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OADD Annual Conference
25 Years of Innovation: Meeting Challenges and Building Successes
2014 Conference Program - Draft
This is not the final program. We will endeavour to update this program as changes occurr but the OADD can not guarantee the order or presentation of the sessions below. A final program will be provided at the conference.
Tuesday, April 8, 2014
To Be Announced
Great Lakes Society Pre-Conference Seminar
Keynote Speaker: to be announced
Details of this presentation will be posted shortly
Wednesday, April 9, 2014 OADD Conference
7:30 am – 9:00 am Registration
8:00 am - 9:00 am Breakfast
Keynote Speak - Seamus O'Regan (9:00 a.m. to 10:15 a.m.)
Topic to be announced
10:15 - 10:30 a.m. - Break
Concurrent Sessions "1" (10:30 - 11:45)
Session-1A
Life Beyond Education
Presenter: Jane McLaren
When education ends at age 21 DD students and their caregivers graduate to a future of ... what? It is up to the family to find programs, opportunities, and training. Without this the future is too often TV, computer games, and social isolation. After school finishes many families face the reality that their now adult child cannot stay home alone but they, as parents, are still working in their jobs and now needing to be full time in home parents. The choice they face is to hire someone full time to care for their adult child or leave their own job. “The Hub for Beyond 21” is a day program in Cornwall, ON initiated by parents who identified a need for a structured, meaningful, inclusive and community-based environment where dependent adults with developmental disabilities could continue to thrive and grow socially, physically, emotionally, and intellectually. The single greatest need identified by the families coming to Beyond 21 is for that of ‘community.’ That is why Beyond 21 is a ‘hub’ for sharing, building friendships, learning together, getting to know the community, gaining new skills, maintaining existing skills, volunteering, and most of all having someplace to go and something meaningful to do each day. This presentation will overview this unique community driven program and the potential for a future it is providing for DD adults in our area. We will highlight our program, successes, challenges, and illustrate the impact this program has on the lives of our participants and their families.
Session - 1B
The Skills System - An Adaptation of DBT Skills for People of all Ability Levels; Development of a Norther Program
Presenter: Stephen White
The North Community Network of Specialized Care's Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Behavioural Skills Group consists of a group of clinicians representing various sectors and geographical regions across the North working together in the development and coordination of a program for supporting adults with Developmental Disability and challenging behaviour who have difficulties with regulating emotion. We began learning and implementing the Skills System as described by Julie Brown, M.S.W. (see Brown, Brown & DiBiasio, 2013) an official adaptation of Marsha Linehan's Dialectical Behaviour Therapy Skills - with a group of seven individuals at locations across Northern Ontario where the primary mode of service delivery was videoconference. This first piloting of the Skills System was completed in the spring of 2013. Since that time, Skills Groups have been developed in locations across Northern Ontario. In this presentation, The Skills System itself will be described, and the work of our Working Group will be presented, along with preliminary outcome data.
Session - 1C
Parent Outreach Program
Presenters: Mary Anne Welsh, Bonnie Heath
The Parent Outreach Program (POP) provides support, education and skill building strategies to parents raising children with developmental delays, such as autism or an intellectual challenge. Our goal is to provide the child with opportunities to gain greater independence, community living skills, social acceptance and academic achievements. We do this through one to one support to the parents on a weekly basis. The challenges of families trying to copy with a child of different abilities and a system that is complicated is often overwhelming. It impacts every aspect of a family’s life from trying to “cure” the child, to societal shunning, and economic hardship. A family grieving process can sometimes take a long time for families to mobilize especially if there is no one to talk to who has gone through it. POP’s greatest success strategy is that all staff have children who have a developmental delay, half of whom were once in the program themselves We understand the impact of having a child with special needs at home, in our marriage, with their siblings, extended family and the economic impact it can have. The attendees will walk away with an understanding of a family’s life challenges and frustrations, how we have utilized parents to teach other parents how to set realistic goals, do task analysis and teach that skill in a positive, inclusive environment. The presentation will be through an interactive participatory presentation, along with slides to highlight certain points.
