Deirdre O'Connor

Deirdre holds an MSc in Occupational Therapy and a BSc (Hons) in Occupational Therapy from University College Cork (UCC), where she also completed a Postgraduate Certificate in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education.

Deirdre’s academic achievements include graduating with the highest mark in her class in 2018, as well as receiving the UCC Quercus Scholarship in 2017. In 2017, she was also awarded the Dr. HH Stewart Medical Scholarship in Occupational Therapy for her exceptional academic performance.

Previously, Deirdre worked as a lecturer at University College Cork, where she taught and mentored undergraduate students in the field of occupational therapy. 

As a researcher, Deirdre works closely with Professor Judi Pettigrew on school-based research projects. Her research interests include child participation in decision-making within pediatric occupational therapy and the application of tiered approaches in school-based therapy.

Notable publications include:

• "Evidence for Implementing Tiered Approaches in School-Based Occupational Therapy in Elementary Schools: A Scoping Review" (The American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 2023)
• "A qualitative study of child participation in decision-making: Exploring rights-based approaches in pediatric occupational therapy" (PLOS One, 2021)
• "Partners in play: Exploring ‘playing with’ children living with severe physical and intellectual disabilities" (British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 2021)