My professional journey is dedicated to data-driven decision-making in mental health and disability inclusion.
I began my career in 2001 in the field of mental health, where I worked clinically in nursing and provided social support to patients outside of mental health facilities. I researched anxiety among mental health professionals, focusing on burnout prevention. Later, I transitioned into Training and Development, where I studied motivation and coaching within a business context.
Since 2008, I have been working as a therapist, specializing in an emotionally focused family approach that supports parent-child and couple relationships. My primary interest lies in attachment theory and its impact on individual and family well-being.
In 2015, I founded a social enterprise called DyvoGra in Ukraine. Our team creates symbols and manuals for assisted communication, aimed at helping children and adults with speech, language, and communication disabilities. DyvoGra serves as a trendsetter in assistive technology for communication in Ukraine, collaborating with the government, non-profit organizations, parent communities, and organizations led by individuals with disabilities. Since 2023, I have been serving as the National Contact Person for the Association of Advancement of Assistive Technology in Europe.
In humanitarian response to the war in Ukraine, I have worked as an accountability professional for UNICEF and other international non-governmental organizations (INGOs), supporting the affected population and advocating for disability inclusion.
My PhD focused on attachment studies in relation to the use of assistive technology in families with children who have developmental disabilities. In my postdoctoral assignment, I am investigating parent-child attachment in these families. My research interests include the practical application of machine learning and reinforcement learning in assistive technology, particularly for alternative and augmentative communication and family well-being.
For cooperation or consultancy, please reach out to me at hanna.usatenko@dyvogra.com.