Session - 1D
Mobile Technology and Communication Skill Development
Presenter: Lorraine Otto
Mobile technology has become increasingly popular for children and adults with developmental disabilities. It can be used to encourage speech, communication, interaction and appropriate behaviour. This presentation will focus on how to introduce mobile technology and an overview of apps that are suitable to target communication, language, scheduling, social skills and cause-effect.
12:00 - 1:00 p.m. - Lunch
Concurrent Sessions "2" (1:15 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.)
Session - 2A
Strategies for Navigating College Successfully for Students with Intellectual Disabilities. The Voice of a Student
Presenters: Jefferson Broomes, Orlena Broomes
The first year attending college or university can be a stressful experience for many students. For a student with developmental disabilities, that stress can be magnified even in the midst of great excitement. Add moving away from home as one of the factors involved and an interesting dilemma for the student emerges. This paper discusses the challenges and successes faced by a student with intellectual disabilities (delayed development) attending a post –secondary institution away from home. The case study examines the student’s perception of the specialized programming and the support structure that can lead to a successful completion of a college diploma.
Specialized Accommodations: Thinking Outside the Bed
Presenter: Dawne Wyers
In this presentation Developmental Clinical Services (DCS) from Health Sciences North in Sudbury will highlight several case studies in which people with challenging behaviours were supported through the Specialized Accommodations Program in innovative ways. DCS, in partnership with the Sudbury/Manitoulin DS community chose this innovative model of “Out of the bed thinking” in order to stretch our limited resources to best support our community. We will show how utilizing intensive case coordination, training, and a multi-disciplinary clinical approach have been effective in keeping people in their homes in the long term. “Out of the bed thinking” within the Specialized Accommodations Program has resulted also in long term stability including reduction or removal of forensic and in-patient hospital involvement.
Session - 2C
Leader in Training Program: Supporting Youth to Navigate Transition to Vocational Opportunities
Presenters: Katie Nicholson, Leslie Boyle
The respite programs at Geneva Centre for Autism (GCA) are primarily focused on recreation, social skill building and leisure based programming for children ages 2 to 18 yrs. old. Current research shows that the likelihood of success of individuals with an Autism Spectrum Disorder in the workplace increases when on-the-job training is provided. During our most recent service review process, we have identified an opportunity to further develop youth’s pre-vocational skills, in a recreational setting using mentoring and role modeling. The Leader In Training (L.I.T.) program is a curriculum based program that focuses on developing leadership, independence and teamwork skills, and leads to the development and increase of pre-vocational skills for youth with autism. Participants in the L.I.T. program will get hands on experience volunteering in the recreational programs, in addition to being provided leadership development workshops. Through this presentation, the GCA staff will take the conference participants through the steps of creating and operating an L.I.T. program for clients with an ASD. The presenters will review the program design, components, objectives, curriculum development and ABA strategies used to support participant success in detail. In addition, presenters will share the challenges experience in planning and implementing the program, and next steps. The long-term goal of Geneva Centre Autism’s L.I.T. program is for participants with autism to continue to build on leadership skill development and seek out vocational opportunities.
Session - 2D
Building Capacity: Using Behavioural Skills Training to Develop the Competencies of Direct Care Professionals
Presenters: Denise Peterson, Louis Busch
Behavioural Skills Training (BST) consists of a teaching sequence that includes instruction, modeling, rehearsal, and feedback. The BST model can be an effective approach to training direct care professionals that serve adults with a Dual Diagnosis and complex behavioural presentations. Training on a variety of reinforcement based behavioural competencies was delivered to 37 full and part-time staff working at a treatment residence with Kerry’s Place Autism Services. The rationale, training model, and outcomes will be discussed in detail.
2:30 - 2:45 p.m. - Break
Concurrent Sessions "3" (2:45 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.)
