Projects – Cycle II

Challenge The prevalence of childhood neurodisability in Canada was previously unknown. Since prevalence is typically reported by specific diagnoses, such as CP or FASD, it was difficult to appreciate what proportion of children in Canada are impacted by brain-based developmental disorders and to estimate the need for supports and services for them and their families. [...]

Challenge Findings from the Social Determinants of Health Program’s “Support Matters!” project has found that children with neurodisabilities have diverse needs at critical stages of their development, which require different forms of support and services. Parent focus groups further identified a need to improve the experience of navigating these various services. From this need, the [...]

Challenge By involving family members of children with neurodevelopmental disabilities as partners in the research process, we can better address the needs of families. More importantly, research results will have a more significant impact on the target audience.  Many families are eager to get involved in neurodevelopmental research, but don't necessarily have the experience or [...]

Challenge While there has been a great deal of research into causes and potential therapies for children with neurodisability, there has been a significant lack of support for children and their families as they grow and develop. Therefore, researchers created “Support Matters!” to understand these needs better. Project Summary Researchers conducted individual and focus group [...]

Challenge There has historically been a lack of understanding of the social context of children with neurodisabilities and their family caregivers in Canada: how factors such as income, environment, education, and family life, known as the social determinants of health (SDOH), can impact their lives. Project Summary The Social Determinants of Health project, renamed “The [...]

Challenge Intellectual disability (ID) affects 800,000 Canadians and is defined by challenges in cognitive functions and daily living activities. Individuals with ID frequently struggle with other issues such as anxiety, autism, epilepsy, sleep problems, and difficulty living independently. But managing an ID diagnosis presents many challenges: individuals must discover which resources are best for them, [...]

Challenge While researchers know that FASD is a result of prenatal exposure to alcohol, the disorder presents in many different ways.  It is important to better understand the presentation of FASD in Canada, patterns and the extent of neurobehavioural impacts, and recommended interventions and supports in order to mitigate adverse issues and maximize developmental trajectories [...]

Challenge Social ABCs is an intervention for toddlers who are showing social-communication delays or early signs of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This intervention does not require waiting for a formal diagnosis. As a result, it allows a child to make progress during the critical stage when their brain is at its most “plastic” (capable of [...]

Challenge Many children with brain-based disabilities face challenges when it comes to physical fitness. The use of exercise video games (termed exergames) provides a unique approach to engaging youth in physical exercise and social interaction with their peers. A team led by Darcy Fehlings (Holland Bloorview) and Nicholas Graham (Queen’s University) developed an exergame called [...]

Challenge Anxiety is common among children and youth living with Autism Spectrum Disorder, and it can be very debilitating. An estimated 40 percent of young people with ASD also have at least one anxiety-related diagnosis, such as a phobia, social anxiety disorder or obsessive-compulsive disorder. We know that cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) can help with these [...]