June 2006

New Research Studies

Focus on Function
The Focus on Function Study is being led by researchers at CanChild (Mary Law), University of Alberta (Johanna Darrah) and Calgary Health Region (Brenda Wilson) and is funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in the US. Children and therapists are currently being recruited from across Ontario and Alberta. Two treatment approaches will be compared, both focusing on improving function in young children with cerebral palsy - one working directly with the child to improve his/her skills and abilities, and the other by changing/adapting the task and/or environment of the child. For further information, please contact Patricia Hurley (1-800-630-1971).

Moving Motor Growth Research into Clinical Practice: Do Knowledge Brokers Make a Difference?
Dianne Russell, Peter Rosenbaum and colleagues from CanChild, British Columbia, and Alberta, have received funding for a three-year Knowledge Translation study from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. A continuing education intervention strategy will be evaluated, designed to increase the use of motor growth measures by therapists who work with children with cerebral palsy and their families. Therapists will serve as 'Knowledge Brokers' and will work with researchers, therapists and administrators to strategize the best way to incorporate motor growth measures into clinical practice. For information, contact Dianne Russell.

ABI Transitions Study Report
This study report summarizes the preliminary results of the Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) Transitions Study, funded by the Ontario Neurotrauma Foundation. Factors that influence transitions to home, school and community activities for children with ABI were investigated by following 183 school-aged children for up to 2 years. Click here to view report.

Please Re-subscribe to CanChild's Community Connection Newsletter
This is the last Community Connection that will be sent using our current mailing list. In order to "tidy up" our email distribution list, we would like you to re-subscribe to receive future Community Connections.

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Assessing Quality of Life of Children and Youth with Disabilities: A Review of Available Measures
This Keeping Current provides documentation about, and evaluates measures of, Quality of Life for children. This guide will assist service providers and others to determine which measures offer the best utility to organizations providing rehabilitation services to children with disabilities. Click here to view.

Clinical Measurement: Practical Guidelines for Service Providers
These guidelines provide practical ideas to ensure measurements conducted by clinicians are clinically useful and accurate. Strategies to modify measures and interpret change in scores are provided and measurement terms are explained in clear language. Click here to view pdf.

Patterns and Predictors of Recreational and Leisure Participation for Children with Physical Disabilities
In this report the results of CanChild's longitudinal study of the participation of 427 children with physical disabilities are summarized. Patterns and predictors of child and youth participation in recreational and leisure activities are discussed. Click here to view

Recognizing and Referring Children with Developmental Coordination Disorder: Role of the Psychologist
This educational flyer - one of a series of documents designed to provide information about developmental coordination disorder (DCD) for health service providers - focuses on the role of psychologists in identifying children with DCD. Parents of children with DCD may find this flyer useful for sharing information with individuals who work with their child and family. Click here to view pdf.

Sensory Integration
This Keeping Current explores the effectiveness of Sensory Integration (SI) Therapy by providing a review of the literature published over the past several years. Based on this review, implications for clinical practice and guidelines for therapists are presented. Click here to view

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