Check out the latest HCARDD Newsletter. You will information on:

• Getting Ready for Summer

• Assessing the Impact of COVID-19 on Direct Support Professionals

• Virtual Health Care for Patients with Developmental Disabilities

• IDD: Get to Know Me

• Kitchen Table Talk

• and read about New Publications

Do you have a child with cerebral palsy between the ages of 8-18?

For more details about this research study, click here.

Are you a Young Black Woman aged 18-25 living in Toronto? Do you sometimes feel depressed, anxious, experience mood variance, or feel overwhelmed by daily life demands?

This is an opportunity to share your experience towards changes that can be made to better serve young Black women.

Click here for more details about this research project.

What is working well?

What needs to be improved?

During Covid-19 there has been a huge increase in the delivery of virtual primary care. We are conducting interviews (online or by phone) to learn what is working well and what needs to be improved to support high quality care for patients with developmental disabililites.

We want to talk to...

1. Adults with developmental disabilities (18+)
2. Family members/caregivers
3. Direct support professionals/support staff
4. Primary care providers

Interested or want to learn more?

Contact Avra Selick at avra.selick@camh.ca or 416-535-8501 ex30127

*Small honorarium will be provided to all participants.

Click here to read the March 2021 HCARDD Newsletter.

Topics include:

• Doctors Answer Self-Advocates Questions about the Covid Vaccine
• Protecting People with Disabilities:TELUS talks
• If We Don't Count, They Don't Count
• IDD: Get to Know Me-Perspectives on the Pandemic
• IDD: Get to Know Me-IDD on the Frontlines
• Developmental Disabilities in Ontario's Criminal Justice and Forensic Mental Health Systems
• Virtual Health Care for Patients with Developmental Disabilities
• The Welling and Mental Health Care Experiences of Adults with Intelluctal & Developmental Disabilities during Covid-19
• Mental Health during Covid-19: A virtual course for family caregivers

It is commonly believed that large congregated residential facilities for people who have developmental disabilities are less expensive to operate than group homes or supported independing living.

Yet information from the United States shows that, even for people with high support needs, large congregated facilities are in fact more costly than small group homes or supported independent living. Furthermore, smaller settings have been shown to support a higher quality of life amoung residents.

Read more about the myths of economies of scale in developmental services here.

We are currently studying whether a group therapy program called Facing Your Fears (FYF), will help to reduce anxeity in children and youth with ASD. FYF is a modified cognitive behavioural therapy program for children and youth with ASD experiencing significant anxiety symptoms. We will provide everything virtually so that anyone can participate in this study from home.

This study is for children & teens between 8-13yrs old.

For more details, click here.

A graduate student from Conrad School of Business & Entrepreneurship (University of Waterloo) is doing a study to understand the challenges faced by people providing the frontline care for children with these special education needs. This includes parents, educators, occupational, speech & language therapists, social workers, doctors and behavioural clinicans. The research seeks to find the common pinch points faced by these frontline caregivers, especially now during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Participation in the study will consist of a short 10-30 minutes interview at a mutually agreed upon date and time. Interviews will be conducted over the phone. Questions will be focused on your experience finding or providing support for children with Special Education Needs.

If you are interested in more details about this research project and would like to participate, please click here for more details OR email May Alonge at malonge@uwaterloo.ca OR call at 1-825-882-1305.

We are currently studying whether a group therapy program called Facing Your Fears will help to reduce anxiety in children and youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder. 

For more information or get invovled, click here.

Are you an Autistic Adult whose job or job search has been impacted by Covid-19? 

Consider participating in this project about your employment experiences during Covid-19. Click here for more details or if you are interested in learning more, please contact vtomas@casda.ca.