Jasin Wong, PhD

post-doctoral fellow
Center for Rehabilitation Outcomes Research, Shirley Ryan AbilityLab
Chicago, Illinois

I am trained and work as a researcher with a focus on occupational therapy (OT) and rehabilitation sciences. My long term research goal is to improve our understanding of strategies to enhance the employment outcomes of people living with chronic illness or injury. My academic achievement, clinical experience as an OT, and research experience on employment issues for people with disabilities prepare me with critical knowledge and skills in rehabilitation and psychosocial research. As an undergraduate OT major, I completed an internship at the National Taiwan University Hospital and practiced as a licensed school-based OT for two years. During my predoctoral training, I collaborated with researchers on studies related to improving community living and employment for people with disabilities. My dissertation focused on how to help youth with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) transition from high school to employment. I developed a conceptual model to describe the relationships between facilitators and barriers of employment for youth with ASD. With Dr. Allen Heinemann and Dr. Linda Ehrlich-Jones as a post-doctoral fellow in 2019, I participated in a NIDILRR-funded project which aims to promote job retention for people with physical disabilities. I conducted a systematic review on the effectiveness of job accommodations and developed a framework to describe the factors of the use of job accommodations. During my postdoctoral training, I will acquire knowledge on how to help people with disabilities transition to employment in community settings and gain additional research skills.