Biography
Sarah has been an Assistant Professor in the Discipline of Occupational Therapy since 2002. Her current research interests are in occupational justice, feminism & mothering; community participation, civic engagement & social inclusion. She is currently undertaking a PhD using feminist and occupational justice theories to explore the narratives of mothers of children with autism.
Sarah's teaching is primarily around the concept of occupation. As part of this, she coordinates a community-engaged learning module involving partnerships with organisations representing those experiencing disability or social disadvantage. Sarah is co-leading on an award-winning, multi-service collaboration, 'Supported Volunteering: Working Together, Learning Together', which creates opportunities for supported volunteering between students and people with experience of homelessness and/or mental health issues. She is a partner on a three-year, Erasmus+ funded, inter-disciplinary project, 'PREP-IP', developing resources for health and social care professionals to work with refugees.
Sarah has taught a range of courses, including research methods and evidence-based practice. While in her current role, she worked in a voluntary capacity in a College-based occupational therapy service supporting students with autism to participate academically and socially in college life. Sarah is an active member of the Association of Occupational Therapists of Ireland and has chaired their Research Committee; she has presented widely; taught at both undergraduate and postgraduate level; examined, and supervised to completion, both taught and research masters.
Publications and Further Research Outputs
Peer-Reviewed Publications
Boland, L., Kennedy, M., Lynch, L. J., Bonham-Corcoran, M., Quinn , S., Exploring the non-vocational outcomes of the individual placement and support (IPS) employment model, Irish Journal of Occupational Therapy, 52, (1), 2024, p29 - 35
Jalovcic, D., Schiller, S., Hustoft, M., Landry, M., Alagöz, E., Quinn, S., Simó Algado, S., Farhat, M.A., Emlik, H., European Online Learning Partnership to Improve Refugee Health., 29th ICDE World Conference., San José, Costa Rica, 6-10 November 2023, 2023
Bonham Corcoran, M; Jabbour, S; Quinn, S., Vallieres, F., Community-based groups for reducing occupational deprivation among asylum seekers, refugees and other forcibly displaced populations: a scoping review, Occupational Therapy: The Healthcare Profession of Our Time, Co. Cavan, Ireland, 5.10.23-6.10.23, edited by Association of Occupational Therapists of Ireland , 2023
Jalovcic, D., Van Wijchen, J., Montse, R.M., Van de Haar, H., Quinn, S. & McGowan, E., Three critical issues for use of microcredentials in education and training of health and social care professionals: A scoping review., 29th ICDE World Conference., San José, Costa Rica, 6-10 November 2023, 2023
Jalovcic, D., Van Wijchen, J., Montse, R.M., Van de Haar, H., Quinn, S. & McGowan, E., Micro-credentials in education and training of health professionals: A scoping review., HVL Annual Research Conference, Bergen Norway, December, 2023, 2023
Emer McGowan, Sarah Quinn, Montse Romero Mas, Joost Van Wijchen, Hanneke Van den Harr, Djenana Jalovcic , Use of micro-credentials for interprofessional online education and training of health workers: A scoping review., Annual INHED Scientific Meeting , Queen's UNiversity, Belfast, Northern Ireland, 29th-30 march 2023, 2023
Quinn, S. & Cremin, K., Occupation-Focused Learning and Personal Development through Service-Learning. , Journal of Occupational Therapy Education, 5, (3), 2021, p1-21
Sarah Quinn & Katie Cremin, Building resilience in students through service-learning, 2nd COTEC-ENOTHE Joint Congress, Prague Czech Republic, 15-18 Sept 2021, 2021
Cremin, K., Healy, O., Spirtos, M., & Quinn, S. , Autism awareness interventions for children and adolescents: A scoping review., Journal of Developmental and Physical Disabilities. , 33, 2021, p27 - 50
Quinn, Sarah; Doyle, Sarah; Emerson, Cora., Female Prisoners' Problems Living in an Irish Prison: An Exploratory Study, Occupational Therapy in Mental Health, 35, (3), 2019, p219 - 237
Catherine O'Connor, Sarah Quinn, Helen Lynch, Does Occupational Therapy, using an ASI approach, contribute to changes in the performance and participation of five children with DCD? , European Sensory Integration Congress, Vienna, Austria, June 2017, 2017
Brangan, J., Quinn,S., Spirtos,M., Impact of an Evidence Based Practice Course on Occupational Therapist's Confidence Levels and Goals, Occupational Therapy in Health Care,, Volume 29 , (No.1), 2015, p27 - 38
Quinn, S. Gleeson, C.L. & Nolan, C., An Occupational Therapy Service for Students with Asperger's Syndrome (AS), Occupational Therapy in Mental Health, 30, (2), 2014, p109 - 125
Clince, M., Gavaghan, K., Guilfoyle, P, & Quinn, S., Student-Reported Use of Mental Health Services in Trinity College Dublin (TCD) , AMACH , Dublin, 5th March 2013, 2013
Maintaining the mother tongue: An exploratory study of Russian speaking immigrant parents' opinions on maintaining their primary language in their children. in, editor(s)J. O'Riordan; D. Horgan; S. Martin , Early Childhoods in the Global South. Local and International Contexts., Oxford, Peter Lang, 2013, pp311 - 328, [Quinn, S. & Kraftsoff, S.]
