Recipients 2018
OADD Awards & Scholarship Recipients – 2018
Hull-Roeher Award of Merit
Presented in honour of John Hull and G. Alan Roeher to an individual who has made an outstanding contribution, or special achievement in the area(s) of education, humanitarianism, research or service for those with developmental disabilities.
Dr. Jayasimha (Jay) Rao
Dr. Rao is a specialist in Developmental Neuropsychiatry, trained at the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, The Royal College of Psychiatrists (U.K.) and The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.
Dr. Rao was the Joint Director for Research for Post Graduate Training and a senior Clinical Teacher and Consultant at the University of Wales College of Medicine. He is now associate Professor and Director of Post Graduate Education, Developmental Disabilities Division at the University Of Western Ontario, is the Physician Leader for the Dual Diagnosis Research and Treatment Program at St. Josephs Health Centre and heads the Clinical Team at the Central West Specialized Developmental Services.
Dr. Rao has developed assessment instruments and treatment planning formats that use a Multi-factor approach to treat individual with challenging behaviours and neuro-psychiatric conditions.
Dr. Rao has taught internationally, published research in international Journals, and is sought after as a clinician and teacher nationally and internationally.
He has won National Awards for service and University awards for excellence in teaching. He is on numerous committees regionally and provincially as well as being a former member of the OADD Board where he acted as Publications Chair.
Dr. Rao has committed his entire career to the development of diagnosis, therapeutic interventions and follow up of patients with developmental psychiatric illness.
OADD Award of Excellence
To be presented to an individual who has contributed significantly to better understanding of, or enhanced the quality of life for, those with developmental disabilities.
The OADD Award of Excellence was not awarded in 2018
Kay Sansom Scholarships
3 Graduate Students received Kay Sansom Scholarships this year from the qualifying applicants. Each will receive $1,000.00 a certificate and free OADD sustaining membership. Typically there is 1 recipient from each of the following applicant categories: College, Undergraduate and Graduate.
Nancy Shore – College Level Scholarship
Is a DSW student at Algonquin College and has a foster sister with Downs Syndrome. Her personal and professional experiences convinced her of the importance of developing individual and innovative support plans for people of all abilities to meet their specific needs and goals.
Nancy wants to use the scholarship to help finish the DSW program. Her long-term goals are to take a Masters in Social and Therapeutic Horticulture in the UK and create an accessible therapeutic farm.
Alicia Groom – Undergraduate Level Scholarship
Is in the fourth year of her undergraduate degree, Bachelor of Science with a Specialization in Psychology, and a minor in Health and Disability at Laurentian University. Alicia’s personal experiences have strengthened her interest in Healthcare and underserviced populations.
She will be using the scholarship to finance a qualifying year at Laurentian.
Alicia also plans to apply for a Masters Degree in Psychology at the Northern Ontario School of Medicine as her long-term goals are to become a clinical psychologist or family physician with a broad ranging practice.
Alan Martino – Graduate Level Scholarship
Is a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Sociology at McMaster University. His main areas of interest include critical disability studies, gender, sexualities, contemporary social theory, and qualitative research methods.
Alan has a brother with a developmental disability and has long been aware of the “elephant in the room” – providing caring and respectful support in the areas of sexuality and intimacy for people with developmental disabilities.
Alan’s dissertation examines the romantic and sexual experiences of adults with intellectual disabilities in Ontario, by putting into conversation theories from both the sociology of sexualities and critical disability studies. The scholarship will be used towards Alan’s tuition as an international student.
NADD-OADD Scholarships
The OADD received one-time funding from NADD Ontario on its’ dissolution December 2016 to provide 3 new scholarships for people working and studying in the field of developmental disabilities. There are a maximum of four (4) scholarships awarded per year as:
- Up to two (2) Continuing Education bursaries (maximum of $435 awarded annually)
- One Student Research Scholarship $1,000 and
- One Participation Scholarship $1,000
Anna Przednowek – Participation Scholarship
Anna is a PhD Candidate at Carleton University and lead for a group working on the production of an educational video based on the RSIG keynote address “Nothing About Us, Without Us! That Include Research” being presented by Human Rights Activist and Self-Advocate, Peter Park at the RSIG Seminar day on April 13th, 2018.
The group will use the scholarship funding and support in-kind from RSIG to create the training video to help everyone involved in research about developmental disabilities to share Peter’s lived experiences in the area of social justice and human rights for people with developmental disabilities.
The group plans to make the video publicly available and accessible to anyone working toward promotion of inclusive research practices, social justice and human rights.
Stephen Lam – Student Research Scholarship
Stephen is currently a first year Master’s student in the Queen’s University two year thesis-based MSc Epidemiology program working under the supervision of Dr. Hélène Ouellette-Kuntz. His thesis project addresses the health and healthcare disparities that exist in the primary care system in Ontario as it pertains to older adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Stephen plans to use the scholarship to help continue his research which will be ready for presentation in 2019.
No applications for the Continuing Education Scholarship were received for 2018