Rooshey Hasnain

Dr. Rooshey Hasnain is a clinical associate professor, community-engaged researcher, and faculty mentor at the University of Illinois Chicago. She identifies as a South and West Asian Desi-mix immigrant woman born of refugee parents and a member of the disability community. Shaped by these roles and identities, her work at the intersections of disability, equity, and justice is grounded in scholarship and deep community connections. For over 25 years, Dr. Hasnain has centered the lived experiences of people with disabilities, with particular emphasis on immigrants and refugees navigating structural and systems-level barriers. Her UIC affiliations span Disability and Human Development, the BS Program in Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, the Illinois Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities Program, and the Honors College. Beyond UIC, for more than twenty years she has been affiliated with the Association of University Centers for Excellence in Developmental and Related Disabilities (UCEDD) in Oregon, Massachusetts, and Illinois, serving as principal investigator and a co-investigator on numerous grant-funded disability projects and community-driven initiatives.

Grounded in human rights advocacy and disability-inclusive frameworks, her work ranges across grassroots coalition building; disability awareness and accessibility; mental health and well-being; workforce and educational development; aging, caregiving, and family supports; and quality-of-life transitions for people of all ages and disability experiences. Her relational approach includes collaborations with self-advocates, families, providers, and multisector partners. She also works alongside students and artists in a variety of media to explore how storytelling can amplify immigrant narratives of disability experience within and across cultures. This work has earned local and international recognition for its collaborative reach across research, curriculum, and community practice. Her efforts advance cross-cultural engagement, leadership development, and equitable representation for and with communities that are too often underserved and underrepresented. Dr. Hasnain also serves on numerous boards and committees, has presented and published extensively on disability-related topics, and has been recognized for grant-funded projects that have garnered state and national attention.