Session 3A
Removing Barriers Through Education
Presenters: Daniel Beimers, David Hill, Vicky Pearson
Members of the New Vision Advocates are very active in educating their community about various issues that affect people with disabilities. This presentation focuses on past and present opportunities. We will address the barriers faced, how things have changed in the community and employment opportunities. Participants of this session will hear personal stories from members of NVA about the importance of educating others about the abilities, rights and acceptance of people with disabilities. Topics will include employment, communication and respect. This session will include personal stories, interactive participation from the audience and power point slide presentation.
Session 3B
Short-term Focused Applied Behavioural Analysis Services for Children and Youth with ASD
Presenters: Vicky Simos, Christopher King, Jennifer Obie, Catherine Rooney
As part of the Ontario Ministry of Children and Youth Service’s expansion of community-based services and supports for children and youth with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), a brief Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA)-based service delivery model (up to six months) was launched in September 2011 in York region and Simcoe County. The objective of this expansion was to ameliorate long waitlists for families seeking behavioural services for their child/ youth, and build capacity in various settings, by providing quality services to a large number of families with ongoing and changing needs. To date, the collaborative efforts of four community-based agencies have provided approximately 2000 children/youth the opportunity to participate in this short term service delivery model. Each parent/ caregiver and their child/teen (if involved in choosing a goal or concern across one of the following domains: 1) Behavior management/emotional regulation; 2) Communication; 3) Social/interpersonal; and 4) Activities of Daily Living (ADL). The following presentation will provide an overview of the model of collaboration across four community agencies and two case studies that will illustrate the use of a mediator model in program implementation and subsequent results. Finally, strengths and the limitations of providing short term applied behavioural analysis will also be discussed.
Session 3C
Pathways of Extended Learning Model: Developing Pathways in New Business Areas
Presenters: Leslie Boyle, Katie Nicholson
Building upon the success of the Pathways of Extended Learning model, Geneva Centre for Autism (GCA) is embarking on replication of the Culinary/Hospitality Pathway Model of service in other industries. Key employment supports provided by the Pathways service have included; strengths-based designs for learning; applied behavioural analysis principles embedded into the curriculum design; matching jobs based on skills, abilities and interests; having clear tasks and schedules for work completion; using environmental assessments for sensory needs, employer and employee education on ASD; using task analysis to create to do lists and schedules; and ensuring other supports outside of work are adequate, such as housing, social activities, healthcare and mental health supports. Geneva Centre staff from Youth and Adult Services will outline the model for the design, implementation, and evaluation of the first Pathway of Extended Learning (Culinary/Hospitality Pathway) as well as describe the business model applied that is leading to a sustainable revenue stream through the café while simultaneously delivering employment and training opportunities to underpin its social purpose of transitioning more youth into employment pathways or post-secondary institution pathways. Given our sense of shared purpose in advancing vocational opportunities for youth and adults on the autism spectrum, similarities in client group needs, and shared economic and development challenges it is important to share knowledge, expertise and other resources across sectors. GCA will outline the stages of planning for replication of the model in which the organization is currently engaged.
Session 3D
ConnectABILITY.ca
Presenters: Don Murray, Jason Maher
ConnectABILITY.ca is a virtual community focused on lifelong learning and support for children, youth, adults and seniors with an intellectual disability, their families, caregivers and support networks. ConnectABILITY.ca is increasingly becoming the go to resource of families and staff for information, how to guides and networking within the developmental services sector in Ontario. CA is all about taking the expertise of front line staff and reformatting it into an electronic form that is available 24/ 7 in a way that enhances self-directed, person centered learning for individuals with an intellectual disability, their families and their support networks. It is about the sharing of best practices and the sustainability of expertise within the developmental sector. Content partners include organizations across a number of sectors and geographical boundaries throughout North America and beyond. It is organized by age group around major life transitions:
• Moving into the first community group learning setting – child care, kindergarten or school
• Finishing high school and entering the adult world.
• Becoming a fully participating citizen in your community.
