Project Description
Challenge
Physical activity is beneficial for all children but has particular benefits for children with neurodevelopmental disabilities. However, children living with neurodevelopmental disabilities and their families often experience exclusion and lack of opportunities to engage in community recreation opportunities. For children, social isolation can have dramatic consequences because social interactions enable children to learn and develop. The health consequences of social exclusion, isolation, and loneliness have significant impacts on the community and the health system.
Project Summary
The New Physical Activity Coaching (New-PAC) intervention was co-developed in partnership with Special Olympics British Columbia(BC). It is designed to improve outcomes for both children with neurodevelopmental disabilities and their families through personalized interventions and to engage the whole family around the child. It is also an evidence-based program designed to strengthen the impact of community-based physical activity programs and to be more responsive to the developmental goals of participating families and children. The program does this through coaching that is child-centred, need-based and goal-oriented. It also includes family-engaged, home-based physical activity and site facilitation of social networking among families to strengthen resilience.
Looking Towards Cycle III
The research team anticipates that the diffusion of the coaching approach will have a transformative effect on community-based physical activity interventions. An additional $437K in funding from the BC Ministry of Health will support a three-year extension of the project to Indigenous families and rural communities within the province (2019-2022). The project team also plans to implement the new coaching model outside British Columbia, initially focusing their efforts in Prince Edward Island, Alberta and Ontario.
Funding
Contributions Received to Date:
Kids Brain Health Network – $590,200
BC Ministry of Health – Public Health Division: $265,726
Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research (MSFHR): $256,667
ParticipACTION: $103,000
Special Olympics Canada: $5,000
University of Toronto, Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education: $41,000
Team
Principal Investigators
Dr. Jean-Paul Collet, University of British Columbia
Co-Investigators
Dr. William McKellin, University of British Columbia
Dr.Lise Olsen, University of British Columbia Okanagan
Dr.Stephanie Glegg, University of British Columbia
Dr. Mojghan Gitimoghaddam, University of British Columbia
Mrs. Lois McNary, Special Olympics BC
Mrs. Tara Nault, Indigenous Sport, Physical Activity & Recreation Council (ISPARC)
Partners
Special Olympics BC
Special Olympics Canada
Sunny Hill Health Centre for Children
ParticipACTION
ISPARC (Indigenous Sport Physical Activity, Recreation Council)
Indigenous Sport
Dr. Keiko Shikako-Thomas (McGill University) – Jooay app project
Previous Cycle II Initiatives
Physical Activity Strategies to Enhance Children’s Development
Also see
The Joaay App Helps Locate Leisure Programs for Kids with Disabilities
