Keiko Shikako

Dr. Keiko Shikako’s research focuses on the promotion of healthy living and the human rights of children with disabilities and knowledge translation science and practice. Her research program adopts a participatory approach to engage different interested parties, including policymakers, children and their families in finding solutions to change the environment, informing policymaking and promoting the participation of children with disabilities in different life roles and activities. As part of Dr. Shikako’s work, she collaborates to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the Rights of Children's reports from Canada. She has chaired the working group on Services, Programs and Intervention for the National Autism Strategy Assessment, and is a member of the Accessible Standards Canada technical committee on Public Spaces. Dr. Shikako is the co-creator of the Jooay App, a mobile App that helps families connect to inclusive leisure activities in their communities, and co-leads the CHILD-BRIGHT Knowledge Translation Program, and the Transforming Autism Care Network Axis in Knowledge Translation to Policy. 

Dr. Keiko Shikako chose the Department of Pediatrics because as an occupational therapist by training and a clinician scientist she believes it is fundamental we integrate clinical care and community action in promoting health and wellbeing for equity-deserving populations such as children with disabilities and their families.