• Transitioning into older adulthood – with all of the health, financial, mobility and living issues that entails
Connected Families is a social media tool that has some privacy but also allows for opportunities to meet new people who have similar concerns and interests. It is built into the ConnectABILITY.ca community of people with a developmental disability and their support networks. Find out what ConnectABILITY.ca has to offer the people you support and you as the support person.
5:00 pm - 7:15 pm Founders Recognition Dinner
This is a formal dinner hosted by the OADD to recognize the contribution over 25 years of the OADD's founding organizations and individuals. All are welcome.
7:30 p.m. – 11:00 a.m. "It's 5 o'clock somewhere!" The traditional OADD conference party with a "Jimmy Buffett" twist. Come join your firends, new and old, for a fun time.
Thursday, April 10, 2014
7:30 am – 9:00 am Registration
8:00 am - 9:00 am Breakfast
Concurrent Sessions "4" (9:00 a.m. - 10:15 a.m.)
Session 4A
Overview of Special Education for Student/Youth with a Developmental Disability
Presenters: Christine Riedel, Maureen Cox
This presentation will provide an overview of the special education system for students/youth with a developmental disability in Ontario. Participants will broaden their knowledge in areas of special education programs and/or services particularly in the Individual Education and Transition planning processes, placement, exceptionality definitions and Ministry initiatives related to students/youth with a Developmental Disability. Participants will be provided with an opportunity to share and discuss their roles in supporting students/youth with a Developmental Disability in schools.
Session 4B
Autism at the Hospital: The Role of Social Work
Presenters: Rae Morris, Dr. Barbara Muskat, Andrea Greenblatt
Social workers with specialized knowledge and expertise in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are valuable assets to the health care team as a result of their understanding of, and appreciation for, the unique challenges and strengths faced by these children and their families. This session includes a presentation and facilitated discussion based on the results of a qualitative study conducted with social workers at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto. This study examined paediatric hospital social workers’ experiences, skills, and professional development needs when working with children with ASD and their families in the hospital. The results highlight social workers’ experiences in their role at the hospital and augment awareness of social workers as key contributors to family-centered care for patients with ASD and their families
Session 4C
Making Rights Happen for People: Let's Make Real Change
Presenter: Petra Asfaw
In this workshop, we’ll share the lessons learned in our journey of creating a rights culture at the agency level. We’ll explore the walk from the early beginnings to our current work. Are we actually evaluating effectiveness of our work across the province? Let’s ask some difficult questions: Are we delivering rights in a way that is translating into concrete change for people in their lives? We’ll explore if and how staff training actually translates into the front lines. Taking a look at development of curriculum for people labeled with intellectual disabilities, we’ll explore how we can truly individualize rights education so it meets the unique needs of people. We’ll review what the research says about developmental services and human rights; clearly there is room for improvement. When we make rights trainings a box to be checked off in a compliance list, we run the risk of tokenizing our efforts and failing both individuals and their families. We have been searching new ways of building collaborative systems to strengthen our efforts, and will discuss these in this workshop. Please bring your stories to share. We can examine together new ways of thinking to move ahead in this complex journey. Let’s explore the possibilities of how we can bring theory into practice, and make rights real for people with intellectual disabilities and the people who support them. Let’s make it real and make change happen.
Session 4D
The Cross Continuum Behaviour Management Strategy
Presenters: Louis Busch, Susan Morris
The Cross Continuum Behaviour Management Strategy (CCBMS) is a multi-agency train-the-trainer pilot-project based on a Personalized System of Instruction; a self-paced, non-classroom, “on-the-floor” approach to training and education. The CCBMS focused on increasing the capacity of community agencies in delivering reinforcement based supports to individuals with complex and changing needs. Coach training in Quality Behaviour Competencies™ and Performance Enhancement was provided to 11 program supervisors and 9 behavioural consultants across 7 agencies. Training was rolled out to approximately 98 direct care professionals within 8 residential programs. The initiative was funded by the Toronto Central LHIN and was a partnership between the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health and the Toronto Network of Specialized Care. The rationale, procedures, outcomes, and lessons learned will be discussed in detail.
