鶹AV

Keiko Shikako

Title: 
Canada Research Chair in Childhood Disability:Participation and Knowledge Translation
Academic title(s): 

Associate Professor

Keiko Shikako
Contact Information
Address: 

Mailing Address:3630 prom Sir-William-Osler, Montréal, Québec H3G 1Y5

Phone: 
514 399 9512
Fax number: 
(514) 398-6360
Email address: 
keiko.thomas [at] mcgill.ca
Position: 
Associate Professor - OT program, Associate Member - Department of Ethics, Equity and Policy, Associate Member - Department of Pediatrics, Division of General Pediatrics, MUHC-RI, Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Rehabilitation (CRIR)
Office: 
Centre de réadaptation Lethbridge-Layton-Mackay, Room 437
Degree(s): 

BSc OT, University of Sao Paulo, Brazil; PhD, Rehabilitation Science 鶹AV
University, Canada; Postdoctorate Knowledge Translation in policymaking for children with
disabilities, McMaster University and Knowledge Translation in policymaking in
Environmental Design and Accessibility, Université de Montréal.

Teaching areas: 

Occupational Solutions I - Pediatric Neurologic Conditions

Occupational Solutions II - Policies supporting the participation of children with disabilities

Knowledge Translation in Rehabilitation - Knowledge Translation to policymaking

Public Policy and Knowledge Translation

Current research: 

My research focuses on the promotion of healthy living andthe human rights of children with disabilities AND knowledge translation science and practice. My research program adopts a participatoryapproach to engage different interested parties, including policymakers, children and theirfamiliesin finding solutions to change the environment, informing policymaking and promoting the participation of children with disabilities in different life roles and activities.

Current research projects include:

  • TheJooay App ()
  • The PLAY project - creating inclusive playgrounds and measuring human rights indicators through the right to play
  • Accessibility Standards Canada - Youth Employment Accessibility through Healthy inclusive communities (YEAH!)
  • Beyond Convention: The impact of the UN convention on the rights of persons with disabilities in Canada

Knowledge Translation Initiatives and projects that I am currently leading/involved in include:

  • The PolicyHub in Childhood Disabilities
  • The Knowledge Mobilization program at the CHILD-BRIGHT SPOR ()
  • The childhood disability LINK website ()
  • Canadian Civil Society Organizations reporting on the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and on the Rights of the Child
  • Accessibility Standards Canada Technical Committee in Public Spaces
  • CanNRT Neurodevelopmental Research Training Platform()


Research Areas:


childhood disability
knowledge translation
participation
public policy

human rights

Biography: 

Policy Options-

Stanford Social Innovation -

CBC - Radio Canada -

Ami Télé (perfect parenting)-

Ami Télé (Une famille comme les autres) -

  • Interview on the UN:minutes 6:38 to 9:11 of the video.
  • Interview on the Jooay application:minutes 6:38 to 9:11 of the video

CTV -

LA PRESSE -

Montreal Gazette -

ComSanté -

Globe and Mail -

CIHR -

CIHR -

Areas of expertise: 

Public Policy, Knowledge Translation, Childhood Disabilities

Selected publications: 

Shikako-Thomas K, Shevell M. (2018). Promoting the Human Rights of Children With Neurologic Conditions.Semin Pediatr Neurol. 2018 Oct;27:53-61.

Shikako et al. Evidence-informed stakeholder consultations to promote rights-based approaches for children with disabilities. Front. Rehabil. Sci., 29 April 2024. Sec. Disability, Rehabilitation, and Inclusion, Volume 5 - 2024 |

Shikako K et al., Jooay App Research Group. Designing User-Centered Mobile Health Initiatives to Promote Healthy Behaviors for Children With Disabilities: Development and Usability Study. JMIR Form Res 2021;5(9):e23877. doi:

Shikako K, Lencucha R, Hunt M, Jodoin S, Elsabbagh M, Hudon A, Cogburn D, Chandra A, Gignac-Eddy A, Ananthamoorthy N, Martens R. How Did Governments Address the Needs of People With Disabilities During the COVID-19 Pandemic? An Analysis of 14 Countries' Policies Based on the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons With Disabilities. Int J Health Policy Manag. 2023;12:7111. doi: 10.34172/ijhpm.2023.7111. Epub 2023 May 17. PMID: 37579394; PMCID: PMC10425656.

