Interdisciplinary Technical Assistance Center on Autism and Developmental Disabilities

Dr. Dunn is an Assistant Professor in the Division of Occupational Therapy at the University of Utah. She coordinates the pediatric curriculum, teaches pediatric coursework, evidence-based practice, research, and group process. She has published three studies on household task participation patterns for children with and without disabilities and recently co-authored a chapter in a pediatric occupational therapy textbook. She is on the Interagency Coordinating Council and is a member of Utah Action for Health Kids.

Her current research focuses on relationships between household task participation and preparation for independent living. She developed and validated the CHORES, a household task participation measure for children of all abilities. Her other research interest includes examining the feasibility of SNAPPY, an interdisciplinary, community-based program to promote healthy eating and active play for preschoolers and their parents.

Dr. Dunn has over 20 years experience as a clinician working with children with disabilities and their families. She is certified in sensory integration and was board certified as a Pediatric specialist by the American Occupational Therapy Association from 1997 to 2005. Her clinical experience encompasses birth through older adolescence with emphasis on participation in activities at home, school, and in the community as well as skill development.