10:15 - 10:30 - Break
Concurrent Sessions "5" (10:30 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.)
Session 5A
The Significance of Inclusive Post-Secondary Education
Presenter: Katherine Gallinger
Despite proven benefits of inclusion, people with intellectual disabilities continue to experience systemic exclusion in trying to access segments of society. Post-secondary education is a goal for many students; however, students with intellectual disabilities in Ontario are provided few opportunities to pursue this dream. As a relatively recent phenomenon in Ontario, inclusive post-secondary education opportunities are currently only provided at the discretion of a handful of post-secondary institutions in Ontario. Drawing from interviews conducted with seven students with intellectual disabilities attending an inclusive college program in Ontario, this session will provide an overview of the benefits and importance of post-secondary education from the perspective of these students. Participation in inclusive post-secondary education has positive outcomes for students with intellectual disabilities, including an anticipated positive impact extending well into the futures of each student. The main benefits of going to college articulated by the students were academic growth and development, developing interpersonal relationships and social networks, career development and employment potential, and increased self-determination. Post-secondary education provides a pathway to community inclusion, independent living, and competitive employment for people with intellectual disabilities, and improves one’s chances of participating as an active citizen and realizing a high quality of life. This session provides a perspective that recognizes those who experience marginalization within typical post-secondary educational contexts in Ontario, and highlights the need to create increased access through post-secondary education for students with intellectual disabilities.
Session 5B
Building Communities of Belonging
Presenter: Dr. Neil Cudney (Faith & Culture Network)
Session 5C
Exploring the Impact of Effective Practices for Adults Who Live with FASD
Presenters: Lynda Legge, Beth Anne Currie, Jane Hoy, Valerie Temple
Adults living in community who have a diagnosis of FASD face many life challenges including potential and repeated contact with the criminal justice system. A collaboration of researchers from Surrey Place Centre, Toronto, the Southern Network of Specialized Care and Community Living Kincardine and District interviewed adults with a confirmed diagnosis of FASD and a key support person who knew each study participant well. Using a semi-structured interview guide, researchers explored for the existence and quality of community-based support strategies known as effective practices that have been reported as best practice(FASD ONE) in the support of adults living with FASD in community. A short inventory of the study participant’s contact with the criminal justice system was also captured and corroborated with their key support person. The researchers looked at relationships between the number and quality of effective practices in the study participant’s life against the amount and quality of contact with the criminal justice system as experienced by adults living with FASD in community.
Session 5D
Still Not Using a Sledgehammer: Stories from 25 Years of Front Line Work
Presenter: Stu Lamont
abstract to be added
12:00 - 2:00 p.m. Lunch
Annual General Meeting and OADD Awards
The OADD Awards Presentations and the Annual General Meeting will be held during lunch. All are welcome.
12:00 OADD Awards Presentation
12:30 Buffet Lunch
1:30 Annual General Meeting
Concurrent Sessions "6" (2:15 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.)
Session 6A
What Our Body Language Really Says
Presenter: Lisa Benrubi
Session 6B
A Curriculum of Caring for People with Developmental Disabilities
Presenter: Dr. Kerry Boyd
Communication barriers combined with complex needs can be challenging for healthcare providers and those in need of care. McMaster University, Niagara Regional Campus developed, evaluated and advanced a Curriculum of Caring for People with Developmental Disabilities (DD), providing medical and nursing students with 3 experiential learning opportunities. People affected by DD are being raised up as educators of future and current healthcare providers, contributing to curriculum enhancement and participating in video-based resources. 3 components of educational intervention for healthcare learners and providers include: 1) Introduction to DD and opportunity to hear from patients and caregivers via video 2) Clinical skills primer with communication adaptations 3) Clinical application resources enhanced by video Learner evaluations, self-report questionnaires, and clinical preceptor observation have been used to refine the program. People with DD and relevant care provider involvement is being incorporated into evaluation and planning. Brock University, Centre for Applied Disability Studies, is continuing to participate in further curriculum development and evaluation. The purpose of the Curriculum of Caring is to generate healthcare providers who are more capable (comfortable, confident, competent) in providing compassionate, person/ family centred, inter-professional care to people generally considered harder to serve. This recently enhanced curriculum complements other initiatives in Ontario and across Canada aimed at promoting excellence in healthcare for all. As an AMS Phoenix Project, the Curriculum of Caring for people with DD has expanded the network of participants as well as potential recipients. This session will provide a program overview and sample videos.