Fox, J. & Quinn, S., The Meaning of Social Activism to Older Adults in Ireland, Journal of Occupational Science, 19, (4), 2012, p358 - 370
Brangan, J. & Quinn, S., Evidence-based practice. Module 3., Galway, 9th May, 2012, Trinity Interdisciplinary Consortium
Deacon, C., Doyle, S. & Quinn, S., Locked Up: A Qualitative Study Exploring Irish Female Prisoners' Problems, Higher Education Authority, Dublin, 2012
O'Conor, O. & Quinn, S., Occupational engagement in a forensic setting., Association of Occupational Therapists of Ireland Annual Conference, Dublin, 8th-9th April, 2011
Kraftsoff, S. & Quinn, S., Immigrants' perceived importance of retaining the mother-tongue., Early Childhood in Developing World Contexts International Conference., Cork, 7th-8th April 2011, edited by J. O'Riordan, D. Horgan, S. Martin , 2011
Gleeson, C., Quinn, S. & Nolan, C. , Enhancing college participation: An evaluation of an occupational therapy support service for students with Asperger's Syndrome., Nordic Network on Disability Conference, Iceland, May 2011, 2011
Fox, J. & Quinn, S., Social activism in older adults., Association of Occupational Therapists of Ireland Annual Conference, Dublin, 8th-9th April 2011, 2011
Glesson, C., Quinn, S. & Nolan, C., Promoting and enhancing college participation and inclusion: An occupational therapy support service for students with Asperger's Syndrome., World Congress of Learning Disabilities , Zurich, Switzerland, Sept 2011, 2011
O'Connor, K., Quinn, S., Gleeson, C.I., & Nolan, C., Asperger's Syndrome in the Unilink Service: A description of the service's key features and satisfaction of its service-users., Health Research Board Summer Scholarship Poster Competition., Dublin, Summer 2011, 2011
Kraftsoff, S. & Quinn, S., Maintaining the mother tongue: An exploratory study of Russian speaking immigrant parents' opinions on maintaining their primary language in their children., Early Childhood , Cork, 2011, 2011
Nolan, C., Quinn, S. & MacCobb, S, The use of mobile phone technology, in particular texting, as a means of maintaining communication and developing relationships with third level students in the provision of a mental health service., Occupational Therapy in Mental Health, 27, (2), 2011, p103 - 125
Quinn, S., The study of occupation through practice - a community-based student learning experience., 17th Annual Meeting of ENOTHE (European Network of Occupational Therapy in Higher Education)., Ghent, Belgium, 3rd-5th Nov 2011, 2011
Clodagh Nolan, Sarah Quinn, Enhancing The University Experience For Students With Mental Health Difficulties Through The Unilink Service., 7th International Conference on Higher Education and Disability, Innsbruck, Austria, 20th-23rd July 2010, 2010
Crausaz, J. McGrath, M. & Quinn, S., Spotlight on the European Network of Occupational Therapy in Higher Education (ENOTHE), Irish Journal of Occupational Therapy, 38, (1), 2010, p64 - 66
Ryan, C., Kennedy, A., Spirtos, M., & Quinn, S. , The participation of chidlren with physical disabilities in after-school activities. , 15th International Congress of the World Federation of Occupational Therapists., Chile, 4th-7th May 2010, 2010
Gleeson, C., Quinn, S. & Nolan, C. , Managing Asperger's Syndrome in third level., Disability Conference, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, June , 2010, Disability Service, Trinity College
Clodagh Nolan, Sarah Quinn, Siobhan MacCobb, Using mobile phone technology (text messaging) to contact and support students with mental heUsing mobile phone technology to contact and support students with mental health problems in third level education, , 15th International Congress of the World Federation of Occupational Therapists, Chile, edited by 4-7th May 2010 , 2010
Sarah Quinn, Katie Cremin, Reflections on Two Years of Occupational Therapy in a Prison Setting, 16th Meeting of ENOTHE (European Network of Occupational Therapy in Higher Education), Stockholm, Sweden, 14-16th October 2010, 2010
Ryan, C., Kennedy, A., Spirtos, A., Quinn, S., The Participation of Children with Physical Disabilities in After-school Activities, World Federation of Occupational Therapists Annual Conference, Chile, May 2010, 2010
Crausaz, J. McGrath, M. & Quinn, S., Spotlight on the European Network of Occupational Therapy in Higher Education (ENOTHE), Irish Journal of Occupational Therapy, 38, (1), 2010, p64 - 66
Brangan, J., Quinn, S. & Spirtos, M., Evidence-based practice for occupational therapists., 2010-11, In:Evidence-based practice., 2010
