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Associate Professor, Department of Health Studies; Research Associate, International Migration Research Centre (IMRC); Faculty Member, Social Justice and Community Engagement master’s program; Co-founder and Co-director, Laurier Autism Research Consortium (LARC); Co-founder and co-coordinator, Migrant Worker Health Project
I am an interdisciplinary, community-engaged scholar trained in medical anthropology and human rights, with interests in the areas of health equity and social determinants of health; labour, social justice, and transnational migration; and autism policy and family well-being.
My migrant worker research has investigated various aspects of migrant workers’ health, rights and well-being, including access to health care and workers’ compensation; gender-based violence; occupational, mental, sexual and reproductive health; and the impacts of separation on migrant families. With Jenna Hennebry, I am co-founder of the Migrant Worker Health Project, and the Migrant Worker Health Expert Working Group, which promote improved health outcomes for migrant workers.
My autism-related research investigates barriers to accessing autism-related services, education experiences, and caregiver stress, employment and well-being. Current research is exploring compounded challenges facing underserved populations, particularly newcomer and Indigenous communities. With Margaret Schneider, I am co-founder and co-director of the Laurier Autism Research Consortium. I previously served on the Ontario Government's Autism Advisory Panel.
Award Recipient, Leading Women Building Communities Recognition Program
Faculty Merit Award, Wilfrid Laurier University
EXTERNAL RESEARCH FUNDING (SELECTED)
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
Engaging communities in developing culturally appropriate solutions to autism service disparities, Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) Partnership Development Grant, 2022-25.
Autism Families in Flux: Challenges with and Impacts of Accessing Supports and Services during COVID-19 and beyond. Private grant donated by The Dare family, in honour of the late Carl M. Dare to Laurier’s Autism Research Consortium, 2020-25.
Improving access to supports and services for families of children with autism, SSHRC Partnership Engage Grant (PEG), 2021-23.
Health Outcomes of Gender-based Violence, Sexual Exploitation and Abuse in Vulnerable Migrations, Canadian Institute for Health Research (CIHR) (co-PI: Chantal Robillard), 2011-14.
Addressing Barriers in Access to Health and Workers’ Compensation Services for Migrant Farm Workers, WSIB Bridging the Gap Program (co-PI Jenna Hennebry), 2011-13.
CO-INVESTIGATOR
Social mobilization as policymaking lever? A trans-Atlantic COVID-19 dialogue on community action and decentralized governance, T-AP Recovery, Renewal and Resilience in a Post-Pandemic World (RRR). PI: Anne-Emanuelle Birn, 2022-25.
Partnered Research Evaluating Services with Migrants in Agriculture (PRESMA): Conditions, Capacities and Possibilities for Effective Support, Services for Migrant Agricultural Workers: A Partnered Research Project, SSHRC Partnership Development Grant, PI: Susana Caxaj, 2022-25.
Policy and Practice in Return to Work after Work Injury: Challenging Circumstances and Innovative Solutions, SSHRC Partnership Grant – Healthy and Productive Work, PI: Katherine Lippel, 2018-24.
COVID-19: Pandemic Survey of Migrant Agricultural Workers in Ontario, SSHRC Partnership Engage Grant, PI: Jenna Hennebry, 2020-24.
Examining Intersecting and Policy Factors Influencing Housing, Safety and Wellbeing of Migrant Agricultural Workers from 2017 - 2020: A Bi-provincial Analysis, SSHRC Insight Grant, PI Susana Caxaj, 2021-24.
COVID-19 Vaccination Decision-Making: Perspectives from Equity-Seeking Groups, Canadian Immunization Research Network (CIRN): COVID-19 Vaccine Readiness Funding Opportunity – funded by CIHR in partnerships with PHAC, PI: Janet Parsons, 2021-23.
Promoting and Protecting Women Migrant Workers’ Labour and Human Rights. United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (Collaborator), PI: Jenna Hennebry, 2014-16.
Poverty and Employment Precarity in Southern Ontario, SSHRC Community University Research Alliances (CURA), PI: Wayne Lewchuk, 2011-16.
I am willing to supervise students in areas related to migrant workers’ rights and health, and autism-related projects.
Migrant Worker Research Highlights
Autism Research Highlights
Gentles, S., McLaughlin, J., Schneider, M. (Primary co-authors), Stubbs, A., Lerner, P., Tristani, L., Spoelstra, M., Weiss, J., Lee, V., Georgiades, S., and LeClair, J. (2022). Families in flux: Findings from the 2021 Ontario Autism Caregiver Survey on education, service access and well-being in the context of COVID-19 [Report]. Ontario, Canada: Laurier Autism Research Consortium and Autism Ontario.
HS-208: Autism: Advocacy, Policy, and Practice
HS-200: Social Determinants of Health
HS-322: Health Policy
HS-201: Canadian Health Care Systems
HS-401: Current Developments in Health Studies
IDEV-4500: Advanced Seminar in International Development, University of Guelph
SOAN-3250: Social Change in Latin America, University of Guelph
Contact Info:
Office location: RCE 242, Brantford campus
Office hours:
By appointment
Laurier Autism Research Consortium
Languages spoken: English, Spanish