MyTransition app is available to download for free on iPhone and Android devices.

After completing the course you will earn a certificate of completion from Kids Brain Health Network, CanChild, and McMaster Continuing Education and will have the knowledge, practical skills, and connections to partner in research! For more information, email fer@mcmaster.ca.

CanChild and Kids Brain Health Network are excited to host another Luke’s Legacy Family Research Rounds, a series of virtual research presentations for families, patients, and researchers. Presentations are designed in a family-friendly format with an interactive discussion component.

On Wednesday, April 28 at 7:00 PM ET, join Linda Nguyen, Hanae Davis, Jessica Havens and Samantha Bellefeuille to talk about The Art of Sibling Science: the multifaceted roles of siblings and how they are captured in childhood disability research.

Congratulations to Beatriz Helena Brugnaro for winning second place in Oral Poster Presentation at the Brazilian Physiotherapy Congress. Her paper, entitled Impact of the Environmental Factors on Functioning of Children and Adolescents with Down Syndrome during the COVID-19 Pandemic: a preliminary study, was based on the ideas developed in collaboration with CanChild Scientist Dr. Olaf Kraus De Camargo.

Beatriz was a visiting student at CanChild in 2018 and worked with Dr. Peter Rosenbaum as her supervisor. During her stay, she analyzed data about home participation, gross motor function and sensory profile of children and adolescents with Down syndrome.

Universal Design for Learning is a framework to support inclusive education. This publication describes how an instructional design model, the Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation and Evaluation (ADDIE) Model, and knowledge translation theory were used to develop educational resources about Universal Design for Learning for speech-language pathology graduate students. Students’ knowledge of Universal Design for Learning was evaluated pre-post along with the feasibility of the resources. Preliminary findings indicated improvement in students’ perceived knowledge. Resources were determined to be practical and accessible. Although further evaluation in a larger student cohort was recommended, the novel resource development methodology is useful to researchers, educators, and clinicians interested in the development of high-quality, theory-informed resources. Authors: Tomas V, Solomon P, Hamilton J, & Campbell W. Canadian Journal of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, 45(1), 59-75. 2021. https://www.cjslpa.ca/detail.php?ID=1273&lang=en

Children with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) experience difficulties with the tasks of daily living, causing them to engage less in physical activities (PA). Moreover, up to 50% of children with DCD also have Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). This study explored the relationship between DCD, ADHD and PA. The effects of ADHD on the DCD and PA relationship seem to be driven by the inattentive subtype of ADHD. This study revealed that symptoms of inattention at age three had significant negative effects on motor skills at age five and six years old. This study showed the importance of considering ADHD symptoms and subtypes when measuring physical activity in children with DCD. Authors: James ME, King-Dowling S, Graham JD, Missiuna C, Timmons BW, Cairney J. Child Psychiatry Hum Dev. 2021 Apr 9. doi: 10.1007/s10578-021-01155-0.

The analysis showed that the amount of cerebral white matter damage and Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) level are factors that can help distinguish children at risk of impaired cognition. Both factors combined together can predict impaired cognition correctly in 89% of the cases. The data also showed that birth weight, gestational age, epilepsy and educational level of the parents were not related to impaired cognition. The findings provide valuable prognostic information for clinicians, which could create opportunities to adjust care, support and expectations in an early phase of life of children with cerebral palsy and their families. Authors: Moll I, Voorman JM, Ketelaar M, van Schie PE, Gorter JW, Lequin MH, de Vries LS, Vermeulen RJ. Eur J Paediatr Neurol. 2021 Mar 16;32:56-65. doi: 10.1016/j.ejpn.2021.03.010.