Q&A with Dr. Jacquie Ripat - Endowed Chair in Technology for Assisted Living
ENRRICH member Dr. Jacquie Ripat was recently announced as the new endowed chair in technology for assisted living. We spoke with Dr. Ripat about this new position, her research with assistive technology, and the importance of involving children and families throughout the research process.
Please explain your new position as Endowed Chair in Technology for Assisted Living?
This research chair position is an exciting collaboration between the Health Science Centre Foundation and the University of Manitoba. My research focuses on gaining insights into the experiences of individuals using assistive technologies or devices within their physical, socio-cultural, and social environments. The ultimate goal of my research is to enhance life, home, and community participation and engagement. By developing and implementing strategies using assistive technologies or modifying contexts, I aim to advance and promote overall participation and well-being. In my research, I blend academic knowledge with practical application to make sure that our work is both research-based and pragmatic.
Can you tell us what assistive technology means to you? Can you give an example of assistive technology in pediatric neurodevelopment and rehabilitation?
Assistive technology includes devices and services designed to enhance a child's motor, communication, social, cognitive, and sensory skills so they can participate in important and meaningful activities in their lives. Examples include power or manual wheelchairs, adapted bikes, communication devices, tools for environmental control (like opening doors or turning on lights), and modified games or toys.
How have you seen assistive technologies change throughout your career?
In the past, assistive technologies were often individualized solutions or devices tailored to a child's specific needs. With the progress of Artificial Intelligence, 3-D printing, robotics, and virtual/augmented reality, there are exciting opportunities for innovation in the field of assistive technology. We can now place greater emphasis on considering the broader context, incorporating concepts of universal design and accessibility to better support individuals who use assistive technology.
How have you seen community participation and engagement in research change throughout your career?
Today, we recognize that the most influential outcomes occur when we involve the end users of that knowledge right from the beginning of the research process. We want to involve the end users during the development of our research questions. We are using participatory methods to make sure that people with lived experience and expertise are included at the onset of research. This approach leads to more relevant and impactful research and results.
What research projects are you currently working on?
Currently, I am involved in several clinician-driven projects at the Rehabilitation Centre for Children. In one study, we're investigating the effects of introducing power wheelchairs on home and school participation and quality of life for children who were previously dependent on others for mobility.* Another project is exploring the use of adapted Xbox controllers for children with upper limb differences. We are also starting a project aiming to understand how technology can enhance play-for-the-sake-of-play.
I am also working on research related to the physical and psychosocial impact of adapted bikes for neurodiverse children. At a service level, we are exploring ways to improve the transition experience for children who use assistive technology as they move from the pediatric to the adult system.
What impact do you hope to have in this role on the lives of children and families?
I hope to help children and families learn what is possible when they use technology. Through understanding, applying, and innovating with technology, I believe we can increase children's participation and a sense of inclusion in their homes, families, schools, and communities. Technology is a key factor in enabling children to reach their full potential and allows families to envision futures filled with possibilities.
*This study was funded by a Spring 2022 ENRRICH Catalyst Grant. Other projects described in this section have been funded by the War Amps and are supported through the Rehabilitation Centre for Children’s Research Department which is funded by the Children’s Rehabilitation Foundation.
About the Author
Dr. Jacquie Ripat is an occupational therapy graduate from the University of Manitoba, who returned to graduate studies and academia after several years in clinical practice. She is currently the Associate Dean (Research) in the College of Rehabilitation Sciences. Using qualitative, participatory, and mixed methods research approaches, the goal of Dr. Ripat's research program is to understand the interaction between people with disabilities who use assistive technologies and the physical, socio-cultural, and attitudinal environments in which individuals interact. By developing this understanding, she seeks to advance and implement ways to use assistive technology, and to modify environments, in order to promote community participation and inclusion of people with disabilities. When not at work, she spends time enjoying nature in the Assiniboine Park or the family cabin in northwestern Ontario, tending to her garden as a novice gardener, and parenting two busy teenage boys and one geriatric cat.