Dear CanChild,


Welcome to the March 9th edition of CanChild Today! In this newsletter, we honour the life of Judy Heumann, congratulate award winners, share upcoming events, feature a CanChild shop item, highlight research opportunities, and present summaries of recent publications.


Please feel free to share CanChild newsletter & resources with family, friends and colleagues. 

They can subscribe to the CanChild Today! newsletter for free by registering here

Our past issues are archived on the CanChild website and can be accessed here.

In Memory of Judy Heumann

It is with great sadness that we report the passing of Judy Heumann, a trailblazing disability rights activist who devoted her life to fighting for equal rights for disabled people. She died on March 4, 2023, at the age of 75. We extend our deepest sympathies to Judy Heumann's family, friends, and colleagues during this difficult time. She will be greatly missed, but her legacy will continue to inspire future generations of disability rights activists.

We invite you to watch Judy tell her story:

Congratulations to KBHN Outstanding Awards winners!

Each year Kids Brain Health Network support, promote, and acknowledge those who have shown excellence and dedication within our Network. Congratulations to the following CanChild members who received this year’s winners!

Vanessa Tomas

Outstanding Trainee Member: Vanessa Tomas

Research Coordinator

Lucy Lach

Outstanding Mentor/Supervisor:

Dr. Lucyna Lach 

Associate Member

Genevieve Currie

Outstanding Leadership Award for Family Engagement in Research:

Dr. Genevieve Currie

FER Course Instructor

Learn more

Upcoming Events!

Shaking up Health Research by Including Caregiving Partners poster

Shaking up Health Research by Including Caregiving Partners

March 15th from 12:00-1:00pm EST


Join Donna Thomson in conversation with Dr. Andrea Cross, an expert and instructor in family engagement in research at McMaster University. Donna and Andrea will describe the online Family Engagement in Research Course as well as the new Leadership Academy. Discover how family caregivers can learn alongside researchers in order to influence both what is researched and how it is researched, resulting in increased confidence and empowerment.

Register Here
"Nothing About Us Without Us”: Strategies for Equitable and Meaningful Youth Engagement

"Nothing About Us Without Us”: Strategies for Equitable and Meaningful Youth Engagement

March 29th from 7:00-8:00pm EST


In this research round, CanChild’s Youth Engagement in Research team shares their research and experience engaging in patient-oriented research, which pushes back against the inherent ableist foundations of research. They will also provide practical takeaways for parents, youth, and researchers on engaging in accessible and equitable research.

Register Here

Featured CanChild Product!

“I appreciated having the support and getting the push to try something I’ve been afraid of. I felt safer knowing that I wasn’t going at it solo.”

What is PREP?

PREP – Pathways and Resources for Engagement and Participation – is an evidence-based intervention that focuses on enhancing participation through modifying the environment. Using this skills-based approach, therapists work with the client (and his/her parent or caregiver when appropriate) to identify aspects of the environment and the activity that either support or hinder participation.

Shop PREP

Participate in Research!

Calling Canadian parents/guardians of children up to age 18 who have Cerebral Palsy and complex communication needs (limited motor and speech function) to participate in online focus groups!

Participants will be introduced to the Computer Based Instrument for Low Motor Language

Testing (C-BiLLT), a new tool that uses alternative access methods to assess children’s language comprehension.


We are interested in your perceptions about the barriers and facilitators to using the C-BiLLT in Canadian clinics and with Canadian children who have CP. Focus groups will be virtual and will be approximately 2 hours. Participants will be compensated


If you are interested in participating or if you have questions, please contact the study Research Assistant (Sarah) at 905 525 9140 extension 27854 or hopmansn@mcmaster.ca


Principal Investigator: Dr. Cunningham, bj.cunningham@uwo.ca

Ongoing Research!

Do you want to participate in more CanChild research?

  • Inviting families with children between 8-21 who have a disability to participate in a study about their experiences during the COVID pandemic and ideas on improving health/education services and supports. For more information, email Anna Swain at minchena@mcmaster.ca
  • Transition to Adulthood During COVID-19 Research: Recruiting Canadian youth (ages 16-24) with special healthcare needs to participate in an online interview
  • Seeking occupational therapists in Ontario to explore the ethical tensions experienced during the transition from traditional pull-out approaches to tiered service delivery in school-based occupational therapy, and to identify the appropriate practice support needs. Contact Sandra VanderKaay at vandes22@mcmaster.ca

Recent Publications by CanChild Members!

*Reporting of Classroom-Based Morphological Awareness Instruction and Intervention for Kindergarten to Grade 3 Students in the Literature: A Scoping Review

 

Morphological awareness is a skill where children learn that words are made up of smaller parts. This skill is important for learning to read. We reviewed 47 articles to find out how researchers write about interventions to help children in primary grades learn this important skill. Speech-language therapists and teachers can use our findings to plan reading supports for the classroom.

 

Passaretti, B., Turkstra, L.S., Gallagher, T., Jiang, A., Cahill, P., Campbell, W. (2023). Language Speech and Hearing Services in Schools. 1-22. doi: 10.1044/2022_LSHSS-22-00090


*Application of the child community health inclusion index for measuring health inclusion of children with disabilities in the community: A feasibility study.


The Child Community Health Inclusion Index (CHILD-CHII) is a tool used to measure the extent to which community environments promote healthy and active living for children with disabilities. The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility of using the CHILD-CHII tool in different community settings. Participants from four community sectors (Health, Education, Public Spaces, Community Organizations) used the tool on their respective community facilities, and feasibility was evaluated based on length, difficulty, clarity, and value for measuring inclusion. Results showed that although the tool was considered long, it was comprehensive and valuable for stakeholders in addressing the inclusion of children with disabilities in the community. The evaluators' knowledge, familiarity, and access to information can facilitate use of the CHILD-CHII. Further refinement and testing of the tool will be conducted.


Yejong Yoo, P., Majnemer, A., Wilton, R., Ahmed, S., & Shikako, K.. (2023). BMC Pediatrics, 23(1), 86. doi: 10.1186/s12887-023-03884-8

*Open Access

Canadian Anti-Spam Legislation
You are a member of the CanChild Today electronic newsletter generated by CanChild at McMaster University. If you believe that you should not be a recipient, you may withdraw your consent to receive these messages at any time, in accordance with Canadian Anti-Spam Legislation (CASL) and subject to McMaster University policy, by contacting the sender of this message, or by clicking on the 'Unsubscribe' link at the bottom of this newsletter.