Dr. Mary Ann McColl is a Professor Emerita in the School of Rehabilitation Therapy and Senior Scientist at the Health Services & Policy Research institute at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. She lives in Inverary, ON, Canada.
She has a PhD in Epidemiology & Biostatistics (1991) and MHSc in Community Health & Epidemiology (1983) from University of Toronto; MTS in Theological Studies (2007) and BSc (Hons) in Occupational Therapy (1978) from Queen’s University.
Dr. McColl taught foundational courses in Occupational Therapy Theory and Disability Studies for 41 years. Her primary research areas include: disability policy, long-term health & spinal cord injury, spirituality & disability, and occupational therapy theory.
Her most recent book, The Ten Stories: What Aging Parents Want Us to Hear (McColl, M.A. [2026], AEVO/University of Toronto Press) explores the stories older adults tell their children and loved ones over and over again, and what those stories really mean. Stories are told in old age as a part of the universal process of life review and reconciliation. Dr. McColl’s research shows that there are in fact only about ten stories that crop up repeatedly, and those stories are told to communicate specific messages about what’s important in life, what elements make up a good life, and what aging parents want us to remember when they’re gone.
Sher is also the author of a number of other books, including:
- McColl, M.A. (2024). Theoretical basis of occupational therapy (4th ed.). New York, NY: Routledge.
- Law, M., Baptiste, S., Carswell, A. McColl, M.A., Polatajko, H & Pollock, N. (2023) Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (5th ed. rev.). Cambridge, ON: CAOT Inc.
- McColl, M.A. (2019). Appreciative disability studies. Toronto, ON: Captus Press.
- McColl, M.A. (2011). Spirituality and occupational therapy (2nd ed). Ottawa, ON: CAOT Publ.
- McColl, MA., & Jongbloed, L. (2006). Disability and social policy in Canada (2nd ed). Toronto, ON: Captus Press
- Boyce, W., McColl, M.A., Bickenbach, J., Trembay, M., Crichton, A., Andrews, S., D’Aubin, A., & Gerein, N. (2001). A seat at the table: Persons with disability and policy making. Montreal, QU: McGill-Queen’s University Press.
- McColl, M.A., & Bickenbach, J (1998). Introduction to disability. London: W.B Saunders Itd.
The Ten Stories 