Patty RigbyPatty RigbyAssociate Professor

Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy
(416) 978-0528
patty.rigby@utoronto.ca

Cross Appointments

  • Graduate Department of Rehabilitation Sciences
  • Scientist, Bloorview Research Institute, Bloorview Kids Rehab

School of Graduate Studies

  • Associate Member
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Biosketch

Patty Rigby, PhD, OT Reg (Ont), is an Associate Professor in the Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy. Patty is also a Research Scientist at the Bloorview Research Institute, Holland Bloorview Children’s Rehabilitation Hospital in Toronto. Patty has many years of clinical experience working with children with physical disabilities, and learning and behavioural disorders. She has made these populations a primary focus for her research. She is also a member of a team of OT researchers from McMaster University who developed the Person-Environment-Occupation (PEO) Model for OT practice and worked with these colleagues to co-edit an OT textbook on environmental interventions.

In 2008, Patty was awarded the prestigious Circle of Honour in Education at Bloorview Kids Rehab. In 2007, the Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy presented her with the Excellence in Service Award, and the following year, presented her with the Research Supervision Award.

Selected Recent Publications

  1. Rigby, P. & Joos, S. (in press). How Canadian laws influence OT practice with children. In S. Lane & A. Bundy (Eds.) Kids can be kids: Supporting the occupations and activities of childhood. Philadelphia: F.A.Davis Co.
  2. Rigby, P., Ryan, S., Campbell, K., (2010). Electronic Aids to Daily Living and Quality of Life for Persons with Tetraplegia  Disability and Rehabilitation: Assistive Technology; Early Online, 1–8.
  3. Ryan, S.E., Rigby, P.J., & Campbell, K.A. (2010). Randomised controlled trial comparing two school furniture configurations in the printing performance of young children with cerebral palsy. Australian Occupational Therapy Journal, 57(4), 239-245.
  4. Rigby, P., Ryan, S. E. and Campbell, K.A. (2009). Effect of adaptive seating devices on the activity performance of children with cerebral palsy. Archives of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, 90, 1389-95 .
  5. Rigby, P., Stark, S., Letts, L. and Ringaert, L. (2008). OT evaluation and intervention: Physical environment. In Willard & Spackman’s Occupational Therapy (11th Ed) (pp.820-849). Baltimore, MD: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.

Recent Thesis/Projects Supervised

  1. “Caring for children with brain injury: Enhancing competency through play.” Sara Citron and Kristen D’Ornellas, MSc OT students 2009.
  2. “Analysis of Therapy Goals for Children with Developmental Delay.” Allison Rock and Mallory Ryan, (MSc OT), 2011.
  3. “Critical review of assessments of the environment.” Oana Craciouni and Dana Baxter (MSc OT) 2010.  
  4. “Parent experiences with the Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory”. Devra Rich, (MSc OT), 2010. 
  5. “Parent experiences with parenting their children in a complex continuing care unit.” Denise Dubois and Katrina Piperidis, (MSc OT), 2010.

Research Interests

Assistive Technology for Children; Impact of Assistive Technology on Family Functioning; Person and Environment Theory and Assessment; Participation and inclusion in the environments and activities of childhood.

Current Courses

OCT 1251H: Occupational Therapy for Children - Part One. (Course Coordinator)

OCT 1111Y: Foundations of Occupational Science. (Lab Coordinator)

Special Lectures / Keynote Speeches

Invited Workshops: Play and playfulness in childcare settings A series of 4 workshops given by P. Rigby, P. Dekker, A. Graham, A. Martin, J. Martin, J. Vertes, C. Welch. Network Child Care Services, Toronto, November-December, 2010; and a series of 2 workshops for City of Toronto Municipal Children’s Services Training Program, Toronto, April, 2011

Invited Lecture: Infusing occupation into occupational therapy practice. A series of workshops given by J. Davis, M. Iwama, H. Polatajko, R. Renwick and P. Rigby. Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy Continuing Education, University of Toronto, January-March, 2009; and January – February, 2007.

Invited Lecture: What is occupational engagement? What does this mean to occupational therapy practice? Bloorview Kids Rehab, Toronto, October, 2009.

Invited Lecture: Come Play with me: Partnering with your child in play. Workshops given to parents by P. Rigby, E.Ho, B. MacDonald, J. Vertes, P. Decker, A. Martin, K. Day. Faculty of Medicine Continuing Education initiatives – partnership with YMCA of Greater Toronto, October-November, 2008

 

Department of Occupational Science & Occupational Therapy

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