Dr. Hanna Usatenko

Area of Study / Keywords

Assistive Technology Communication Attachment Ageing

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About

I'm a clinical psychologist with experience in counseling, disability inclusion, and international humanitarian service. In 2015, I started a social enterprise in Ukraine producing manuals with symbols for augmentative and alternative communication. Since 2025, I have been conducting postdoctoral studies in mental health, in Canada, applying advanced statistical methods and machine learning to real-world problems.

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Research

I am interested in research on the impact of assistive technology, specifically augmentative and alternative communication, on the quality of life and well-being of adults and families raising children with speech, language, and communication disabilities.

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Teaching

My goal as an educator is to help students make thoughtful, evidence-informed decisions that improve people's opportunities to communicate and participate in everyday life. My teaching path began during my Master’s and PhD training, when I supervised undergraduate students and taught courses and seminars in social psychology and communication. Prior to my postdoctoral assignments, my leadership at an innovative social enterprise in Ukraine since 2015 has enabled me to facilitate knowledge mobilization and the dissemination of research results in augmentative and alternative communication. Over the past 10 years, I have conducted 35 webinars, conference presentations, guest lectures, and workshops on low-tech AAC use in educational, health, family, and community settings. In my postdoctoral position at SFU, I offered undergraduates and graduate students mentorship on research tasks and managed research assistants for my project on the cultural adaptation of an intervention. I deeply understand the difference between teaching students comprehensive courses and sharing focused knowledge with health or educational professionals, who are grounded in their previous experience.

PSYCH 327 - Adolescent Development

Biological, cognitive, and social aspects of development that occur during the period from early to late adolescence. Prerequisite: PSYCH 223. [Faculty of Arts]

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PSYCH 347 - Interpersonal Relationships

A general overview of research and theory in the domain of relationships, based on classic and contemporary findings from the social psychological literature. Most of the course content will focus on adult romantic relationships. Prerequisites: PSYCH 241 or SOC 241. Note: Not open to students with credit in HECOL 210 or PSYCH 305 Topic: Interpersonal Relationships. [Faculty of Arts].

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Browse more courses taught by Hanna Usatenko

Hanna Usatenko, Roksolana Malyi-Prasol, Anh-Thu Vu, Patti Ranahan, Olha Kochubeinyk, Janet Mainland, Marlene Moretti

2026 September; 10.31234/osf.io/8yaum_v1

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Hanna Usatenko

"Scientific notes of the University"KROK". 2024 September; 10.31732/2663-2209-2024-75-246-253

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Věda a perspektivy. 2024 September;

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