Heather Roberts, Ph.D., OT

Contact

HRoberts3@TWU.edu
940-898-2824
MCL 853

Education

Ph.D., Occupational Therapy, Texas Woman's University
M.S., Healthcare Administration, University of Texas - Arlington
B.S., Occupational Therapy, Saint Louis University

Research Interests

Pediatrics; Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Disabilities; Constraint Induced Movement Therapy; Promoting Evidence Based Practice

Latest Articles

COVID-19 Stay-at-home mandates impacts daily ambulatory bout intensity and duration in elementary school-aged children: a wearable sensor based analysis  
Gait & Posture (2024)
Wilshaw Stevens, Heather Roberts, Cristina Lopez, Kirsten Francis-Tulchin

Therapist and Parent Interviews to Guide the Development of GO Move
Occupational Therapy Journal of Research (2023)
Angela Shierk, Heather Roberts, Youstina Habeeb, Durson Nigar, Cekmece C

Improved Hand Function in Children with Cerebral Palsy with Repeat Doses of Group Based Hybrid Constraint- Induced Movement Therapy
Disabilities (2022)
Heather Roberts, Angela Shierk, Arianne Alfonso, Paul Yeatts, Trey L. DeJong

Disparity in Built Environment and Its Impact on Youth's Physical Activity Behaviors During COVID-19 Pandemic Restrictions
Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities (2022)
Xiangli Gu, Jean Keller, Tao Zhang, Dana Dempsey, Heather Roberts

Cognitive Profiles of Preschool Children with Unilateral Cerebral Palsy: Brief Report
National Association of School Psychologists Communique (2022)
Briana Paulman, Wendi Johnson, Heather Roberts, Angela Shierk

Therapy Together: A Caregiver Led Constraint Induced Movement Therapy Program for Preschool Aged Children Utilizing a Virtual Environment due to COVID 19
Journal of Occupational Therapy, Schools and Early Intervention: Innovations in Practice, Theory, and Research (2021)
Angela Shierk, Heather Roberts, Katherine Dubberly, Nancy Clegg, Marcus Fagan

Constraint induced movement therapy in infants and toddlers with hemiplegic cerebral palsy: A scoping review
Occupational Therapy In Health Care (2021)
C Walker, H Roberts, Angela Shierk

The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Physical Activity in US Children
Journal of Sport and Health Science (2021)
Kirsten Tulchin-Francis, Wilshaw Stevens, Xiangli Gu, Tao Zhang, Heather Roberts

A Repeat Dose of Pediatric Constraint Induced Movement Therapy (abstract)
Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology (2020)
H Roberts, A Shierk, N J Clegg, D Baldwin, L Smith

Constraint Induced Movement Therapy Camp for Children with Hemiplegic Cerebral Palsy Augmented by Use of an Exoskeleton to Play Games in Virtual Reality
Physical & Occupational Therapy in Pediatrics: A Quarterly Journal of Developmental Therapy (2020)
H Roberts, A Shierk, N J Clegg, D Baldwin, L Smith

Development of a pediatric goal-centered upper limb spasticity home exercise therapy program for use in a Phase-III trial of abobotulinumtoxinA (Dysport)
Physical & Occupational Therapy in Pediatrics: A Quarterly Journal of Developmental Therapy (2018)
A Shierk, C Jiménez-Moreno, H Roberts, S Ackerman-Laufer, G Backer

Chapters

Emotional Disturbance in the School Setting
in Cases in Pediatric Occupational Therapy, Assessment and Intervention | Slack, Inc (2015)
Heather Roberts

Externally Funded Projects

DANCE! An Adapted Dance Program for Youth with Cerebral Palsy
Sandlot Children's Charities | $5,000.00 | 2025
Role: Co-Principal Investigator

Feasibility of Smart Start, a school readiness program for preschool aged children with unilateral cerebral palsy.
JP Morgan and Chase | $20,000.00 | 2023
Role: Principal Investigator

WISH Travel Grant
Foundation of Physical Therapy- Workshop in Implementation Science | $1,000.00 | 2023
Role: Principal Investigator

Multi-Stakeholder Engagement to Identify Early Intervention Priorities for Cerebral Palsy Year 1 of 1
Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute | $100,000.00 | 2023
Role: Co-Principal Investigator

Implementation of Therapy Together with ECI of Texas Year 1 of 2
PRI-American Occupational Therapy Foundation | $100,000.00 | 2023
Role: Co-Principal Investigator

Implementation of Therapy Together with Early Childhood Intervention
PRI-United Cerebral Palsy Research Foundation | $19,968.00 | 2022
Role: Co-Principal Investigator

Therapy Together
Anonymous- Scottish Rite for Children | $20,000.00 | 2021
Role: Co-Principal Investigator

Cognition and Bimanual Performance in Young Children with Unilateral Cerebral Palsy
Woodcock Institute Research Grant program. | $15,000.00 | 2020
Role: Co-Principal Investigator

How does 8 weeks of equine-assisted therapy affect older adults diagnosed with Parkinson's disease?
Human Animal Bond Research Institute | 2019
Role: Co-Investigator

Transformative Practice
American Academy for Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine | $4,000.00 | 2019
Role: Co-Principal Investigator

Goal Directed Pediatric Upper Limb Home Program App for Children and Adolescents with Cerebral Palsy
Ipsen Innovations | $80,000.00 | 2019
Role: Co-Principal Investigator

Pablo Sensors for Pirate Camp
Hawk Incentives | $10,866.00 | 2019
Role: Co-Principal Investigator

Kappa Kappa Tablescapes Grant
$10,000.00 | 2018
Role: Co-Principal Investigator

Internally Funded Projects

Travel
Texas Woman's University | $500.00 | 2020
Research Grant

Competitive Equipment Grant- Two Horseback Riding Simulators
TARGET | 2020
Research Grant

Research Enhancement Program
Texas Woman's University | $6,888.00 | 2020
Research Grant

Travel Award
Texas Woman's University | $500.00 | 2020
Research Grant

Small Grants- Mini AHA and HAI Training
TWU | $725.00 | 2019
Research Grant

Competitive Higher Education Funds
$13,600.00 | 2018
Research Grant

Professional Affiliations

• American Academy for Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine
• American Occupational Therapy Association
• Woodcock Institute Member