WAFA TURKISTANI

I am a Ph.D holder in the area of disability services with years of experience in child and adult rehabilitation, research and social and philanthropy work. I have developed an extensive understanding of the sector of disability and a great passion for diversity and inclusion. My background involves providing professional support to persons with disabilities to integrate them into their communities socially and economically.

 Research Trainee (Honorary) Stoke Mandeville Hospital – Aylesbury, United Kingdom 10/2015 – 10/2016

• Conducting research on the experience of becoming unemployed following spinal cord injury

Research Trainee (Honorary) Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital – London, United Kingdom 01/2013 – 09/2013

• Conducting research on the outlook of patients with chronic pain regarding return to work

Intern (Honours) Disabled Children's Association – Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -01/2007 – 05/2007  

• Classroom teaching for cognitively challenged children, such as children with cerebral palsy

Foundations of Project Management - Coursera - Online Course 06/2022

Two Continuing Professional Development (CPD) certificates of participation in courses for spinal cord injury - United Kingdom 08/2018

Certificate of Good Clinical Practice (Secondary Care) - National Institute for Health Research in the NHS - United Kingdom 04/2016

Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) London, United Kingdom 06/2012

Volunteer Work Award Ceremony, Mubadaraat Association - Riyadh, Saudi Arabia 2023

Facilitation of Volunteer Work Experience Focus Groups, Confidential - Riyadh and Khobar Saudi Arabia 2022

Discussion of the Report of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia before the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) at the Human Rights Council, United Nations – Geneva, Switzerland 2019 

Preparatory Workshop for the Seminar on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities conducted by Saudi Human Rights Commission in cooperation with the United Nations Office –Riyadh, Saudi Arabia 2019

Paper presentation (The Lived Experience of Transitioning from Employment to Unemployment  following Spinal Cord Injury), The Second International Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) Conference – Glasgow, United Kingdom 2018

Poster presentation (The Lived Experience of Transitioning from Employment to Unemployment following Spinal Cord Injury), Division of Health Psychology Annual Conference – Cardiff, United Kingdom 2017

Several workshops – King Salman Centre for Disability Research – Riyadh, Saudi Arabia 2008 – 2011

Disability Conference – Riyadh, Saudi Arabia 2008

Convoy Modernization and Future Challenges in Special Education Conference - King Saud  University – Riyadh, Saudi Arabia 2005 

Down Syndrome Charity Association (DSCA) – Riyadh, Saudi Arabia 2004 – 2006 

Dealing with an Autistic Child workshop – Special Education Academy – Riyadh, Saudi Arabia 2004

Former member of the Down Syndrome Charity Association (DSCA) and Saudi Autistic Association 

 Kalsi, P., Turkistani, W., Sykes, C., Lucas, A., & Zarnegar, R. (2016). “Work is a beautiful thing....” Exploring attitudes towards employment in chronic pain (CP) patients attending a pain management programme (PMP). Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, 44(1), 97-107.