Session 6C
Person-Centred Thinking and building Social Capital: Supporting an Included Life in the Community with Homes, Jobs, and Friends for People with Intellectual Disabilities
Presenters: Keenan Wellar, Julie Kingstone
Starting in 2008, the LiveWorkPlay charitable organization in Ottawa began a transformation away from site-based and program-oriented thinking and practices, investing in a person-centred approach with a belief that "the community holds the answers" to welcoming, including, and valuing people with intellectual disabilities. By focusing on measurements that truly indicate inclusive outcomes, the organization realigned existing staff resources, increased its volunteer capacity by 300%, and increased its service capacity by 100%, and established more than 50 new partnerships in the private, public, and non-profit sectors. Key to this successful transformation has been an unwavering commitment to person-centred thinking, practices, and outcomes. Beyond adopting appropriate language and establishing new intake procedures, all constituents have been engaged in person-centred dialogue, and together the resulting outcomes are celebrated. These are typically non-systems outcomes, such as moving to an apartment or condo of one's own, obtaining and keeping paid employment, joining and contributing to clubs, courses, classes, and other forms of community engagement, and enjoying more robust personal and professional networks for a better quality of life. Quality of life measurement at LiveWorkPlay is closely aligned to the concept of social capital, which establishes the critical importance of relationships as determinants of everything from personal health to the viability of communities. This session will tie person-centred and social capital concepts to daily practices, including the communication strategies that help build internal and external support for the organization's work and desired social change.
Session 6D
Creating a Culture of Knowledge-Informed Policy and Practice in the field of Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities
Presenters: Helene Ouellette-Kuntz, Virginie Cobigo, Robert Hickey, Rosemary Lysaght
3:30 - 3:45 p.m. - Break
Concurrent Sessions "7" (3:45 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.)
Session 7A
Deliberate Indifference: Identifying and Reducing Risk to Protect Services Users, Staff and Agencies
Presenters: David Hingsburger, Chanelle Salonia, Donna Lee
A common dilemma for service providers is supporting someone with a known behavioral challenge, such as aggression, in any group living environment where there are potential victims. According to the legal concept of Deliberate Indifference, if you know that an individual is at a potentially high risk to hit or to assault another individual, and cannot demonstrate that you acted to reduce that risk, then you could be accused of deliberate indifference to the rights of the victim. Literature shows that when steps have been taken to mitigate the risk of harm to others and a system of documenting risk reduction strategies is in place, agencies both reduce the risk of lawsuit and reduce the risk of harm for all in the environment. This presentation will demonstrate how risk reduction can be integrated into behavioural plans and daily support practices. A risk reduction tool will also be presented, which can be used to document the efforts to keep all safe. This approach has been utilized for over one year within our agency, Vita Community Living Services. As a result, we have seen a reduction in incidents related to member to member harm. Ultimately this presentation aims at having participants leave with a resource rich package of information and behavioural templates to assist in the development of risk reduction practices.
