Vidyalakshmi Sundar, Assistant Professor, Occupational Therapy

Vidya Sundar

Department Chair, Occupational Therapy
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR
Office: Occupational Therapy, Hewitt Hall, Durham, NH 03824
Websites:
Pronouns: She/her/hers

Vidya Sundar, PhD, OTR/L is an Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Occupational Therapy at the University of New Hampshire. Dr. Sundar brings more than 18 years of experience in disability and employment research. Her teaching spans interdisciplinary topics including inclusive workplace practices, psychosocial evaluation and intervention, and research methods.

Dr. Sundar’s current research centers on developing and evaluating intervention programs that support career development and advancement for individuals with disabilities. She currently serves as Principal Investigator on a five-year, $2.5 million grant from the Administration for Community Living, exploring the experiences of individuals living and working with disabilities and Long COVID.

Her scholarship has been supported by a range of federal agencies and private foundations, including the Administration on Aging, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, the Social Security Administration, and the Kessler Foundation. At UNH, she has been recognized with the College of Health and Human Services’ Outstanding New Investigator Award and Excellence in Collaboration Award.

Courses Taught

  • HHS 540: Stats for Health Professionals
  • HMGT/OT 520: Happy and Healthy at Work
  • OT 741: Human Occupation
  • OT 760L: Psychosocial Eval & Interv Lab
  • OT 760L/860L: Psychosocial Eval & Interv Lab
  • OT 781/881: Research Methods I
  • OT 860L: Psychosocial Eval & Interv Lab
  • OT 886: Engagement in Research

Education

  • Ph.D., Rehabilitation Science, University at Buffalo, State University of New York
  • B.S., The Tamil Nada Dr M.G.R Medical University

Research Interests

  • Ergonomics
  • Persons with Disabilities - Services For
  • Vocational Services for People With Disabilities
  • Work Motivation
  • Worker Attitudes and Technology

Selected Publications

  • Forcino, R. C., Rotenberg, S., Morrissette, K. J., Godzik, C. M., Lichtenstein, J. D., Schiffelbein, J. E., . . . Lyons, K. D. (2023). Exploring Acceptability of Employment Interventions to Support People Living With Cancer: Qualitative Study of Cancer Survivors, Health Care Providers, and Employers.. JMIR Form Res, 7, e47263. doi:10.2196/47263

  • Kalargyrou, V., Sundar, V., & Jahani, S. (2023). Managers’ attitudes toward employees with depression and organizational citizenship behaviors in the hospitality industry: assessing the mediating role of personality. International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, 35(2), 602-629. doi:10.1108/ijchm-01-2022-0082

  • Fyffe, D. C., Lequerica, A. H., Ward-Sutton, C., Williams, N. F., Sundar, V., & O'Neill, J. (2022). Understanding Persons With Disabilities' Reasons for Not Seeking Employment. REHABILITATION COUNSELING BULLETIN, 66(1), 3-12. doi:10.1177/00343552211006773

  • Sundar, V., & Brucker, D. L. (2022). Work limitations as a moderator of the relationship between job crafting and work performance: results from an SEM analysis of cross-sectional survey data. JOURNAL OF OCCUPATIONAL REHABILITATION. doi:10.1007/s10926-022-10055-6

  • Brucker, D. L., & Sundar, V. (2021). Job Crafting Among American Workers with Disabilities (vol 37, pg 575, 2020). JOURNAL OF OCCUPATIONAL REHABILITATION, 31(4), 729. doi:10.1007/s10926-021-09999-y

  • Sundar, V., & Brucker, D. (2021). "Today I felt like my work meant something": A pilot study on job crafting, a coaching-based intervention for people with work limitations and disabilities. WORK-A JOURNAL OF PREVENTION ASSESSMENT & REHABILITATION, 69(2), 423-438. doi:10.3233/WOR-213488

  • Sundar, V., O'Neill, J., Houtenville, A. J., Phillips, K. G., Keirns, T., Smith, A., & Katz, E. E. (2018). Striving to work and overcoming barriers: Employment strategies and successes of people with disabilities. JOURNAL OF VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION, 48(1), 93-109. doi:10.3233/JVR-170918

  • Sundar, V., Brucker, D. L., Pollack, M. A., & Chang, H. (2016). Community and social participation among adults with mobility impairments: A mixed methods study. DISABILITY AND HEALTH JOURNAL, 9(4), 682-691. doi:10.1016/j.dhjo.2016.05.006

  • Sundar, V., Fox, S. W., & Phillips, K. G. (2014). Transitions in caregiving: evaluating a person-centered approach to supporting family caregivers in the community.. J Gerontol Soc Work, 57(6-7), 750-765. doi:10.1080/01634372.2013.847885

  • Tomita, M. R., Mann, W. C., Stanton, K., Tomita, A. D., & Sundar, V. (2007). Use of currently available smart home technology by frail elders process and outcomes. TOPICS IN GERIATRIC REHABILITATION, 23(1), 24-34. Retrieved from https://www.webofscience.com/

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  • Most Cited Publications