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Ariel Schwartz

Research Assistant Professor
Phone: (603) 862-0060
Office: UNH CHHS Institute on Disability, 10 West Edge, Durham, NH 03824
Websites:
Pronouns: She/her/hers

Ariel Schwartz is committed to advancing knowledge about the use of inclusive/participatory research approaches with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Throughout all of her research, she partners with individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities.

Her research is focused on participation and wellness for transition-age youth with intellectual/developmental disabilities. Recent research has addressed employment for transition-age youth with co-occurring mental health conditions, the development and testing of a peer mentoring intervention to address mental health self-management for transition-age youth, and the development of accessible research ethics training that will support individuals with disabilities to take on a range of research roles. Dr. Schwartz has also contributed to the development of an accessible patient-reported outcome measure (the PEDI-PRO) for young adults with intellectual/developmental disabilities and co-developed a framework of cognitive accessibility for patient-reported outcome measures.

Dr. Schwartz’s research has been funded by NIDILRR and PCORI, in addition to a range of local and national foundations. She has also served as a Consultant, Engagement Coordinator, and Project Manager for multiple PCORI and NIH-funded studies.
In addition, Dr. Schwartz has clinical experience as an occupational therapist in inpatient mental health and community-based settings.

Courses Taught

  • OT 695: Independent Study

Education

  • Ph.D., Rehabilitation Science, Boston University

Research Interests

  • Developmental Disabilities
  • Young Adults
  • Measurement

Selected Publications

  • Schwartz, A., & Rogers, E. S. (2024). Exploring the impact of mental health symptoms in the workplace and supportive accommodations for young adults with intellectual/developmental disabilities and co-occurring mental health conditions. Journal of Mental Health Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 17(2), 83-105. doi:10.1080/19315864.2023.2183292

  • Colón-Semenza, C., Zajac, J. A., Schwartz, A., Darbandsari, P., & Ellis, T. D. (2024). Experiences from the implementation of physical therapy via telehealth for individuals with Parkinson disease during the COVID-19 pandemic.. Disabil Rehabil, 46(8), 1593-1601. doi:10.1080/09638288.2023.2202418

  • Loeper, T., & Schwartz, A. E. (2023). 'Being a part of something': Experiences and perceived benefits of young adult peer mentors with intellectual/developmental disabilities and co-occurring mental health conditions.. J Appl Res Intellect Disabil, 36(5), 1067-1075. doi:10.1111/jar.13117

  • Sigurðardóttir, M., Fenger, K., & Schwartz, A. E. (2023). Psychometric testing of the Icelandic Occupational Self-Assessment (OSA-IS).. Scand J Occup Ther, 30(6), 771-781. doi:10.1080/11038128.2022.2074537

  • Crehan, E. T., Schwartz, A. E., & Schmidt, E. K. (2023). Who is Delivering Sexual Health Education Content to Young Adults with Intellectual or Developmental Disability?: A Survey of US-Based School-Based Professionals and Parents. Sexuality and Disability, 41(2), 189-200. doi:10.1007/s11195-023-09790-2

  • Schwartz, A. E., Munsell, E. G. S., Schmidt, E. K., Colón-Semenza, C., Carolan, K., & Gassner, D. L. (2021). Impact of COVID-19 on services for people with disabilities and chronic health conditions.. Disabil Health J, 14(3), 101090. doi:10.1016/j.dhjo.2021.101090

  • Schwartz, A. E., Kramer, J. M., Rogers, E. S., McDonald, K. E., Cohn, E. S., & Peer, Y. A. M. H. (2020). Stakeholder-driven approach to developing a peer-mentoring intervention for young adults with intellectual/developmental disabilities and co-occurring mental health conditions. JOURNAL OF APPLIED RESEARCH IN INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES, 33(5), 992-1004. doi:10.1111/jar.12721

  • Schwartz, A. E., Kramer, J. M., Cohn, E. S., & McDonald, K. E. (2020). "That Felt Like Real Engagement": Fostering and Maintaining Inclusive Research Collaborations With Individuals With Intellectual Disability. QUALITATIVE HEALTH RESEARCH, 30(2), 236-249. doi:10.1177/1049732319869620

  • Kramer, J. M., Helfrich, C., Levin, M., Hwang, I. -T., Samuel, P. S., Carrellas, A., . . . Kolaczyk, E. D. (2018). Initial evaluation of the effects of an environmental-focused problem-solving intervention for transition-age young people with developmental disabilities: Project TEAM.. Dev Med Child Neurol, 60(8), 801-809. doi:10.1111/dmcn.13715

  • Kramer, J. M., & Schwartz, A. (2017). Refining the Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory-Patient-Reported Outcome (PEDI-PRO) item candidates: interpretation of a self-reported outcome measure of functional performance by young people with neurodevelopmental disabilities.. Dev Med Child Neurol, 59(10), 1083-1088. doi:10.1111/dmcn.13482

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  • Most Cited Publications