Kraftsoff, S. & Quinn, S., Exploratory study investigating the opinions of Russian-speaking parents on maintaining their children's use of the Russian language. , Irish Journal of Applied Social Studies, 9, (1), 2010, p65 - 80
Katie Cremin & Sarah Quinn, Self Advocacy Group in a Female Prison, Association of Occupational Therapy Annual Conference, Kilkenny, Spring 2009, 2009
Quinn, S. Gleeson, C. & Nolan, C., Managing Asperger's Syndrome (AS) in third level education: A service evaluation., Association of Occupational Therapists of Ireland Annual Conference, Kilkenny, Ireland, Spring 2009, 2009
Nolan, C. & Quinn, S., An investigation into the use of text messaging and mobile phones as a means of ongoing support within a mental health service for students., Association of Occupational Therapists of Ireland Annual Conference, Kilkenny, Ireland, Spring 2009, 2009
Nolan, C. & Quinn, S. , How Unilink (a mental health service for students) enables first year students to engage in college life. Conference Papers. The first year experience. , 12th Conference of the Confederation of Student Services in Ireland, Institute of Technology, Sligo, Ireland, 15th-17th June, edited by S. Kennedy & C. Blaney Doyle , 2009
Cremin, K. & Quinn, S. , Self-advocacy: A programme facilitated by students from the Discipline of Occupational Therapy, Trinity College Dublin, with women in prison. , Campus Engage International Conference. Higher Education and Civic Engagement Partnerships: Create, Challenge, Change., Dublin, 4th-5th June 2009, 2009
Mary Dowds, Catherine O'Connor, Lisa Krenn, Sarah Quinn, Resettlement into the community: Individuals' experiences of community life after having lived in a residential setting, Association of Occupational Therapy Annual Conference, Kilkenny, Spring 2009, 2009
Sarah Quinn, Contextualised, teacher-reported behavioural difficulties in junior classes in mainstream primary schools , Association of Occupational Therapy Annual Conference, Kilkenny, Spring 2008, 2008
Sarah Quinn, Caroline Mullally, An exploration of occupational therapists' perceptions of their role in educational settings in Ireland, Irish Journal of Occupational Therapy, 36, (2), 2008, p4 - 13
Tara O'Leary, Sarah Quinn, Niall Turner, The self-perceived community integration needs of adults with mental illness, Irish Journal of Occupational Therapy, 36, (2), 2008, p14 - 23
Quinn, S. & Nolan, C. , The Unilink Service. , College of Occupational Therapists' Disability Forum's Fringe Meeting at the British Association of Occupational Therapists' Annual Conference, London, UK, June 2008, 2008, British Association of Occupational Therapists
Nolan, C. & Quinn, S., Unilink Assessment Process, Disability Course, Trinity College Dublin, 4th April, 2008, Disability Service, TCD
Caroline Mullally & Sarah Quinn, Occupational therapists' perceptions of their role in education settings, Association of Occupational Therapy Annual Conference, Dublin, 5th May 2006, 2006
Butler, E. & Quinn, S. , A study to investigate the patient reported functional skills that pose as problems for their child in everyday life with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD)., 14th International Congress of the World Federation of Occupational Therapists., Sydney, Australia, May 2006, 2006
Quinn, S., Deering, D., Kennedy, K. & Martin, M., Teacher-perceived behavioural difficulties in infant classes in primary schools, L'Organisation Mondiale Pour L'Education Prescholaire, Lessons for the 21st Century. Resaerch Reflection Renewal, Dublin, 20-4-2002, edited by Mary Horgan & Francis Douglas , 2002, pp269 - 294
Centre for Social and Educational Research, Dublin Institute of Technology, National Childcare Study, Dublin , Dublin Institute of Technology, 2000
Quinn. S, Time use of occupational therapy staff in an acute physical hospital., Irish Journal of Occupational Therapy, 27, (2), 1997
Non-Peer-Reviewed Publications
Quinn, S. , Drama and health. Report on the use of drama in prison., Phizzfest. Phibsboro Community Arts Festival., Mater Hospital, Dublin, August , 2011, Phizzfest Committee
Mulcahy, L. & Quinn S., 'The Puppet Play of Don Cristobal.', Dochas Centre, Mountjoy Prison, Trinity College Dublin, 2010, -
Nolan, C., Quinn, S. & Gleeson, C. , Report on the Unilink Service - An occupational therapy mental health initiative. Five years on 2004-2009., Trinity College Dublin, 2009
Quinn, S., Occupational therapy and AS in third level, Asperger's Syndrome: A practical guide for parents, teachers, young people and other professionals., Trinity College Dublin, 2009, ASPIRE & School of Education, TCD
