Hannah Dudney (she/her)

About me

I was born/grew up in:  Windsor, Ontario

I now live in:  Toronto, Ontario

I completed my training/education at: First, I completed my Bachelor of Arts in Sociology of Health, Aging and Population at The University of Western Ontario. Next, I completed a 2-year diploma in Travel and Tourism at St. Clair College. I then completed a Master of Arts in Sustainable Leisure Management at Vancouver Island University. Now, I have started my PhD in Rehabilitation Sciences at the University of Toronto.

What I do at work

I work in a research lab called the Engineering Health Lab. This is part of a research group called KITE Research Institute (KITE stands for Knowledge, Innovation, Talent, Everywhere!). My work allows me to do all sorts of exciting projects! Right now, my main project is called the "Accessible Parks Project". Our lab is one large team that works together to solve problems that people face in everyday life.

One of my projects is finding ways to make Canada's National parks better places for people with disabilities to visit. To solve this problem, I work with engineers, health professionals, policy makers and social scientists! I meet with managers from parks (like BC Parks and Parks Canada) and interview people who visit parks and have disabilities. This year I got the chance to interview people with disabilities about the time they have spent in parks. I also got to be the host of a "panel discussion" for our conference on "Park Accessibility".

I also get to recommend ways to make parks better to Accessibility Standards Canada. This means my recommendations may find their way into future government guidelines. In my job, I get to problem-solve, analyze data, and report findings. It's a great way to turn all that hard work into something that will help make public spaces better places for people with disabilities!

My career path is

When I was in high school, I didn't really know what I wanted to do. All I knew was I wasn't great at science and math, and I loved helping people. The best thing I ever did was start volunteering! I volunteered for local organizations that worked with people with disabilities. This included The Alzheimer's Society, Big Brothers Big Sisters, and more! I also volunteered at some places that I did not enjoy so much... It's all about discovering what you love to do!

I did what felt right for me and suited my passions after each degree I completed. This led me to complete a bachelor's degree, a college diploma, and a master's degree. Now I'm working on my PhD. When I found topics that I loved to learn about, things I loved to do, and people I loved to work with, along came a feeling of purpose in my career.

I am motivated by

I am motivated to keep learning, both as a student and as an employee. I think the more you know, the more you can help make change happen. You don't necessarily need a degree to gain knowledge, but you certainly need experience. I get experience by talking to people in the community, talking to scientists at work, and students in different areas of STEM. These conversations motivate me to keep learning, even when it feels confusing at first!

I am also motivated by the fact one of our major projects is to make parks better! Parks are some of the most wonderful places. You can relax, exercise, spend time with family, see wildlife, and camp. To me, this is an important part of my life. For many people, this is one of their favourite places to be, but certain obstacles may get in their way. That is why I am motivated to keep working on our lab's "Park Accessibility Project". I love that my work helps improve the park environment for people with disabilities.

How I affect peoples’ lives

The work we do helps us create change in Canadian parks! The best part of our research right now is that we get to help people like park managers make their parks better places for people with disabilities. For example, a park might install a rope on the side of a trail to help a blind person travel the trail. The research I do looks at park trails, buildings, and activities from many different perspectives. This will make sure that the park staff think about all the people who go there.

The work we do could mean that more people enjoy the relaxing feeling of nature with their family or alone. For many of us, this includes our own family and friends. The most rewarding part of this job is that right now we get to make changes happen in parks but those changes might influence the design of something else in the future! We get to do so many new and exciting projects. Knowing that all of them will help someone makes it even more exciting.

Outside of work I

I love to listen to music, go to concerts, hike, camp, and ride my bike. Recently I have started playing ultimate frisbee. To me, trying new things is always fun!

My advice to others

Don't limit yourself to what others say you are capable of. The field of STEM research has so many opportunities and you can explore so many topics! If you find something interesting, give it a try even if it feels confusing at first!