Longo E, Galvão ÉRVP, Ferreira HNC, Lindquist ARR,Shikako-ThomasK. (2018). Knowledge translation in pediatric rehabilitation: expanding access to scientific knowledge.Braz J Phys Ther. 2017 Nov - Dec;21(6):389-390.

Moore JL, Shikako-Thomas K, Backus D. Knowledge Translation in Rehabilitation: A Shared Vision.Pediatr Phys Ther. 2017 Jul;29 Suppl 3:S64-S72

Shikako-Thomas, K., & Law, M. (2015). A policy mapping of policies supporting participation of children withdisabilities in Canada: From policy to play. Disability & Society , 30(3).

Yusuf, A.,Shikako-Thomas, K., Elsabbagh, M., & Prasanna, S.(2014). Community engagement and knowledgetranslation: Progress and challenge in autism research Autism, 18(7).

Camdem, C.,Shikako-Thomas, K., Nguyen, T., Russel, D., Thomas, A., & Morris, C. (2015). Perspectives inintegrated knowledge translation (IKT): A scoping review. Disability and Rehabilitation.

Shikako-Thomas, K., Kolehmainen, N., Ketelaar, M., Bult, M., & Law, M. (2014). Promotingleisure participation as part of health and well-being in children and youth with cerebral palsy.Journal of Child Neurology, 5;29(8):1125-1133. doi:10.1177/0883073814533422 (IF 1.6)

Shikako-Thomas K., Shevell M., Lach L., Law M., Schmitz N., Poulin C., Majnemer A., & the QUALAgroup. (2013). Are you doing what you want do do? Leisure preferences of adolescents withcerebral palsy. Developmental Neurorehabilitation. [Epub ahead of print] (IF: 1.861)

Shikako-Thomas K., Bogossian A., Lach L., Shevell M., & Majnemer A. (2013). Parents’ perspectives ofthe quality of life of adolescents with cerebral palsy: Trajectories, choices and hope. Disability andRehabilitation, 35(25):2113-22.

Shikako-Thomas K., Shevell M., Lach L., Law M., Schmitz N., Poulin C., Majnemer A., & the QUALAgroup. (2013). Determinants of participation in leisure activities among adolescents with cerebralpalsy. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 7;34(9):2621-2634.

Shikako-Thomas K., Shevell M., Lach L., Law M., Schmitz N., Poulin C., Majnemer A., & the QUALAgroup (2013). Picture me playing – A portrait of participation and enjoyment of leisure activities inadolescents with cerebral palsy. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 34(3):1001-10.

MacDonald, S. Sharpe, H.,Shikako-Thomas, K., Larsen, B., MacKay, L. (2013). Entering unchartedwaters: Navigating the Transition from Trainee to career for the non-physician clinician-scientist.Academic Medicine 88 (1): 61-66.

Shikako-Thomas. K., Dahan, N., Shevell, M., Law, M., Birnbaum, R., Rosenbaum, P., Poulin, C.,& Majnemer, A. (2012). Play and be happy? – Quality of life and participation in school-aged childrenwith cerebral palsy. International Journal of Pediatrics, ID387280. Doi:10.1155/2012/387280.

Dahan-Oliel, N.,Shikako-Thomas, K., & Majnemer, A. (2012). Quality of life and leisureparticipation in children with neurodevelopmental disabilities: A thematic analysis of theliterature. Quality of Life Research, 21(3):427–39.

Majnemer, A.,Shikako-Thomas, K., Chokron, N.,Law, M.,Shevell, M., Poulin, C., & Rosenbaum, P.(2010). Leisure activity preferences for children with cerebral palsy. Developmental Medicine andChild Neurology, 52(2):115-6.

Shikako-Thomas, K., Lach, L., Majnemer, A., Nimignon, J., Cameron, K., Shevell M.(2009). Qualityof life from the perspective of adolescents with cerebral palsy: ‘‘I just think I’m a normal kid, I justhappen to have a disability”. Quality of Life Research, (18):825–832.

Shikako-Thomas, K., Majnemer, A., Law, M., & Lach, L. (2008). Determinants of participation inleisure activities in children and youth with cerebral palsy: Systematic review. Physical &Occupational Therapy in Pediatrics, 28(2):155–169.

Department: 
Occupational Therapy
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