Danijela Grahovac

Danijela Grahovac is an IT engineer, parent researcher, and advocate dedicated to advancing childhood disability research and knowledge translation worldwide. She combines her technical expertise with her lived experience as the mother of a young adult with cerebral palsy, offering a unique perspective that bridges academic research and family priorities.

At CanChild, McMaster University, Danijela serves as a Technical Support Specialist, a point person for website design/maintenance and IT issues, and Parent Researcher. Since 2014, she has been actively involved in the internationally recognized F-words for Child Development initiative, where she has co-developed tools, contributed to peer-reviewed publications, and co-led presentations and workshops to ensure research is accessible, meaningful, and relevant to families. Over the years, she has delivered close to 100 presentations and workshops nationally and internationally, sharing knowledge with families, clinicians, and researchers. She also developed the F-words Training Program platform in both English and French and has supported the design of the F-words Knowledge Hub to extend the program’s global reach.

Danijela is recognized for her leadership in IT development, accessibility, and digital knowledge translation. She has designed and maintained multiple learning management systems (LMS) and platforms, including ENVISAGE, the Family Engagement in Research (FER) Program, and the GMFM Criterion Test in both English and Brazilian Portuguese. She led the redesign of the CanChild and CP-NET websites, ensuring compliance with AODA and WCAG accessibility standards, and she also developed and continues to maintain the IAACD website, creating a sustainable global platform for sharing childhood disability resources. In addition, she provides ongoing technical support for the PREP Intervention, DCD Physiotherapy Modules, and the translation of measures and materials, ensuring that knowledge is disseminated internationally in accessible formats.

As a graduate of the Family Engagement in Research (FER) course, Danijela brings formal training in patient-oriented research engagement. Combined with her lived experience as a parent researcher, this has allowed her to contribute to multiple projects, including the C-BiLLT (Computer-Based Instrument for Low Motor Language Testing), YC-PEM (Young Children’s Participation and Environment Measure), the COVID Time Capsule, and the Transition to Adulthood during COVID-19 project. She is also involved in novel initiatives such as using AI to understand resource allocation in Ontario’s children’s treatment centres. Danijela is an active member of the F-words Implementation Community of Practice, where she collaborates with international partners to support the translation of research into practice.

Danijela is also a Board Member of All Abilities Allstars, a nonprofit organization offering inclusive sports and educational programs for children and youth with developmental conditions. In this role, she supports community engagement, fundraising, program sustainability, and website development, reflecting her commitment to inclusion and equity beyond academia.

She has shared her work widely at national and international conferences, including the European Academy of Childhood Disability (EACD), the International Alliance of Academies of Childhood Disability (IAACD), the American Academy for Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine (AACPDM), AusACPDM, PacRim, and the Congresso Internacional Pediatherapies de Deficiências na Infância (CIPEDIA, Brazil).

Her co-authored publications include articles in Child: Care, Health and Development, Research Involvement & Engagement, JMIR Rehabilitation and Assistive Technologies, American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, BMJ Open, and JMIR Research Protocols. Her recent contributions include work on the C-BiLLT psychometric evaluation, transition quality indicators, and scoping reviews on patient and caregiver engagement.

Danijela holds an MSc in IT Engineering (Artificial Intelligence) from the University of Belgrade. She is known for her professionalism, empathy, and collaborative approach, as well as for her expertise in accessibility and digital innovation.

With her unique combination of technical expertise, accessibility leadership, FER training, lived experience, and international collaboration, Danijela continues to shape the landscape of childhood disability research and practice. She is committed to ensuring that knowledge is not only innovative but also inclusive, actionable, and meaningful for families worldwide.