Mary Squillace has been a clinical occupational therapist for over 25 years and has worked in academia for over 20 years, both as an adjunct and full-time professor. In 2020 she joined New York Tech with years of experience in clinical education and administration. Squillace has worked in hospitals, where she helped patients who were receiving care for traumatic brain injury, coma, spinal cord injury, and acute care. She began her pediatric career within school practice and early intervention with the medically complex child in 2001. Squillace has completed research and published studies in multiple peer-reviewed journals on the topics of pediatric and young adults with multiple sclerosis, autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and the use of sensory integrative techniques to improve social communication, and mental health care for September 11 survivors. She has also contributed chapters in peer-reviewed texts on prematurity and the politics and technologies for those who are ventilator dependent. Squillace has disseminated her research at both national and international occupational therapy and medical conferences. She continues her research in the areas of sensory integration and children with autism.
Squillace believes that learning presents itself in many forms but the best method of learning is by drawing students into the lived experiences of a clinician. She does this by engaging her students on visits to topic-related arenas and clinics so the students can pull together the classroom and clinical lessons.
Recent Projects and Research
- Social communication of a child with ASD following a listening program
- Fine motor skills of adolescents with multiple sclerosis
- Fine motor skills and occupations of young adults with multiple sclerosis
Selected Publications
- Squillace, M. Lopez, A. & Cohn, K. (2022). Social outcomes of a child with autism spectrum disorder following a listening program. Journal of Occupational Therapy, Schools, and & Early Intervention, DOI: 10.1080/19411243.2022.2156425
- Squillace, M. (in review 2022). A project for the "projects": The restructuring of an after-school program. In M. Pizzi (Ed.) & M. Amir (Ed.). Interprofessional perspectives for community practice: Promoting health, well-being, and quality of life.
- Squillace, M., Krupp, L., Ray, S., & Muratori, L. (February, 2022). Pinch strength measurements of adolescents with pediatric multiple sclerosis. International Journal of Multiple Sclerosis Care.
- Squillace, M. & Linden, P. (April, 2022). The lived experiences of the occupations and occupational performance associated with the fine motor skills of young adults. Open Journal of Occupational Therapy.
- Squillace, M. (2020). Relationship between fine motor skills and performance and satisfaction of young adults with multiple sclerosis. Annals of International Occupational Therapy, 3 (No.X). DOI: 10.3928/24761222-20200413-01
- Squillace, M. (2019). Fine-motor skills and occupations of young adults with multiple sclerosis (MS). American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 73, https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2019.73S1-PO2006 [Poster].
- Block, P., Ellison, B., & Squillace, M. (2016). VENTure think tank: The politics, technologies, and occupations of disability and mechanical ventilation. In P. Block, D. Kasnitz, & N. Pollard, Occupying Disability: Critical Approaches to Community, Justice, and Decolonizing Disability. New York; Springer Publishing.
- Squillace, M., Ray, S., & Milazzo, M. (2015). Changes in gross grasp strength and fine motor skills in adolescents with multiple sclerosis. Occupational Therapy in Health Care, 29 (1), 77-85.
- Squillace, M. (2011) Prematurity. In D. Weiss, M. Morgan, & M. Kinnealey, A practitioner's guide to clinical occupational therapy. (2nd ed). Pro-Ed: (Peer reviewed)
- Squillace, M. (2003). Psychosocial occupational therapy intervention during tragedy and disaster. In P. Precin, Healing 9/11: Creative programming by occupational therapists. The Hawthrone Press: New York.
- Squillace, M. (2003). Biography of a ground zero firefighter. In P. Precin, Surviving 9/11: Impact and Experiences of Occupational Therapy Practitioners. The Hawthrone Press: New York.
- Squillace, M. (2003). From the 103rd floor. In P. Precin, Surviving 9/11: Impact and Experiences of Occupational Therapy Practitioners. The Hawthorne Press: New York.
Professional Honors and Awards
- Achievement in Research, New York Institute of Technology, 2022
- Distinguished Faculty Award, Stony Brook University, 2016
Courses Taught at New York Tech
- Pediatric Assessments and Interventions, Masters and Doctoral programs
- Models and Theories in Occupational Therapy, Masters and Doctoral programs