Dr. Alison Gerlach

Biography

Alison’s current program research scholarship focuses on informing systems change through equity-oriented child- and family-centered care in diverse early years healthcare contexts for Indigenous and non-Indigenous families with children who experience structural forms of marginalization and are at greater risk for health inequities. With 25 years of providing occupational therapy to disabled children in various community and family contexts, Alison collaborates with Indigenous organizations and Nations in British Columbia. Her work emphasizes the importance of understanding continuities in children’s early experiences of adversity, disability, and health inequities, advocating for inclusive and responsive approaches at the structural, organizational, and practice levels. Additionally, she is committed to community-based participatory research, engaging communities, organizations, families, and children as research partners. Alison is also interested in supervising graduate students whose research interests align with critical disability studies and/or equity in the early years sector.

Research Interests