Nea Vänskä

Nea Vänskä is a Senior Lecturer and Researcher at Metropolia University of Applied Sciences, focusing on participatory research partnerships in pediatric rehabilitation. Her work emphasizes co-creation with children, youth, and families to improve health care transitions, meaningful participation, and equitable rehabilitation practices. She leads the Co-creating child & youth wellbeing R&D program, integrating collaborative methodologies across disciplines.

Her research interests include participatory action research, disability inclusion, and child-centered approaches in health care. Notable projects involve developing tools like the CMAP Book to enhance children's participation in rehabilitation decisions, and the KIDMOVE project addressing athlete-centered coaching in youth sports.

Publications highlight themes such as transition to adult healthcare for cerebral palsy patients, best practices in pediatric rehabilitation, and participatory research models. She has collaborated extensively with institutions like Kela (Finnish Social Insurance Institution) and Jyväskylä Polytechnic on strategic research frameworks and knowledge translation initiatives.

Her work bridges academic research and practical application, emphasizing justice, joy, and shared mission in RDI partnerships. Ongoing efforts focus on co-curiosity frameworks and digital health innovations in participatory healthcare.