities During the COVID-19 Pandemic? An Analysis of 14 Countries' Policies Based on the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons With Disabilities. Int J Health Policy Manag. 2023;12:7111. doi: 10.34172/ijhpm.2023.7111. Epub 2023 May 17. PMID: 37579394; PMCID: PMC10425656.
Longo E, Galvão ÉRVP, Ferreira HNC, Lindquist ARR, Shikako-Thomas K. (2018). Knowledge translation in pediatric rehabilitation: expanding access to scientific knowledge.Braz J Phys Ther. 2017 Nov - Dec;21(6):389-390.
Moore JL, Shikako-Thomas K, Backus D. Knowledge Translation in Rehabilitation: A Shared Vision. Pediatr Phys Ther. 2017 Jul;29 Suppl 3:S64-S72
Shikako-Thomas, K., & Law, M. (2015). A policy mapping of policies supporting participation of children with disabilities in Canada: From policy to play. Disability & Society , 30(3).
Yusuf, A., Shikako-Thomas, K., Elsabbagh, M., & Prasanna, S.(2014). Community engagement and knowledge translation: Progress and challenge in autism research Autism, 18(7).
Camdem, C., Shikako-Thomas, K., Nguyen, T., Russel, D., Thomas, A., & Morris, C. (2015). Perspectives in integrated knowledge translation (IKT): A scoping review. Disability and Rehabilitation.
Shikako-Thomas, K., Kolehmainen, N., Ketelaar, M., Bult, M., & Law, M. (2014). Promoting leisure participation as part of health and well-being in children and youth with cerebral palsy. Journal of Child Neurology, 5;29(8):1125-1133. doi:10.1177/0883073814533422 (IF 1.6)
Shikako-Thomas K., Shevell M., Lach L., Law M., Schmitz N., Poulin C., Majnemer A., & the QUALA group. (2013). Are you doing what you want do do? Leisure preferences of adolescents with cerebral palsy. Developmental Neurorehabilitation. [Epub ahead of print] (IF: 1.861)
Shikako-Thomas K., Bogossian A., Lach L., Shevell M., & Majnemer A. (2013). Parents’ perspectives of the quality of life of adolescents with cerebral palsy: Trajectories, choices and hope. Disability and Rehabilitation, 35(25):2113-22.
Shikako-Thomas K., Shevell M., Lach L., Law M., Schmitz N., Poulin C., Majnemer A., & the QUALA group. (2013). Determinants of participation in leisure activities among adolescents with cerebral palsy. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 7;34(9):2621-2634.
Shikako-Thomas K., Shevell M., Lach L., Law M., Schmitz N., Poulin C., Majnemer A., & the QUALA group (2013). Picture me playing – A portrait of participation and enjoyment of leisure activities in adolescents with cerebral palsy. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 34(3):1001-10.
MacDonald, S. Sharpe, H., Shikako-Thomas, K., Larsen, B., MacKay, L. (2013). Entering uncharted waters: Navigating the Transition from Trainee to career for the non-physician clinician-scientist. Academic Medicine 88 (1): 61-66.
Shikako-Thomas. K., Dahan, N., Shevell, M., Law, M., Birnbaum, R., Rosenbaum, P., Poulin, C., & Majnemer, A. (2012). Play and be happy? – Quality of life and participation in school-aged children with cerebral palsy. International Journal of Pediatrics, ID387280. Doi:10.1155/2012/387280.
Dahan-Oliel, N., Shikako-Thomas, K., & Majnemer, A. (2012). Quality of life and leisure participation in children with neurodevelopmental disabilities: A thematic analysis of the literature. Quality of Life Research, 21(3):427–39.
Majnemer, A., Shikako-Thomas, K., Chokron, N.,Law, M.,Shevell, M., Poulin, C., & Rosenbaum, P. (2010). Leisure activity preferences for children with cerebral palsy. Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology, 52(2):115-6.
Shikako-Thomas, K., Lach, L., Majnemer, A., Nimignon, J., Cameron, K., Shevell M.(2009). Quality of life from the perspective of adolescents with cerebral palsy: ‘‘I just think I’m a normal kid, I just happen to have a disability”. Quality of Life Research, (18):825–832.
Shikako-Thomas, K., Majnemer, A., Law, M., & Lach, L. (2008). Determinants of participation in leisure activities in children and youth with cerebral palsy: Systematic review. Physical & Occupational Therapy in Pediatrics, 28(2):155–169.
