Project Description
Challenge
In Canada, there have been poor outcomes for children with a neurodevelopmental disorder (NDD), with educational achievement and employment outcomes being the lowest of all existing disability groups. This outcome is a result of the unmet needs by services for children with a neurodevelopmental disorder and their families. Describing these needs for children with NDD is a crucial step to improving supports and services.
Project Summary
One of the main goals of the Health Economics Project is to gain a better understanding of the unmet needs of children with neurodevelopmental disorders. Another goal is to identify where policy design approaches and resources should be allocated. Researchers based studies on existing population-based data on the social determinants of health of people with NDD, which has resulted in several significant studies and publications.
Result
In one study, the Canadian Survey on Disability was used to compare and contrast experiences with education, employment and services among people with self-reported ASD and CP and other developmental disabilities (DD). Researchers determined that for people with DD, labour force participation was lowest compared to any other disability. As for people with CP and ASD, they had high levels of specific and unmet needs.
Another publication explored barriers to accessing Canada’s disability tax credit (DTC). While the DTC’s primary purpose is to provide financial support to persons with disabilities, researchers found that uptake was only at 40 percent. Such low uptake was due mostly to a lack of awareness and an arduous application process. This study resulted in op-eds and some media engagement.
A third study assessed the stress of caregivers for children with NDD to start to build an understanding of their unique challenges.
This research has helped to shine a light on policy and program gaps resulting in the unmet needs of Canadian children with NDD and was used by federal and provincial governments.
Funding:
This project was part of the larger “Social Determinates of Health Program.” As part of the program, this project was funded $800,000 by the Kids Brain Health Network and $640,431 by participating partners.
Team
Dr. Jennifer Zwicker, University of Calgary