Session 7B
Development and Pilot Testing of a Healthy Eating video-supported Program for Adults with Developmental Disabilities
Presenter: Chwen Johnson
Video technology is a potentially effective means to teach individuals with developmental disabilities (DD) about healthy eating. Research in this area, however, is relatively unexplored. This study developed and tested a video intervention to teach healthy eating to adults with DD. A five-segment educational video, an accompanying workbook, and a facilitator guide were developed to teach basic healthy eating concepts to adults with developmental disabilities (DD). Twelve adults with DD took part in a five-week educational program led by trained facilitators using the materials created. A pre-post nutrition questionnaire was used to assess knowledge gain. Seventy-five percent (9) of participants improved their knowledge score, 8% (1) maintained residue knowledge and 17% (2) had a decrease in their score. Video instructions can be an effective intervention modality to increase knowledge in adults with DD about healthy eating. Key enablers identified for participants’ knowledge gain included: video content developed based on the learning need and cognitive level of intended users; program delivered by facilitators trained in effective teaching strategies; and, engaging the participants’ staff, family, and caregivers to provide ongoing reinforcement about healthy eating This presentation will showcase a video-supported program to teach adults with DD about healthy eating. The facilitator will offer strategies for the development of educational videos and effective use of this medium for this target audience. The workshop will end with small group discussions on the use of educational video/DVD in this population. Participants will be given a chance to share their best practices.
Session 7C
Tools for Independent Living
Presenters: Sunday Cvetanovic, Tami Schaafsma, Cheryl Peterson
Community Living Toronto and Elmira District Community Living are partnering to present “Tools for Independent Living”. A combination of a Guidebook and experiences from a “Hands on” Program geared to Adults who want to gain experience and skills to be able to live independently in their community. This presentation is for front-line staff and management. In 2007, EDCL created Trying It On For Size (TIFS) a distinctive program where participants stay in a fully furnished house in order to practice and prepare being more independent in their own home and community. Each participant is encouraged to recognize their rights and choices and to utilize their family and natural supports in working towards their goals. During this time of transition, support is also offered with how participants’ choices are influenced by family dynamics; and how these relationships can affect the outcome of the program In 2013, Community Living Toronto created STEPS to Independence, a guidebook that explores readiness for semi-independent living. It is a holistic tool used to build skills, confidence and self-esteem. It offers opportunities to share differing perspective on skills and readiness from the viewpoint of the individual, family/support network who know the person well. It presents feedback on current life skills and identifies areas for learning to increase readiness. For staff who would like to obtain tools to help individuals build skills for independent living, the Tools for Independent Living workshop is for you!
Session 7D
GO4KIDDS Report Card
Presenters: Dr. Adrienne Perry, Dr. Jonathan Weiss, Dr. Patricia Minnes
GO4KIDDS (Great Outcomes for Kids Impacted by Severe Developmental Disabilities) is a CIHR-funded Emerging Team that has been working for the past 5 years to study the health, well-being, and social inclusion of children and youth with severe and complex needs, and that of their families. The GO4KIDDS Team consists of researchers and clinicians across a variety of disciplines including medicine, psychology, and speech pathology, with support from community agencies, families, care providers, and community members. The goal of this presentation is to share our "Report Card" of results and recommendations based on our cross-Canada study, involving over 400 parents of children aged 3 to 21 with severe/complex needs. We will report the results regarding children's health (including mental health/ maladaptive behaviour) and well-being, their social participation in the community, and their service utilization. Determinants and predictors of these outcomes we are examining include: demographic factors (e.g., SES, location); child/youth factors (e.g., age, diagnosis of ASD, mental health/behaviour problems, adaptive level); family factors (e.g., parent mental health); and service system factors (e.g., service utilization and satisfaction). We will also summarize quantitative and qualitative data on the families' experiences of burden, stress, and negative impact, as well as positive impact and life satisfaction. We will report on determinants of these different family outcomes, including child characteristics, other life stressors, individual and family resources, and formal and informal supports.
5:00 p.m. Draw for Mini-IPAD and Mini-Kobo reader
Open to all conference participants who stay to the end of the day Thursday April 10th. Participants are asked to gather in the ballroom for the draw.
YOU MUST BE THERE TO GET THE PRIZE
for information on the Research Special Interest Group (RSIG) Seminar Day and poster session click here
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