I am a Research Fellow at the International Centre for Evidence in Disability (ICED) at LSHTM. I conduct mixed-methods research on disability in the UK and internationally, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. My research often focuses on disability inclusion, mental health among people with disabilities and their families, and caregiver support. Currently I work on the Programme for Evidence to Inform Disability Action (PENDA), funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth, & Development Office. I am Trial Coordinator for an interventional trial of the Pediatric Development Clinic/Baby Ubuntu Programme for children at risk of developmental disability in Rwanda. I also work on impact evaluations of disability programmes in Kenya and Laos.
Alongside my research, I am completing a staff PhD on the mental health and wellbeing of children with disabilities. I have a Masters in Global Mental Health from LSHTM and King's College London. Prior to joining LSHTM, I worked for Beyond Words, a charity working with people with learning (intellectual) disabilities in the UK. Prior to this, I worked as a Consultant in Rwanda.
Affiliations
Teaching
I hold a Postgraduate Certificate in Learning and Teaching and I am a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. I contribute to teaching on global disability and Global Mental Health, including lecturing, seminar facilitation, tutoring, dissertation supervision, and examination marking. I was previously organiser of the MSc Study Unit "Global Disability and Mental Health". I am currently on the exam board for the MSc Global Mental Health.
I developed a MOOC on "Integrated Healthcare for Children with Developmental Disabilities". Close to 9,000 people from over 100 countries have enrolled on this course.
Research
My research focuses primarily on disability inclusive development, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. I am a mixed-methods researcher, with skills in qualitative research, impact evaluation, systematic review, and policy analysis. My research has included:
1. Impact evaluations of disability programmes in Rwanda, Laos and Kenya, including a cluster-randomised controlled trial, process evaluation and economic evaluation of the Pediatric Development Clinic/Baby Ubuntu Programme for children at risk of developmental disability in Rwanda.
2. Collaborative development of evidence-based mental health and psychosocial support guidelines for deaf and hard of hearing children in the Gaza Strip, in partnership with deaf and hard of hearing people, family members, civil society, and government. Methods included systematic review, qualitative research, and pilot study.
3. Qualitative research on the experiences of disabled people in England and Scotland during COVID-19, in partnership with the University of Glasgow.
4. Population-based survey of disability and mental health conditions among Syrian refugees in Istanbul.
5. Qualitative research on access to healthcare and community participation for people with disabilities in Zambia.
6. Systematic review and meta-analysis on depression and anxiety in parents of children with intellectual disabilities, prevalence of depression, anxiety and PTSD among healthcare workers during COVID-19, and scoping review of disability research in Zambia.
Selected Publications
