You are now in the main content area
Kathryn Underwood

Kathryn Underwood

Professor, School of Early Childhood Studies and Dimensions Faculty Chair for the Faculty of Community Services
DepartmentEarly Childhood Studies
EducationPhD
OfficeKHS 363-C, Kerr Hall South
Phone416-979-5000, ext. 552519
Areas of ExpertiseInclusive curriculum, teaching and learning; Disability studies in education and childhood; Special education policy and practice; Early years service planning and delivery.

Dr. Kathryn Underwood is a professor in the School of Early Childhood Studies at Toronto Metropolitan University. Dr. Underwood’s interests are in disabled children and their families’ experiences and contributions to our understanding of social services, social life, and society. The focus of her program of research has been on how constructions of disability in early childhood programs and care, early intervention, and health and social service contexts are used to organize children, with particular interest in intersectional identities of all disabled children. Dr. Underwood has conducted a number of studies that focus on parent viewpoints and the work of families to engage with institutions.

Teaching responsibilities:

  • CS 8901: Research for Early Childhood Studies
  • CLD 445: Inclusion and Consultation
  • CLD 435 Theory and Practice of Family Support
  • DST 503: Rethinking Disability in Education
  • S18: Prevention science and disability studies: Strategies, programs and monitoring (University of Zagreb)

Teaching interests:

  • Disabled childrens’ childhood studies
  • Inclusive early childhood education, care and intervention
  • Curriculum theory and evaluation
  • Social justice in early childhood and education contexts
  • Family support

Research Interests:

  • Disabled children’s childhood studies
  • Early years service system planning and evaluation (esp. resource consultation and family support)
  • Equity and inclusion for young children and their families
  • Institutional ethnography
  • Access justice for children and families
     

Current Research Projects:

Project

Role

Funding Information

Inclusive Early Childhood Service System Project (2014-25)

Project Director

  • A partnership between the Corporation of the County of Wellington, District of Timiskaming Social Services Administration Board, City of Hamilton, City of Toronto, and Toronto Metropolitan University
  • Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) Partnership Grant #895-2018-1022
  • Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) Partnership Development Grant #890-2014-0096
  • Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) Knowledge Synthesis grant #872-2016-0005
  • Development of the project was funded by Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) grant #PIH: 132311

Disability in Education: Sustainability of an Inclusive Africa (2023-24)

PI: Rinaldi, J.

Co-Applicants: Kissi, E., Ewan, A., Parekh, G., Underwood, K.

SSHRC Connections ($50k).

 

Enhancing equity in Ontario elementary education (2023-24)

PI: Patel, S.

Co-Applicants: Brady, J., Butler, A., Davies, A., Dei, G. S., Ng-A-Fook, N., Shah, V., Underwood, K.

SSHRC Connections ($50k)

Critical Transitions: Identifying key factors shaping students’ elementary, secondary, and post-secondary pathways (2014-2025)

PI: Parekh, G. (York University)

Co-Investigator: Underwood, K.

SSHRC Insight Grant

  • McShane, K. (host) (2022-23) Inclusive Beginnings. IECSS Podcast Series. [https://www.torontomu.ca/inclusive-early-childhood-service-system/findings/podcasts0/]
  • IECSS Youth Advisory Committee (2022). Research Matters for Children (children’s book) (2022). (S K. Dymant, Illus. & A. Cheung, designer with Abneet Atwal, Project Coordinator and K. Underwood, Project Director). https://www.torontomu.ca/researchmatters/
  • Church, K., Underwood, K. and Vorstermans, J. (2018). Tensions in disabled childhoods [photo exhibit]. Toronto, Canada.

Websites

  • Adjunct Faculty, York University, Faculty of Graduate Studies (2021-2023)
  • Visiting Scholar, Massey College, 2020/2021
  • Alan Shepard Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Award, 2019
  • Scholarly, Research and Creative Activity Award, Faculty of Community Services, 2012