Rebecca RenwickRebecca RenwickProfessor

Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy
(416) 978-1818
r.renwick@utoronto.ca
Lab website: www.utoronto.ca/qol

Cross Appointments

  • Graduate Department of Rehabilitation Science
  • Institute of Medical Science
  • Department and Graduate Department of Public Health Sciences

School of Graduate Studies

  • Member
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Biosketch

My educational background is in Psychology, Occupational Therapy, and Physical Therapy. I have also earned a certificate in Alternative Dispute Resolution from the Canadian International Institute of Applied Negotiation. Since the late 1980s, most of my research has focused on quality of life and related issues for individuals with and without disabilities, from childhood through older adulthood . My research has also included attention to quality of life for families that include family members with disabilities and community quality of life. I am currently the Director of the Quality of Life Research Unit (QOLRU) at the University of Toronto which is housed at the Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy. The QOLRU disseminates information about the research conducted as well as the conceptual models and measurement instruments developed under its sponsorship and provides some research consultation and educational services focused on quality of life issues.

Selected Recent Publications

  1. Chau, L., Hegedus, L., Praamsma, M., Smith, K., Tsukada, M., Yoshida, K. and Renwick, R. (In press). Women living with spinal cord injury: Perceptions about their changed bodies. Qualitative Health Research.
  2. O’Brien, A., Renwick, R. and Yoshida, K. (In press). Nature and patterns of leisure participation among individuals living with spinal cord injuries. International Journal of Rehabilitation Research.
  3. Pizzi, M. and Renwick, R. (In press). Quality of Life and health promotion. In M. Scaffa, M. Reitz, & M. Pizzi, (Eds.). Occupational therapy in the promotion of health and wellness. Philadelphia, PA: F. A. Davis.
  4. Pearcey, T., Yoshida, K. and Renwick, R. (2007). Personal relationships after a spinal cord injury. International Journal of Rehabilitation Research, 30(3), 209-219.
  5. Gill, T. L. and Renwick, R. (2007). Quality of life and service delivery for families of adults with developmental disabilities. Journal on Developmental Disabilities, 13(3), 127-149.

Recent Thesis/Projects Supervised

  1. "Young adults with disabilities: Empowerment through self-advocacy". Beth Rossen (PhD, PHS), in progress.
  2. "The meaning of home for people who have lifelong disabilities and live in supported housing arrangements". Laurie Mithchell (MSc, GDRS), in progress.
  3. “Capturing the voices of children with intellectual/developmental disabilities about their own quality of life”. J. Johnson (MScOT), 2007.
  4. “Children with intellectual/developmental disabilities: Learning about their perspectives about quality of life through video camera methodologies”. S. Chui (MScOT), 2007.
  5. "Adults with intellectual/developmental disabilities in contemporary film: Quality of life and occupational engagement”. A. Jung (MScOT), 2007.

Research Interests

Quality of Life (Models, Instruments, Methodologies, Research Studies); Well-Being, Disability; Inclusion; Independent Community Living/Community Participation.

Current Courses

OCT1111Y Occupational Science: Foundations of Occupational Therapy

Special Lectures / Keynote Speeches

  1. Renwick, R. (2007) Conceptualizing and measuring quality of life for adults with developmental disabilities. The quality of life for the young adult with neurodisability (research workshop). London, UK. Invited presentation. Workshop funded by Casting Foundation(UK) and United Cerebral Palsy Foundation (USA). Invited presentation.
  2. Renwick, R. (2006). Quality of life research: From theory to application. University of Sao Paulo, College of Nursing, Ribeirao Preto campus, Brazil.  Invited, week-long course for researchers and students from across Brazil.
  3. Renwick, R. (2005). Conceptualizing and measuring quality of life. Fifth Annual National Brazilian Congress on Physical Activity and Health. Florianopoulos, Santa Catarina, Brazil. Keynote address.
  4. Renwick, R. (2005). Quality of life for children with disabilities: A new conceptual model and measurement approach. Fifth Annual National Brazilian Congress on Physical Activity and Health. Florianopoulos, Santa Catarina, Brazil. Invited presentation.
  5. Renwick, R. (2003). Conceptualizing and measuring community quality of life in a health promotion context. 5th National Health Promotion Conference, sponsored by Health Promotion Switzerland/ Promotion Sante Suisse, St. Gallen, Switzerland. Keynote address.

 

Department of Occupational Science & Occupational Therapy

Faculty