Communities around the world are finding new ways to support people with disabilities. Now, Dr. Heather Aldersey (Rehabilitation Therapy) has received a Dorothy Killam Fellowship to examine what makes different support models effective. 

As the Canada Research Chair in Disability-Inclusive Development, Dr. Aldersey’s work explores how people with disabilities are often marginalized and are at risk of exclusion from mainstream society. She aims to understand how support systems vary across different contexts, and how they can be improved to better meet the needs of people with disabilities.

“Receiving the Dorothy Killam Fellowship is a tremendous honor, and I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to continue collaborating with families and communities who are at the heart of this work,” says Dr. Aldersey, who also acts as the Special Advisor to the Principal on the UN SDGs. “This fellowship will allow us to build on our efforts to improve how disability support is provided, ensuring that individuals and families have the resources they need to thrive.”

Investigating global approaches to disability support 

With the support of the fellowship, Dr. Aldersey is leading an international study on how families and individuals with disabilities interact with support systems in different countries. The study employs a participatory research approach, actively involving community-researchers who have lived experience with disability support networks. These community-researchers play an important role in examining how different countries balance natural supports and formal services, with case studies from Canada, England, Bangladesh, Mozambique, Ethiopia, Guatemala, and the U.S.

A key focus of the research is the role of natural supports such as assistance from peers, family members, and community members, alongside formal supports like government programs and paid service providers. The study will explore how integrating both natural and formal supports across different models could provide individuals and families with the tools they need to navigate challenges.

The research analysis will unfold in two phases. First, Dr. Aldersey will train community researchers at each study site to conduct thematic analysis of local support networks. These findings will then be shared with the broader community through workshops and other engagement activities. In the second phase, researchers from each site will collaborate to compare experiences, uncover patterns, and generate insights that could inform disability policy development.

“Our goal is to better understand how different communities create and sustain meaningful support systems,” says Dr. Aldersey. “By learning from these international examples, we can help shape policies and programs in Canada that strengthen both formal and natural supports for people with disabilities.”

Recognizing leadership in disability research

The Killam Fellowships are among the highest honours a Canadian researcher can receive, recognizing both career-long achievement and the promise of future research success. This year, Dr. Aldersey is one of eight Dorothy Killam Fellowships awarded to mid-career scholars who have demonstrated exceptional promise.

“Dr. Aldersey's research exemplifies Queen’s commitment to addressing global challenges with real-world impact," says Nancy Ross, Vice-Principal (Research). "Her work not only advances knowledge in disability support systems but also underscores our university's dedication to fostering inclusivity and creating meaningful change that positively affects communities worldwide.”

The program celebrates excellence in research across the health sciences, engineering, humanities, natural sciences, and social sciences. Fellows are selected based on their exceptional contributions to advancing knowledge, their leadership, and their potential to shape the future of research in Canada and globally. The fellowship provides recipients with $160,000 over two years, allowing them to focus on significant research projects. 

Learn more about the Killam Fellowship.