Ellen James

Ellen James, EdD, OTR/L, serves as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Occupational Therapy at Seton Hall University's Interprofessional Health Sciences Campus, where she develops innovative service delivery models for children with disabilities in resource-limited settings across 7+ developing countries.

Her academic credentials include:

• EdD in Movement Science and Education from Teachers College, Columbia University (2021)
• MS in Occupational Therapy from Columbia University (2010)
• BA in Psychology from Montclair State University (2008)

Dr. James specializes in pediatric occupational therapy with emphasis on community-based and international practice. Her research focuses on adapting evidence-based interventions like the Family Activity Adaptation Model (FAAM) to natural environments, targeting cerebral palsy (bimanual hand use), autism spectrum disorders (regulation and play), and family participation through home and school-based programs. Her Ghanaian heritage deeply informs her commitment to global accessibility in therapy.

Analysis of her publication record reveals consistent development of caregiver-coaching frameworks across telehealth, classroom, and international contexts, primarily addressing activities of daily living for children with developmental delays, autism, and hemiplegic cerebral palsy through environmental adaptation strategies.

Her scientific recognition includes:

• Distinguished Alumni Recognition from Montclair State University (2017)

While her media appearances on PIX 11 and NJ News 12 highlight her public engagement, documentation of student advising, grant funding, and specific research teams remains unavailable in current sources.