Natasha A. Spassiani (PhD, MSc, B.Sc. (Hons) )

Dr. Spassiani is a Scientist with the Azrieli Adult Neurodevelopmental Centre at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH).  She is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Toronto. She is an internationally recognized researcher in the field of intellectual and developmental disabilities.  Dr. Spassiani earned her PhD in Disability Studies at the University of Illinois at Chicago, and has held academic appointments in Canada, Ireland, and the United Kingdom, including positions at Trinity College Dublin and Edinburgh Napier University. She holds an Honorary Research Consultant position in Intellectual Disabilities within the National Health Service (NHS) in Scotland, and is a Visiting Associate Professor at Edinburgh Napier University.  

Dr. Spassiani’s research focuses on advancing health equity, inclusion and quality of life for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Her work explores how to make health care systems more accessible, inclusive and responsive to the needs of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, while also supporting their rights to full community participation and self-determined living.  She is particularly known for her use of inclusive and participatory research methods that actively involve people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in shaping the research that impacts them. Dr. Spassiani’s areas of expertise include inclusive research, knowledge translation, community-based participatory research, and improving health care access and education for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.  

Dr. Spassiani has a strong commitment to advancing research through rights-based approached and community inclusion. She is committed to empowering people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to develop research skills and become meaningful contributors to research teams. This approach ensures that her work is grounded in the voices and expertise of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.  

Her work bridges research, policy and practice across international contexts, fostering collaboration that supports more inclusive, evidence-based approaches to maximise health and social care outcomes for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.  

Recent Publications 

Spassiani, N., Armstrong, T., Becaj, M., Hiddleston, A., Higgins, A., Hume, A., ... & Young, T. (2025). You Can't Exclude Us Anymore! A Critical Reflection of Inclusive Research and Teaching Opportunities for People With Intellectual Disabilities in University Settings. British Journal of Learning Disabilities, 53(1), 1-8. 

Friedman, C., & Spassiani, N. A. (2024). Making survey research accessible for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. In The Palgrave Encyclopedia of Disability (pp. 1-10). Cham: Springer Nature Switzerland.