Title:  Assistant Professor

Department:  Department of Physical Therapy

School/Center:  School of Health Professions

Office Location:  301 K Robinson Hall

Phone:  617-373-5988

Fax:  617-373-7930

Email:  s.ventura@neu.edu

Education:  Northeastern University:PhD in Law, Policy & Society
MEd in Human Development
BS in Physical Therapy

Certification:  Clinical Instructor (APTA)
Focus Group Facilitator (Concept Systems, Inc.)

Specializations:  Assistive Technology, Collaboration, Disabilities, Disability Rights. Education, Health Care, Law, Physical Therapy, Public Policy, Rehabilitation

Research:  Susan Ventura is a licensed Physical Therapist who has a Masters degree in Education and a PhD in Law, Policy, and Society. She combines these three areas of interest in her research, which is focused on improving the quality of life of people with disabilities and their caregivers through advocacy, education, and scholarship. The goals of her research are to 1) identify actual and perceived barriers in law, policy, and society that limit the potential of people with disabilities to live independent, satisfying, and productive lives within community settings; 2) foster University-community collaborations to develop and implement problem-solving strategies that have the broadest possible impact; and 3) encourage active engagement in the political process by people with disabilities, their professional and family caregivers, students preparing to be human services professionals, and others who share the common goal of improving the quality of life of people with disabilities.

Public Service:  Throughout her career, Dr. Ventura has focused her clinical practice in rehabilitation medicine, where she has specialized in prescribing Assistive Technology (AT) for people who have physical disabilities. She currently serves the Commonwealth of Massachusetts as an ex officio member of the State Rehabilitation Council, which is the Governor-appointed consumer advisory board for the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission. Susan is certified as an Assistive Technology Practitioner by the Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America. Before coming to Northeastern, Ventura was the owner/operator of Equipment Prescription Services. There she provided direct services to clients and consultation services to various entities, including AT suppliers, rehabilitation hospitals, and the Massachusetts Division of Medical Assistance (Medicaid). Susan worked with the Division for 10 years and was involved in a number of initiatives related to AT and other rehabilitation services. She also reviewed requests for prior authorization of rehabilitation services and represented the Division at appeals hearings. Dr. Ventura is the author of a number of articles and book chapters on seating, mobility, and other forms of AT. In addition to teaching this content to students at Northeastern University, Ventura has conducted continuing education programs on AT for clinicians across the United States.

Courses:  Psychosocial Management, Clinical Education, Assistive Technology

Publications:  Drench, M. E., Noonan, A. C., Sharby, N., & Ventura, S. H. (2007). Psychosocial Aspects of Health Care, 2nd Edition. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.