Lindsey Ruth Oakes
Lindsey Oakes, M.S., LRT/CTRS is currently a doctoral candidate in the Department of Public Health Education at the University of North Carolina Greensboro, and will be graduating on May 7th, 2020. Lindsey's primary research interests include the social inclusion, health, and wellness of college students with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities. Lindsey has expertise with qualitative, mixed-methods, and community-based participatory action research methodologies, including photovoice and rapid prototyping with design thinking. Lindsey and co-researchers have published a systematic literature review in the Journal of American College Health that outlines the health and wellness topics for college students with IDD, which is the first publication of its kind. Lindsey and co-researchers have also explored the inclusion of college students with IDD within campus recreation and sports environments, as well as the overall health and wellness and the sexual health education and experiences of college students with IDD and their support staff who work within inclusive postsecondary education (IPSE) programs. Lindsey's research has been funded by a Faculty First grant and numerous summer research assistantships through The Graduate School at UNCG and Special Olympics Unified Sports at the national level. Her research team is pursuing additional funding through the National Institute of Child Health and Development - Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Branch.