EPIC Lab | Our Team

Scientist

Tim Ross, PhD, RPP, MCIP
Dr. Tim Ross is the Principal Investigator and Director of the EPIC Lab. See Dr. Ross’ full scientist profile.

EPIC Lab Staff

Emily Cox
Emily is a Research Coordinator for the EPIC Lab. She completed a Master of Science degree in Health and Rehabilitation Sciences at Western University in 2022. Emily’s research interests lie at the intersection of children’s rehabilitation and critical disability studies, and she is committed to finding new and innovative ways for these fields to collaborate. Within the EPIC Lab, Emily is involved in a large project in collaboration with Reena that aims to better understand the housing experiences of people living with developmental disability. Emily also works with Dr. Amy McPherson in the ProFILE Lab.

Meaghan Walker
Meaghan is a Research Coordinator for the EPIC Lab. In completing a Master of Science degree in rehabilitation sciences at the University of Toronto, she researched the healthcare experiences of children with autism and obesity. Meaghan has also completed a Master of Science in occupational therapy at the University of Toronto and is a registered Occupational Therapist working in acute care. Meaghan has a vested interest in health promotion, disability, and inclusion. She contributes to many of the Lab’s research projects concerning inclusion, accessibility, and children’s healthcare. 

Zehra Kamani
Zehra is a Research Coordinator who works with both the EPIC Lab and Dr. Fiona Moola’s HEART Lab. Prior to joining the EPIC Lab, she completed a Master of Arts degree in psychology at York University and worked on numerous clinical research projects in pediatric health care settings. Zehra is playing a key role in the SANI research project, which aims to understand how racialized youth with disabilities and their families experience health care. She is also a freelance writer who writes passionately about topics such as mental health and disability awareness. She has been published by CBC and Today’s Parent magazine.

Clarissa Yu
Clarissa is a Research Assistant and former Ward Summer Student (2022) for the EPIC Lab. She is currently pursuing an Honours Bachelor of Science in Health & Disease, Physiology, and Economics at the Unviersity of Toronto. Her current research explores how paediatric healthcare built environments are experienced by children with disabilities and their families. She is also contributing to other projects focusing on paediatric healthcare within the Lab.

Doctoral Trainees

Amanda Chan
Amanda is a PhD student in Rehabilitation Sciences at the University of Toronto. She received her Ontario College of Teachers (OCT) designation through the Master of Arts in Child Study and Education program from the Ontario Institute of Studies in Education (OISE) at the University of Toronto. She also holds a Master of Arts in Critical Disability Studies from York University where she researched the inclusive education experiences of autistic students within the Toronto District School Board. Her doctoral research focuses on how childhood disability affects access to education. Her involvement with the EPIC Lab research also involves the use of qualitative research methods with people with developmental disabilities.

Élyse Comeau, MPl
Élyse is a PhD Candidate in Planning in the Department of Geography and Planning at the University of Toronto. Prior to joining the PhD program, she completed a Master of Planning degree at Toronto Metropolitan University and gained invaluable private sector work experience as an urban planner. Her doctoral research examines the operations and experiences of school transportation for students with disabilities. Her involvement with the EPIC Lab involves research on accessible taxis and public transit.

Enrique Szendro
Enrique is a PhD student in Urban Planning in the Department of Geography and Planning at the University of Toronto. For more than 8 years he worked in Mexico in public space design focusing on accessible and equitable cities for everyone, projects which are still being built. His doctoral research will focus on analyzing and quantifying the access of children with disabilities to the city and particularly to healthcare services. This research will be done both in Toronto and in Monterrey, Mexico.

Javaneh Abbaspourasadolah
Javaneh is an urban planning PhD student in the Department of Geography and Planning at the University of Toronto. She has a background in architecture with experience in biophilic architectural design for children. She obtained a Master’s degree in architecture from Shahid Rajaee Teacher Training University in Tehran, Iran.  She is passionate about designing child-friendly cities, inclusive playgrounds, and sustainable transportation in cities. Javaneh’s doctoral research will look at the experiences and designs of inclusively designed playgrounds.

