Rebecca Gewurtz

Co-Investigator; Ontario Co-Lead; Executive Committee Member

“I joined the CRWDP in order to connect with researchers in work and disability policy across Canada and contribute to emerging scholarship in this area.”

Key Appointments

  • Assistant Professor within the School of Rehabilitation Science at McMaster

Education

  • Doctorate degree from the University of Toronto in Rehabilitation Science and a collaborative program in Health Services and Policy Research.
  • Bachelor degree in Occupational Therapy at Queen's University

Areas of expertise

Rebecca has been involved in research exploring disability in the workplace, employment among individuals living with mental illness, and supported housing for persons with mental illnesses. Her focus is on how social and structural issues impact community participation and the delivery of services.

Research Activities

Rebecca has been involved in research projects related to employment among people living with disabilities including mental illnesses and other episodic conditions, with a particular focus on social systems and structures. Her master’s thesis was a qualitative study on how consumers of community mental health services come to understand their potential for work. Her doctoral dissertation explored the construction and implementation of changes to policies governing employment supports, and its impact on employment services for individuals living with mental illness. Rebecca has continued to conduct research exploring employment and community participation among people with disabilities, and the impact of social policy on service delivery. She is developing a program of research around employment, community participation, and social policy with a focus on services for individuals living with mental illnesses. Some of her current studies include a SSHRC funded project exploring how benefit systems and work needs intersect for individuals living with episodic mental illnesses. Rebecca is part of the employment stream of the Canadian Disability Policy Alliance and leading an Ontario-based employment study exploring how funding structures and accountability models impact the provision of employment services for persons with disabilities.

Relevant Grants:

Project Title: Episodic Disabilities in the Canadian Global Economy

Principal Investigator: Ernie Lightman and Andrea Vick

Co-Investigators: Kirsh, B., Gewurtz, R., Yoshida, K. (and others)

Funding Agency: SSHRC

Amount: $235,000 (Total Standard Research Grant, 410-2010-0178)

Funding Period: 2010-2014

Status: Grant currently in operation.

Relevant Publications:

Gewurtz, R.E., Cott, C., Rush, B., & Kirsh, B. (2012). The shift to rapid job placement for people living with mental illness: An analysis of consequences. Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal, 35(6), 428-434. doi: 10.1037/h0094575

Kirsh, B., Krupa, T., Cockburn, L., & Gewurtz, R. (2010) A Canadian model of work integration for persons with mental illnesses. Disability and Rehabilitation, 32(22), 1833-1846. doi: 10.3109/09638281003734391

Gewurtz, R. & Kirsh, B. (2009). Disruption, disbelief and resistance: A meta-synthesis of disability in the workplace. Work: A Journal of Prevention, Assessment, and Rehabilitation, 34 (1), 33-44. doi: 10.3233/WOR-2009-0900

Kirsh, B., Stergiou-Kita, M., Gewurtz, R., Dawson, D., Krupa, T., Lysaght, R., & Shaw, L. (2009). From Margins to mainstream: What do we know about work integration for persons with brain injury, mental illness, and intellectual disability? Work: A Journal of Prevention, Assessment, and Rehabilitation, 32(4), 391-405. doi 10.3233/WOR-2009-0851

Krupa, T., Kirsh, B., Cockburn, L. & Gewurtz, R. (2009).Understanding the stigma of mental illness in employment. Work: A Journal of Prevention, Assessment, and Rehabilitation, 33(4), 413-425. doi: 10.3233/WOR-2009-0890

Relevant Presentations

Simon, J., Yack, A., Gewurtz, R., & Kirsh, B. (2013). Episodic mental illnesses and employment: Dilemmas and decisions. Poster presentation. 2013 CAOT National Conference. Victoria, BC. June 1st, 2013.

Kirsh, B., & Gewurtz, R. (2012, June). Pathways to work for people with mental illnesses: Impacts of social and structural factors. Paper presentation. 2012 CAOT National Conference. Quebec, QC. June 8th, 2012.

Krupa, T., Kirsh, B., Cockburn, L., Gewurtz, R. (2011, September). How does the sitgma of mental illness operate in employment? Paper presentation. 2011 PSR/PRS Canada Conference. Cape Breton, NS.

Gewurtz, R., & Kirsh, B. (2011, June). Conceptualizing and responding to the problem of unemployment. Paper presentation. 2011 CAOT National Conference. Saskatoon, SK. June 17th, 2011.

Kirsh, B., Krupa, T., Cockburn, C., & Gewurtz, R. (2010, May). A Canadian model of work integration for persons with mental illness. Paper presentation. 2010 CAOT National Conference. Halifax, NS. May 29th, 2010.

Gewurtz, R. & Kirsh, B. (2009, June). Constructing and implementing public policy for marginalized groups: A case study of ODSP employment supports. Paper Presentation. 2009 CAOT National Conference. Ottawa, ON. June 5th, 2009.

Kirsh, B., Dawson, D., Krupa, T., Lysaght, R., Shaw, L., Kita, M. & Gewurtz, R. (2009, June). Work integration for persons with disabilities: Best practice across three disability groups. Poster Presentation. 2009 CAOT National Conference. Ottawa, ON. June 4th, 2009.

Contact Information: Rebecca Gewurtz