Nolan, C. & Quinn, S., Aspergers' Syndrome., Asperger's Syndrome. Disability Awareness Inservice Training., National College of Art and Design, 6th November, 2008, Disability Officer NCAD
Quinn, S., Support services for students with AS at third level. , Asperger's Syndrome Association of Ireland Conference., Dublin, 17th August, 2007, ASPIRE
Quinn, S., Understanding and using evidence, North Eastern Health Board Occupational Therapy Training Day, 26th November , 2005
Quinn, S., How to be an effective consumer of research., Paediatric Special Interest Group, AOTI, Dublin, 5th February, 2004
Collins, B., Quinn, S., Spiros, M. & Stapleton, T., Introduction to evidence-based practice., 4th September, In:Evidence-based practice course for occupational therapists., 2003, Trinity College Dublin
Quinn, S., Evidence-based practice., North Eastern Health Board Occupational Therapy Training Day, 15th November, 2003
Enable Ireland, An analysis of the occupational therapy service for children with sensory motor co0ordination difficulties., Wicklow, 2002
Research Expertise
Description
Interests are inclusion and occupational justice centred. Current projects: 1. employing feminist and occupational justice theory to explore the qualitative narratives of mothers of children with autism; 2. using Photovoice to elevate the narratives of refugees in Ireland; 3. exploration of supported volunteering experiences for individuals with a history of homelessness and as a community-engaged learning experience for students. Individuals with lived experience of homelessness led data collection with their peers. Previous research projects have been primarily related to: - clinical practice within College-based occupational therapy service; - civic engagement and women in prison; - teaching and learning through community-engaged learning. Collaborated with a women's prison engaging in several civic engagement projects including: 1. a creative problem-solving course evaluation; 2. a two-phase drama workshop project. Phase 1 was a summer project across two years that was part of a Community Arts Festival; Phase 2 attracted funding to support the inclusion of students as peer-educators. Evaluated aspects of the College-based occupational therapy service for students with mental health problems. In particular: 1. use of text messaging within the service, 2. the Asperger's Syndrome strand of the service.Projects
- Title
- PREP-IP: Persons with Refugee experience Education Project, InterProfessional
- Summary
- Collaboration across five European countries to develop educational resources for health and social care professionals to support their work with those who have refugee/forced migration experience.
- Funding Agency
- EU
- Date From
- Sept 2021
- Date To
- Sept 2024
- Title
- Supported Volunteering with Homeless / Mental Health Services
- Summary
- This project has received the 2024 Ann Beckett Award as an outstanding exemplar of occupation-based work. It has been showcased (in 2024) in RSVP magazine and on Newstalk radio station and, in the early stages of the collaboration, at the European Researcher's Night 2022. It is a multi-service collaboration between TCD, HSE homeless mental health community services, Vision Ireland, Volunteer Ireland, and Focus Ireland. It aimed to enhance meaningful community participation of users of homeless and/or mental health services by developing supported volunteering opportunities. Following considerable participatory action research preparing resources to support the project, the TCD OT students, as part of their community-engaged learning module, were paired with service-users to support them weekly in their capacity as volunteers. This project was conducted across three phases: 1. The exploration phase involved peer-led research by the peer researchers in Focus Ireland; 2. The preparation and piloting phase drew on the skills of Volunteer Ireland to prepare the dyads (students and service-users) to volunteer and to generate volunteering opportunities in Vision Ireland. A pre-post evaluation of a six week supported volunteering trial was completed to inform adaptations to the project in preparation for the final phase. 3. The launch of the project involved students and service-users engaging in supported volunteering across a full academic year in local charity shops. The project is ongoing with aims to increase the numbers of service-users paired with students and expand their volunteering opportunities.
