TEXT: Network News and Highlights

Disability Policy in Canada: Provincial and Territorial Report

Commissioned by Kids Brain Health Network (KBHN) and developed in collaboration with researchers from the Disability Policy Research Program (DiPo) and McGill University, this report provides a comprehensive overview of the current state of disability policy across Canadian provinces and territories.

This resource is valuable for researchers, policymakers, and advocates working toward improved disability support in Canada.  

How technology helps kids and youth with disabilities move more
Left photo: BCI4Kids Calgary team presenting their latest project to KBHN. Right photo: Alex, a young person using a robotic walker, is standing in a hallway with the KBHN team.

In a recent retreat, the KBHN team met with two young people who move and play more with the help of technology. Alex is a fitness enthusiast living with cerebral palsy. She previously managed 30 steps with a manual walker before feeling fatigued. Since using the robotic walker, she now easily achieves over 4,000 steps. The team also spent time with Thomas, a 12-year-old with quadriplegic cerebral palsy, who uses brain-computer interface (BCI) technology that reads his brain activity and signals his electronic wheelchair when to move or turn.

KBHN welcomes new board members to drive impactful change

KBHN is thrilled to welcome Liz Choi, Saul Katz, and Sarah Jane Lee to its Board of Directors. These exceptional leaders will help advance KBHN’s mission to scale projects that positively impact children with neurodevelopmental disabilities and their families. Despite their diverse professional backgrounds, they share a strong commitment to creating meaningful change with children, families, and communities. Together, they’ll play a key role in accelerating the KBHN’s efforts to drive innovation in brain health research.

Celebrating 2024 KBHN Access Awardees

We are proud to highlight the recipients of the KBHN Access Awards 2024, which support the next generation of researchers and professionals in neurodevelopmental disabilities. These awards provide funding for trainees and professionals to pursue internships, exchanges, and conferences, helping drive innovative solutions for children with neurodevelopmental disabilities and their families.
Partner Events

Register now for #ChildHealthCan2025 Creating the Future Together

Come down to the Nation’s Capital for #ChildHealthCan2025 on April 14 and 15, 2025, to join our collective exploration of the future of child health and the ongoing transformation of children’s healthcare systems. This year’s Conference features a wide array of local and international speakers who will delve into current topics, including political determinants of health, designing healthcare systems for children, sustaining leadership pipelines, and the role of Al, Precision Health, and Learning Health Systems in personalized care.

Kids Brain Health Foundation (KBHF) a key partner in Honouring the Caregiver project

KBHF proudly partnered with the Honouring the Caregiver initiative, an Indigenous-led wellness program designed to support First Nations caregivers of neurodiverse children and adults. The project consisted of four pilot workshops held in communities in Maskwacîs, AB; Winnipeg, MB; Richmond, BC; and Six Nations, ON.

KBHF’s involvement helped bring this significant program to life, which integrated Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) with traditional Indigenous healing practices, including sharing circles and ceremony. With the support of KBHF and Petro-Canada CareMakers Foundation, the program has become a model of inclusive healthcare that honours Indigenous traditions and applies evidence-based practices.

The program was led by two key figures whose research have been funded by KBHN: Dr. Grant Bruno, a Nehiyaw (Plains Cree) researcher and Assistant Professor at the University of Alberta; and Louis Busch, a Bear Clan member of Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation, a registered psychotherapist, and doctoral candidate at the University of Toronto.

Kids Brain Health Network, situated at Simon Fraser University (SFU) Burnaby, respectfully acknowledges the unceded traditional territories of the Coast Salish peoples, including the səl̓ilw̓ətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh), kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (Kwikwetlem), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish) and xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) Nations.

Le Réseau pour la santé du cerveau des enfants, situé au sein de l’Université Simon Fraser (SFU) de Burnaby, reconnaît respectueusement les territoires traditionnels non cédés des peuples Salish de la Côte, notamment les nations səl̓ilw̓ ətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh), kʷikʷəƛ̓ əm (Kwikwetlem), Sḵwx̱ wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish) et xʷməθkʷəy̓ əm (Musqueam).