Rhonda Solomon
Rhonda is an Urban Planning PhD student in the Department of Geography, Geomatics, and the Environment at the University of Toronto, Mississauga. She holds an MSc in Urban Planning from the London School of Economics. Her PhD examines public toilet provision for children with disabilities. As a disabled (neurodivergent) academic, Rhonda’s research interests are ableist/exclusionary urban environments generally and mobility/transportation specifically.

Masters Trainees

Brittany Imasuen
Brittany is currently pursuing her Master of Science in Occupational Therapy at the University of Toronto. She holds a Bachelor of Science Honours degree in Psychology and Biology from Queen’s University. Driven by a passion for social transformation, Brittany's research interests lie at the intersection of policy, occupational justice, and community action. Her work aims to increase community participation and enhance the well-being of people with disabilities. Currently, Brittany is investigating ways to improve public transit experiences for various disability groups across Canada.

Rachel O’Brien
Rachel is completing her Master of Science in Occupational Therapy at the University of Toronto. She received her Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology with a Rehabilitation Sciences Specialization from the University of Waterloo. She is passionate about health promotion and is interested in how public policy impacts social inclusion, community participation, and well-being. Rachel is currently researching public transit inequities experienced by various disability groups in Canada.

Tanisha Warrier
Tanisha is completing her Master of Science in Occupational Therapy at the University of Toronto. She has a Bachelor of Science in Biology from McMaster University. Tanisha is interested in the intersection of housing, health, and disability. She is currently exploring how people with developmental disabilities experience intentional community residences, and the impact of supportive housing design on well-being.

Kathleen Harris
Kathleen is completing her Master of Science in Occupational Therapy at the University of Toronto. She has a Bachelor of Kinesiology from Wilfrid Laurier University. Kathleen is interested in how design impacts the experiences, health, and well-being of individuals with developmental disabilities. She is currently conducting research on how intentional community residences impact people with developmental disabilities.

Alyssa Gschiel
Alyssa is currently completing a Master of Science in Occupational Therapy at the University of Toronto. She holds a Bachelor of Kinesiology with a specialization in Adapted Physical Activity from the University of Alberta. Alyssa is interested in how the supportive housing system and environments can impact health, well-being, and occupational engagement. Exploring the perspectives and experiences of those involved in supportive housing programs is crucial to our understanding of how to make effective changes and enhance the well-being and occupational engagement of people in these communities. Alyssa is currently exploring the perspectives and experiences of family members of individuals with developmental disabilities living in Intentional Community Residences. 

Angelica Anderson
Angelica is completing her Master of Science in Occupational Therapy at the University of Toronto. She holds a Bachelor of Kinesiology from Brock University. Angelica is interested in how supportive housing environments can impact the health, well-being and occupational participation of residents. Capturing these perspectives is essential to improve supportive housing programs and enhance the well-being, occupational participation and community of those involved. She is currently exploring the perspectives and experiences of individuals with developmental disabilities and the family members of those residing in intentional community residences.

Jasminder Khehra
Jasminder is a Masters of Science in Occupational Therapy student at University of Toronto. She is interested in research related to individuals with disabilities and has experience working with this demographic in a variety of settings. She is currently supporting a research study on school transportation challenges for students with disabilities.

Sana Majeed
Sana is a recent graduate from McMaster University with a major in Human Behaviour. Her volunteer work during her undergraduate sparked interest in research related to supporting individuals with disabilities. Sana is a student enrolled in the Master of Science in Occupational Therapy program at University of Toronto. She is currently supporting a research study exploring school transportation challenges for students with disabilities.

Isaac Sider-Echenberg
Isaac is completing his Master of Science in Planning at the University of Toronto. He has a Bachelor of International Business from Carleton University. Isaac is interested in how public realm design and planning policy impacts children’s independence, active travel, social development, and health. He is currently conducting research on how interventions in the pedestrian realm can improve children’s independent mobility.

Avery Kemble
Avery is completing her Master of Public Health at Brock University. She holds an Honours Bachelor of Health Sciences in Biochemistry from McMaster University. She has held several roles at Holland Bloorview and is excited to have the opportunity to complete her practicum at an organization she is passionate about. Avery is interested in disability inclusion and health equity. She is currently supporting a project examining the impact of intentional community residences for people with developmental disabilities and a study exploring disability inclusion in research.