Miss Caitlin Beavis-Hardy

Contact

Research project: Maternal Occupational Injustice: Exploring the lived experiences of women with learning disabilities engaging in the occupation of motherhood

Abstract

My thesis will explore the lived experiences of women with learning disabilities who are engaged or engaging in the occupation (role) of motherhood. It will chiefly examine the occupational injustices they experience and how this impacts their occupational performance. Additionally, it will seek to determine the potential role for occupational therapists to play in supporting women within this population group.

I will be looking at the historical context that informs the present-day experiences of this group as well as the social, political and economic barriers (among others) impacting occupational performance, as it's defined within the occupational therapy literature.

This will be a qualitative study, making use of a narrative approach to research through lived experience interviews.

Research degree: PhD
Title of project: Maternal Occupational Injustice: Exploring the lived experiences of women with learning disabilities engaging in the occupation of motherhood
Research supervisor: Dr Melania Calestani

Biography

Having worked in the field of child development and community practice for many years I decided to pursue a masters in Occupational Therapy where I went on to specialize in paediatrics in my clinical practice during the ensuing years. After moving to the UK, the opportunity to enter into academia presented itself and I enthusiastically accepted the opportunity to become a full-time Senior Lecturer with the Kingston & St George's, University of London, Joint Faculty. I currently teach in the BSc (Honours) Occupational Therapy Programme as part of the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences. I am thrilled to be undertaking my PhD on a part-time basis whilst I continue to teach and support students, full-time.

Areas of research interest

Occupational Therapy
Learning Disabilities
Inclusive Health Care
Cultural Safety
Development through the lifespan

Qualifications

Bachelor of Arts (History), McGill University, Canada
Master of Science, Occupational Therapy, Queen's University, Canada

Publications

Beavis-Hardy, C., Sense, J., Fucile, S. (2018). Rehabilitation of Infant oral Feeding Difficulties: A Survey of Occupational Therapists Practice Approaches. Occupational Therapy in Health Care, 32 (1).