ASD

Challenge Once one can confirm the diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder, most Canadian provinces and territories offer government-funded interventions. However, because of long wait lists—first for diagnosis and then for treatment—intervening during the early years of life is virtually impossible for many families. Project Summary Network researchers aimed to change this reality when they developed [...]

Challenge The words we use to describe disabilities reflect and affect how we perceive them. There has been a lot of discussions about which words are the least stigmatizing and the most empowering. However, any benefits that come out of these conversations might not always extend to people with other native languages, who make up [...]

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 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 [...]

Challenge There is a lot of academic writing on the challenges faced by children and youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), however, much of what’s known is based on parent report or researchers’ observations. We know very little about the lived experiences of youth with ASD, from their own perspectives. ‘Giving voice’ (including to those [...]

Challenge Adolescents with autism often struggle with anxiety, depression, stress and attention.  While cognitive behavioural approaches can support many autistic youth, research shows that many participants will fail to respond to these kinds of treatments, and many of these interventions are targeted only at children 12 years of age and younger. Project Summary Based on [...]

Challenge More than 770,000 Canadians are currently living with ASD, FASD or CP — the most common neurodevelopmental disabilities. Treatments for these conditions have been focused on behavioural and symptom management because there now are no cures or effective preventions. For health care decision-makers to be able to make informed choices, there needs to be [...]

Challenge Children with neurodevelopmental disorders (NDD) often experience atypical auditory processing — specifically hypersensitivity to sound. This sensitivity can be so severe that it prevents people with NDD from fully participating in social settings. While there are existing solutions, they often involve entirely removing a child from a noisy environment or using noise reduction devices [...]

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 [...]

Challenge Deficits in the ability to attend and self-regulate are hallmarks of many neurodisabilities, and significantly impact many children's capacities to learn and succeed. Very few practical, affordable, and accessible interventions exist to treat these difficulties in children. Project Summary Attention and Executive Functions (EF) are vital for every aspect of life, including school/work success, [...]