Are you interested in partnering with researchers throughout research processes? If so, we would love to hear from you on how we can adapt the Family Engagement in Research course to support you in developing skills to form equal and impactful partnerships with researchers.

We are looking for youth and young adults (12 to 25 years old) with brain-based disabilities (cerebral palsy, autism spectrum disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, etc.) to participate in this study by joining a focus group.

You will have the opportunity to provide feedback and ideas on how we can adapt a training program to help you develop skills and confidence to form and sustain impactful partnerships in research. You do not need any prior research experience to participate. You will also receive a $20 gift card for participating in this study.

If you are interested and would like to sign up, please contact Samantha Yimeng Dong (dongy58@mcmaster.ca).

Are you doing innovative work to help youth with disabilities transition from childhood to adulthood? Share your research on the first Canadian Transition Conference and become part of an initiative that aims to promote the best possible health outcomes for youth and their families. Please visit the Children's Healthcare Canada website for the registration details and abstract submission form.

The video recordings from CP-NET Science and Family day are now available. We want to express our appreciation to everyone who presented or attended the event. Thank you for celebrating World Cerebral Palsy Day with us and for making the first virtual CP-NET Science and Family Day a success!

This study found that children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) participate more in organized play activities. On the other hand, they rarely participate in household chores and activities in the community setting. Parents reported that it is challenging to accommodate the needs of their children when helping with household chores and to manage children's behaviour in the community setting because of unpredictable situations. Service providers may encourage parents to involve their children in a range of daily activities from a young age so that "participation" becomes part of everyday life and not seen as a prescribed "add-on."

Authors: Khalifa G, Rosenbaum P, Georgiades K, Duku E, Di Rezze B. J Environ Res Public Health. 2020 Aug 6;17(16):5677. doi: 10.3390/ijerph17165677.

According to this study, children with physical disabilities showed less feelings of loneliness when frequently attending participation activities. The results indicate that mental health problems have a stronger association with the frequency of attendance to activities compared to the level of independence in performing activities. Children gain experiences and competencies through frequent participation that may build confidence and mastery, leading to positive emotional well-being. Parents, service providers, and educators may focus on finding solutions based on the strengths of children, adapting the environment to encourage participation, and supporting children to develop stable friendships. This study highlights the need for promoting children’s actual attendance in daily activities, which may benefit their mental health.

Authors: Hwang AW, Chang CH, Granlund M, Imms C, Chen CL, Kang LJ. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020 Nov 18;17(22):E8551. doi: 10.3390/ijerph17228551.

The Pathways and Resources for Engagement and Participation (PREP) is a 12-week intervention aimed at improving participation by modifying the environment and by coaching youth and parents. To examine the changes in participation patterns of youth with physical activities following the PREP intervention, participants completed 24-hour time-geography diaries using the Aday App during the first week as well as after the PREP intervention (week 16). The findings provided additional evidence on the effectiveness of PREP and emphasized the potential benefits of approaches that are based on context and involve real-life experiences. Moreover, this is the first study to show the usefulness of the Aday app and the time-geography diary methods in capturing the changes in participation patterns after an occupational therapy intervention.

Authors: Anaby D, Vrotsou K, Kroksmark U, Ellegård K. Scand J Occup Ther. 2020 Jul;27(5):364-372. doi: 10.1080/11038128.2018.1554088.