Dennis S. Cleary, OTD, OTR / L, FAOTA

I am an assistant professor in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine and an occupational therapist at Cincinnati Children’s. My research is dedicated to improving postsecondary employment outcomes for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. I focus on evidence-based assessment, job matching and workplace supports, always striving to help people find meaningful work that fits their skills and interests. As an occupational therapist, I am deeply interested in the fit between a person, their abilities and the environments in which they live, work and play. I believe that with the right support, anyone can learn new skills and approach challenges with confidence and competence.

I am proud to be a nationally recognized leader in transition-to-employment research and a key collaborator with Project SEARCH, the largest transition-to-employment program in the world. Project SEARCH supports over 5,000 young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities each year, with programs in 10 countries and around 800 sites worldwide. I co-developed the Vocational Fit Assessment (VocFit), a validated, person-centered employment assessment now used by thousands of employment professionals internationally. VocFit has assessed over 45,000 individuals with disabilities and uses artificial intelligence to suggest job matches and provide support for successful task completion.

My research spans competitive integrated employment, assistive technology, and knowledge translation, with funding from the NIH, US Department of Education, state agencies and national foundations. I have held academic appointments at the University of Cincinnati, Indiana University and The Ohio State University, and am honored to be a Fellow of the American Occupational Therapy Association. I am committed to advancing opportunities and inclusion for people with disabilities, believing that everyone deserves the chance to thrive in work and life.