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Greetings!
Included in this issue of CanChild Today are links to CanChild's new Knowledge Translation Strategic plan and announcements of exciting new grants. In addition, recent publications by CanChild scientists, research associates, international collaborators, PhD students, and post doctoral fellows are highlighted. Check our 'What's New' page for more postings and announcements. Feel free to share CanChild resources and this newsletter with family, friends and colleagues. They can subscribe to CanChild Today for free by registering here. You can find past issues here !
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Congratulations to Cheryl Missiuna, Nancy Pollock, Sheila Bennett, Chantal Camden, Wenonah Campbell, Dayle McCauley, Robin Gaines and John Cairney in receiving funding from the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long Term Care to implement and evaluate Partnering for Change (P4C), an evidence-based model of occupational therapy service delivery in school settings. This innovative model focuses on earlier identification of children with developmental coordination disorder (DCD) and on building the capacity of families and educators to support children's participation in schools, at home and in the community. Working collaboratively with colleagues at Central West, Hamilton Niagara Haldimand Brant, and Toronto Central Community Care Access Centres (CCACs), the team will evaluate P4C in more than 40 schools over the next 2 school years. Click to read more.
Congratulations to graduate students Michelle Phoenix and Tram Nguyen for receiving CIHR Frederick Banting and Charles Best Canada Graduate Scholarships! Michelle (supervised by Dr. Peter Rosenbaum) received the $35,000/3 year grant for the project "The experience of hard to reach families in accessing and engaging in pediatric rehabilitation services". Tram (supervised by Dr. Jan Willem Gorter) received the same funding for the project "Transition of adolescents with chronic health conditions from pediatric to adult health care: Exploring the experiences of youth, families and health professional".
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New KT Strategic Plan for CanChild!
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Over the past 10 months, members of the CanChild network have been developing a Knowledge Translation (KT) Strategic Plan to guide their KT activities for the next 5 years. Click here to read more about the process and resulting KT strategic directions.
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Recent Publications by CanChild Scientists, Research Associates, International Collaborators, PhD Students, & Post Doctoral Fellows
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Three common themes have emerged from recent reviews of the literature related to transitions to adulthood for youth with disabilities, and they are described in this article along with personal scenarios to illustrate the points. The first theme suggests that a person's condition is only one factor that impacts the developmental process of transitioning into adulthood; the second theme focuses on the complexity of developmental transitions; and the third theme describes evidence to support a positive approach to youth development. Implications for service professionals and researchers are included. Published in The Prevention Researcher. Authors: D Stewart, JW Gorter, M Freeman. Link to full article.
The Hypertonia Assessment Tool (HAT) differentiates various types of hypertonia in children. In this study published in Journal of Child Neurology, the impact of videotape analysis on scoring was evaluated, as well as interrater reliability and criterion validity. Results: Interrater reliability was moderate for dystonia and excellent for spasticity and rigidity. Criterion validity was considerable for spasticity, moderate for dystonia and excellent for the absence of rigidity. Videotape review is not required. One dystonia item will be removed. Click here to view the user manual and scoring charts from the Holland Bloorview Research website. Authors: S Knights, N Datoo, A Kawamura, L Switzer, D Fehlings. Abstract.
This study by the Move & PLAY Study team investigated family functioning, family expectations and supports of 398 families of young children with cerebral palsy. Results: Parents reported average to high family functioning and perceived helpful supports. Parents reported high expectations of and supports to their children. Many aspects of family ecology did not differ based on their children's GMFCS levels. Published in Child: Care, Health & Development. Authors: A Laforme Fiss, LA Chiarello, D Bartlett, RJ Palisano, L Jeffries, N Almasri, HJ Chang. Abstract.
Furthering their work on intervention fidelity, the Focus on Function Study team aimed to identify behavioural attributes of the therapy session that are key parts of Family Centred Services (FCS) for children with physical disabilities. A delphi process with multidisciplinary researchers was completed, along with semi-structured interviews with occupational therapists and physiotherapists. The results provide an understanding of FCS therapy session behaviours that include behaviours of the therapist, child, parent and interactions between them. This will help researchers identify their presence within intervention sessions thereby broadening the focus of fidelity measurement in paediatric rehabilitation to examine FCS. Published in Disability Rehabilitation. Authors: B DiRezze, M Law, K Eva, N Pollock, JW Gorter. Abstract.
Researchers in this study in Australia compared participation in out-of-school activities between children with intellectual disability and children with typical development using the Children's Assessment of Participation and Enjoyment and Preferences for Activities of Children questionnaires. Children with intellectual disability participated in fewer activities classified as 'Active-Physical' and 'Skill-Based' and in more 'Recreational' activities. These children also had a higher preference for 'Self-Improvement' activities, and participated in a higher proportion of 'Social' activities at home and in a lower proportion of activities alone. Published in Research in Developmental Disabilities. Authors: M King, N Shields, C Imms, M Black, C Ardern. Abstract.
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