- Date From
- Sept 2021
- Title
- Peer Education through Prison Drama
- Summary
- A grant-funded drama collaboration between the Discipline of Occupational Therapy at Trinity College Dublin (TCD), the Dóchas Centre at Mountjoy (Female) Prison and the Dhá Lámh Theatre, Ennis, that built on previous drama-related civic engagement between these collaborators. Seven third year TCD students fulfilled their peer education university requirement by co-facilitating a weekly drama group with 8 female prisoners. The project had a number of aims including: 1. building on the peer education premise that effective learning can take place when there are no experts. It did this by creating an atmosphere conducive to collaborative work, where students and prisoners worked alongside each other to develop the drama skills relevant to this project. 2. providing an opportunity for reflection on learning so that students integrated their community experience with their academic learning and the prisoners were enabled to identify practical learning from the project that they could apply in other contexts. 3. exposing students to a community group they did not typically have contact with and providing the prisoners with opportunity to interact with a group from outside the prison community with the view to breaking down prejudice. The project recognised the mutuality of service-learning projects and reinforced this by ensuring work was driven by the whole group and that partnerships were respectful and non-judgemental.
- Funding Agency
- Campus Engage (Network for the Promotion of Public Engagement in Higher Education)
- Date From
- September 2010
- Date To
- December 2010
- Title
- Developments within a Community-Engaged Learning Module (Study of Occupation Practice)
- Summary
- The Study of Occupation Practice module (delivered through student civic-engagement) required senior fresh students to facilitate their partners' participation in meaningful occupation. Using an action research approach, feedback from students and community partners identified the need for clarity regarding the student role and function when actively engaged with the community. Consequently, the study set out to enhance communication with community partners and improve supports for students' learning and reflection. A pamphlet was designed and produced, in collaboration with community partners, making explicit the student-role and module objectives which streamlined communication between students and partner organisations. The study examined students' ongoing learning through moderating an online discussion forum and evaluating weekly structured online reflective diaries. Findings suggested that students struggled to facilitate occupation and manage aspects of the environment. With increased exposure and guided personal reflection they gradually began to learn when to act, how to act, and how to draw on personal resources. The initiatives effectively supported students' personal and professional development, strengthened partnerships and enriched the experience of engagement for all parties.
- Funding Agency
- Dean of Students, TCD
- Date From
- September 2009
- Date To
- June 2011
- Title
- Supporting Students in 'Doing and Thinking' in their Community-Engaged Learning Module
- Summary
- This action research study set out to enhance the learning experience for senior fresh students in their community-engaged learning module - the Study of Occupation Practice. As their service was off campus, students were required to attend debriefing sessions to reflect on their practice and engagement. These sessions were supported by online discussion and reflective diaries. This project built on previous course enhancements by continuing to develop online supports for reflective practice. Additionally, learning was enriched by the production of podcasts providing student-to-student support and advice to upcoming senior freshers. Fourteen student-led, acted and filmed podcasts were produced and made available online. These were, in turn, used in debriefing sessions in following years.
- Funding Agency
- Centre for Learning Technology
- Date From
- June 2010
- Date To
- June 2011
- Title
- Creative Problem Solving in Prison
- Summary
- An intervention project. Female prisoners were interviewed pre and post course about their problems and coping strategies. An occupational therapy creative problem solving course was designed to address these issues and, using occupational science theory, to coach these women to apply new problem solving strategies in their daily lives.
- Date From
- May 2010
- Date To
- June 2010
Recognition
Representations
The Discipline's ENOTHE (European Network of Occupational Therapists in Higher Education) representative, attending conferences and feeding back, formally and informally, ENOTHE activities to staff.
Chair (2010-2013) and vice-chair (2008-2010) of the Research Committee of the Association of Occupational Therapists (AOTI) of Ireland. Supported research activities of occupational therapists through conference workshops, facilitating access to research participants (via AOTI membership), generating a databank of research abstracts, applying for national funding to develop therapists' research skills.
Discipline representative on Faculty Research Ethics Committee with responsibility to review applications.
Awards and Honours
Ann Beckett Award for Supported Volunteering: Working Together, Learning Together Project
Research Scholarship TU Dublin
Memberships
Member of Association of Occupational Therapists of Ireland.