I am a lecturer in the Department of Clinical Therapies at University of Limerick, Ireland. I moved from Halifax, Nova Scotia to Ireland in January 2011. After graduating with my BScOT from Dalhousie University (1989) I worked for several years in Canada both in hospital and early childhood settings. I then moved to Philadelphia, PA where I developed a community based, private practice while completing my post-professional MScOT (1998) specializing in pediatrics, augmentative and alternative communication, and disability rights.
My first foray into research – a qualitative study focused on the transition experiences of teens with disabilities leaving high school – led to an enduring love of learning and research. This passion caused me to constantly question what I observed in my professional practice – particularly on the harm imposed by the stigma of disability. It became clear that I needed to learn more about the social and political forces that shape the lives of people with disabilities. To this end I completed an Interdisciplinary PhD focused on disability studies at Dalhousie University in 2010. I engaged with teens who navigated stigma to create lasting friendships. This attention to sustainable relationships at home, at work and in the community has carried forward into my current work, funded by a Marie Curie Career Integration Grant.
Between 2012-2014 I will complete a series of international case studies (Ireland, Canada, UK) attending to the experiences of people with intellectual disabilities who have transitioned from institutions into community living. As chair of Intellectual Disability Studies at UL (IDS@UL), I work closely with colleagues from a range of disciplines on a range of initiatives. For example the Research Active Programme (RAP) is an innovative 8 week training programme designed to build research capacity within the disability community. The goal is to enable people with disabilities to become effective co-researchers within university and community organisations.
Commitments that guide my research and teaching include: interdependence, belonging and community, equity and social justice, family-centred professional practice, and cultural humility.
Nancy Salmon 