PLAY
This newsletter discusses the concepts of play and accessible playgrounds.
Children and young people with disabilities constitute about 4-6.5% of the population in many countries (1). In Canada, there are approximately 850,000 children with developmental disabilities. When a baby or preschooler reaches the developmental milestones in a different order or pace, or loses a previously acquired skill, there may be reason to suspect of a developmental disability. When a child has a developmental disability, he/she may experience life-long experiences affecting their mobility, language, learning, socialization, and/or self-care. Early signs and symptoms of childhood disability can vary greatly, however some tools and techniques can help all children with disabilities overcome some of life’s challenges. Prognosis and therapies will vary based on the child’s needs, however early diagnoses and interventions can have a positive impact and significantly improve outcomes for all children with disability.
1. Rosenbaum P; Childhood disability and social policies. BMJ. 2009 Apr 24 338:b1020. doi: 10.1136/bmj.b1020.
Newsletters
Creating Inclusive Communities for Children with Disabilities
This newsletter presents the CHILD-CHII, a measurement tool that can be used to help families, rehab professionals, educators, and community organizations gather information on the resources and accessibility features of a community program or facility.
The Jooay App: Promoting Participation in Leisure
This newsletter presents the Jooay app, a free app that connects children with disabilities and their families to leisure opportunities.
COACHING in Childhood Disability
Coaching interventions provide education and guidance to individuals. This newsletter describes different types of coaching for children with disability and their families, approaches that are commonly used, and the level of evidence for coaching.
Virtual reality: Rehabilitation applications in children with disabilities
Virtual reality (VR) is a new tool that is emerging for rehabilitation that may be applied to all developmental areas. This technology allows individuals to experience and interact with computer-generated environments through their senses, including vision, touch and/or hearing. For children in particular, rehabilitation applications using VR provide opportunities for play that can be enjoyable, challenging and non-threatening.
Caring for caregivers
Caregivers are instrumental in facilitating the growth and happiness of children and adolescents with various types of disabilities. However, this additional responsibility comes with a new set of challenges, requiring extraordinary resilience.
Not so specific language impairment
Specific language im-pairment (SLI) has been the focus of extensive research in recent years. SLI research addresses one of the most fundamental questions in language acquisition: the relationship of language and cognition. This newsletter presents the topic alongside emerging evidence, advances in assessment and promising practices.
A good night’s sleep for children with disabilities
A good night’s sleep for children with disabilities can be challenging for children and parents alike. The right strategy can improve sleep for better nights and better days.
Articles
What is the typical course of early language development in speakers of Quebec French and how does it compare to the development of English?
There are important structural differences in the ways French and English are acquired, which has important implications for the assessment of French-speaking children as well as for assessment of children who are bilingual (French and English).
What linguistic behaviours are characteristic of French-speaking preschoolers who have specific language impairment?
Understanding the characteristic language behaviours associated with specific language impairment (SLI) helps clinicians accurately identify this condition as well as plan effective interventions.
Do children enrolled in treatment for stuttering using the Lidcombe Program achieve increased fluency by decreasing the complexity of their utterances?
The Lidcombe Program for Early Stuttering Intervention enjoys widespread use as a clinical treatment
for stuttering in children. This program uses an operant method, whereby parents are trained
to systematically praise their children for fluent speech.
Are children with developmental language impairment at increased risk for motor delays?
The main aim of this study was to determine if children with a language delay are likely to also have a motor delay when they are school age. This study suggests that motor difficulties are common in children who initially present clinically with only a delay in language skill development.
Removing Barriers for Youth with Physical Disabilities Increases Participation
This study aimed to gain more insight into the effectiveness of altering the environment in which youth with physical disabilities participate in leisurely activities in Quebec.
Communities
AIDE Canada
The Autism and/or Intellectual Disability Knowledge Exchange Network (AIDE Canada) is a national knowledge network that is committed to providing accurate up-to-date, and useful information and resources to the people who need it. AIDE Canada offers information, tools, and resources about autism and intellectual disabilities across the lifespan.
READYorNot
This brain-based disabilities project is recruiting participants to help develop and test an e-health intervention to improve the transition of care journey from paediatric to adult health care systems. If you are a teen with a disability, you may be eligible to participate in this study!