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With Hwei Lan Tan

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Assistant Professor

Hwei Lan Tan

PhD, The University of Queensland, Australia
Cluster:
Health and Social Sciences
Email

SIT Appointments

  • – Present

Education

  • PhD
    The University of Queensland , Australia
  • Bachelor of Science (First Class Honours) (Occupational therapy)
    Curtin University of Technology , Australia
  • Master of Science (Occupational therapy)
    Curtin University of Technology , Australia
  • Postgraduate Diploma in Higher Education
    Nanyang Technological University , Singapore

Professional Memberships

  • Member, Singapore Association of Occupational Therapists
    – Present
  • Registered Occupational Therapist, Allied Health Professions Council

Corporate Experience

  • Member, Allied Health Professional Council’s Disciplinary Committee
    Present
  • Volunteer Board Director, Guide Dogs Singapore
    Present
  • Council member of Singapore Association of Occupational Therapists
    –
  • Delegate to World Federation of Occupational Therapists, representing Singapore Association of Occupational Therapists.
    –
  • Vice President, Singapore Association of Occupational Therapists
    –
  • President Elect of the Asian Pacific Federation of Societies for Hand Therapists
    –
  • President, Singapore Association of Occupational Therapists
    –
  • 1st Alternate Delegate to World Federation of Occupational Therapists, representing Singapore Association of Occupational Therapists.
    –
  • Vice Chairperson of the organizing committee of the “3rd Asia Pacific Occupational Therapy congress” held on 12-15th September 2003
    –
  • Hon. Secretary, Singapore Association of Occupational Therapists
    –

Research Interests

  • Assistive technology for people with vision impairment; services for people with impairment; caregiving

Current Projects

  • Evaluation of a web-based smartphone training toolkit for people with vision impairment
    – Present
  • Parenting as a meaningful occupation
    – Present

Past Projects

  • Co-designing and co-developing an evidence informed web-based smartphone training toolkit for people with vision imapairment
    –

    Smartphone Training: Independence and connectivity for people with vision impairment (guidedogs.org.sg)

    This first evidence-informed web-based smartphone training toolkit was co-designed and co-developed with eight people with vision impairment from Guide Dogs Singapore. The toolkit allows basic low vision accessibility features of the smartphone to be taught and learnt by trainers, people with vision impairment as well as family/support persons. The above research was recently completed as part of my PhD project from 2019-2023. It attracted a funding of SGD 141, 039.00 from IMDA’s Digital for Life Fund. The research has been featured in Enabling Master Plan 3, as a solution to inclusive communication for people with vision impairment, carried out by SIT and Guide Dogs Singapore. It has also been showcased in the different Digital for Life festivals that IMDA has been running throughout 2023 in Singapore, featuring SIT’s link to this project prominently.

  • Development of e-Guide Dog Travel Assistant for People with Visual Impairment (PVI)
    –
  • Development of a route recorder and navigation guidance system using smart cane with omnidirectional wheel for the visually impaired
    –
  • Development of Integrated Navigation System for the Visually Handicapped
    –
  • Time use, meaningful occupation and life satisfaction of community dwelling elderly. A pilot study of comparison between Japanese and Singaporean elderly.
    –
  • Preparation for an uncertain world: International curriculum development for mental health occupational therapy
    –

Journal Papers

  • Tan, H. L., Aplin, T., & Gullo, H. & McAuliffe, T. (2023). Training and learning support to use smartphones and apps for People with vision impairment (PVI): A multi-site qualitative study on trainers’ perspectives from Australia, Canada, and Singapore. British Journal of Visual Impairment, OnlineFirst. https://doi.org/10.1177/02646196231183891

  • Tan, H. L., Aplin, T., McAuliffe, T., & Gullo, H. (2022). An exploration of smartphone use by, and support for people with vision impairment: a scoping review. Disability and Rehabilitation: Assistive Technology, 1–26. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/17483107.2022.2092223

  • Brown, T., Fong, K.N.K., Bonsaksen, T., Tan, H.L., Murdolo, Y., Gonzalez, P.C. & Lim, H.B. (2016): Approaches to learning among occupational therapy undergraduate students: A cross-cultural study, Scandinavian Journal of Occupational Therapy, DOI:10.1080/11038128.2016.1229811

     

Conferences

  • Tan, H. L., Aplin, T., McAuliffe, T., & Gullo, H. (2023, June 21). Exploring people with vision impairment’s use and support to use smartphones: A scoping review. Occupational Therapy Australia 30th National Conference and Exhibition 2023, Cairns Convention Centre Queensland. ePoster presentation.

  • Tan, H. L., Aplin, T., Gullo, H., & McAuliffe, T. (2023, June 21). Smartphone training for People with vision impairment: Trainers’ perspectives from Australia, Canada, and Singapore. Occupational Therapy Australia 30th National Conference and Exhibition 2023, Cairns Convention Centre Queensland. Oral presentation.

    Award: Best eposter presentation during Occupational Therapy Australia 30th National Conference and Exhibition 2023, Cairns Convention Centre Queensland.

  • 6th Asia-Pacific Occupational Therapy Congress, 2015, New Zealand

  • 16th International Congress of the World Federation of Occupational Therapists, 2014, Japan

  • National Occupational Therapy Conference, 2013, Singapore

Books

  • Tan, H. L., Xu, T., Lim, G.H., SIT 2017 Occupational therapy student cohort, Leong, S., Koh, E.,   Lim, B., Kong, T., Goh, G. & Ho, C. (2021). Joyfully engaged - An Activity Toolkit for Seniors with Higher Care Needs: Agency of Integrated Care Pte Ltd: Singapore