Alexandra Bonardi

Eunice Kennedy Shriver Center
University of Massachusetts Medical School
55 Lake Avenue North, S3
Worcester, MA, MA 01655
 
Phone: 774-455-6522
Email: [email protected]
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Last Updated: January 13, 2016

 

Leadership Administrative Staff: LEND Faculty Member, E.K. Shriver Center
Discipline Coordinators: Occupational Therapy
 
Discipline(s): Occupational Therapy
 
AUCD Council Membership: No Council Membership
 
Research: Trends and patterns in health service utilization by individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Incorporating health and safety risk management in community service planning with people who have disabilities.

Health promotion for people with developmental disabilities.

Access to health services for people with intellectual disabilities and mental health or behavioral health concerns.

Adaptive equipment and technologies that enhance independence.
Education: Training for primary care medical residents: Assistive Technology and school based therapy services.

Vita/Bio

 

Education         

MHA in Health Administration  September 2001,  Suffolk University, Boston, MA

MCHB LEND Fellow 2000 - 2001  Post-graduate Fellowship in Health and Disability Economics and Policy, Leadership Training. E.K. Shriver Center, Waltham MAM.S. in Occupational Therapy   October 1994  Columbia University, New York, NY

B.Sc. Major: Human Physiology   May 1991  McGill University, Montreal, Canada

Skills and Subject Area Expertise

Clinical Services' Mapping and Best Practices.

Participated in and directed statewide projects to identify and map statewide disability-focused clinical services (nursing, mental and behavioral health supports). Ran focus groups to identify perceived gaps in clinical services in MA. Collaborated on development of MA DMR Guidelines for Mental and Behavioral Supports for Individuals Living in the Community. Facilitated a consensus panel development of Health Screening Guidelines for Individuals with Mental Retardation (posted on National Guidelines Clearinghouse). Reviewed national and international models for health screening and assessment. Developed Assistive Technology Center clinical and policy recommendations for the Massachusetts Department of Mental Retardation. Co-authored "Wheelchair Basics for School Based Therapists", published by the New York City Board of Education.

Health Monitoring and Communication for People with Difficulty Communicating. 

Operated a state-wide pilot program to contribute to the development of a robust system of tools and guidelines for communication of health information for people with intellectual and developmental disability. Developed evaluation plan using logic model to establish process and outcome measures. Created training material for dissemination to community service providers and families.

Risk Management and People with Developmental Disabilities

Program planning and report generation to assist service agencies track and manage risks in service planning. Experience with risk mitigation and planning tools such as root cause analysis and failure modes and effects analysis.

Languages: English, French (spoken and basic written), Italian (conversational).

Work Experience                    

Center for Developmental Disabilities Evaluation and Research (CDDER), E.K. Shriver Center University of Massachusetts Medical School  Waltham, MA. 2001 to present

Assistant Director

Responsible for operations of small research center devoted to providing research support and customized policy solutions to Massachusetts Department of Mental Retardation and other state developmental disability agencies.

Research Associate 2001-2006; Assistant Director 2007 - present. Independent in project management through all phases from initiation to completion.

 

University of Massachusetts Medical School

Department of Family Medicine and Community Health                    2003 to present

Faculty, Instructor

Educating medical students in: "Community Health Issues for Adults with Intellectual Disability"

Developmental Pediatrics training for family medicine residents.

Dr Horan School, New York City Board of Education, New York, NY 1995 to 1999

Pediatric Occupational Therapist

Provided school-based occupational therapy services to caseload of children ages 5-21 with multiple disabilities. From 1996 to 1999, served as senior occupational therapist.

Evaluated and customized mobility equipment and assistive technology.

Stepping Stone Day School Inc., New York, NY                                    1996 to 1999

Occupational Therapist

Home-based Early Intervention Occupational Therapy services. Worked with children birth to 3 years old and their families towards developmentally and culturally appropriate goals.

Comprehensive Habilitation Services New York, NY                            1996 to 1998

Occupational Therapist

Habilitation for adults with developmental disabilities, living in community residential programs. Developed person-centered, community-based programs for adults living in upper Manhattan.

The Rehabilitation Centre Ottawa, Canada                                            1994 to 1995

Staff Occupational Therapist

Rehabilitation for patients with neurological impairments. Evaluation and prescription of mobility equipment and home-based assistive technology to support independence in activities of daily living.

Professional and Community Activities

Member AOTA, MAOT, CAOT (Canadian Assoc. OT).

Licensed to practice in Massachusetts, New York, Ontario.

Editorial Board Member, International Nursing Journal in Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities.                                                                                                             2003 to Present

Multidisciplinary board coordinates publication of peer reviewed on-line international journal. http://journal.hsmc.org/ijnidd/

Corresponding Secretary, Bishop Elementary School PTO                 2006 to Present

Liaison with school and local community regarding fundraising and academic enrichment activities totaling over $30K per year.

Board Member, Waverly Oaks Child Development Center                  2004 to 2007

Participated in operational decisions and planning for the reassignment of staff and closure of the non-profit child care center.

 

Publications and Professional Presentations

Bonardi A, Follow the Yellow Brick Road: Using a Logic Model in Program Evaluation. Presentation to Boston University graduate Occupational Therapy Program, December 20, 2007.

Lauer, E., Staugaitis, S., Bonardi A. Analyzing Critical Incident Data to Assess Risk and Improve Services for Adults wit Intellectual Disabiliites. Poster Presented at the Commonwealth Medicine Clinical Research Conference November 2007.

Bonardi A., Lauer, E., Grossman, G., Oxx, S.  Evaluation of the DMR Health Promotion and Coordination Initiative. Poster Presented at the Commonwealth Medicine Clinical Research Conference November 2006.

Mercier,C. Proulx, R., Bonardi A. Preventive Care Guidelines for Adults with Intellectual Disabilities. (published in French) Actualite Medicale. November 2006.

Bonardi A., Preventive Health Guidelines for Adults with Intellectual Disabilities. Invited symposium presentation. AAMR Conference, Montreal Canada. May 2006.

Murphy, D., Bonardi A. Wellness Education in Physical Therapy Practices. Poster Presentation AAMR Conference, Montreal Canada. May 2006

Bonardi, A., Kammerman, J. Wheelchair Basics for School-Based Therapists. Published by New York Board of Education, New York. June 1996

Bonardi, A., The Effect of Reimbursement on Canadian and American Occupational Therapists. Invited presentation of original research paper at AOTA Conference, Boston, MA. June 1994

References        Available on request.