Partnering for Change

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Partnering for Change

Description

Nearly 400,000 children across Canada struggle to perform everyday activities due to an underlying motor-based disorder called developmental coordination disorder (DCD). The difficulties of these children often worsen when they enter school and they are referred to School Health Support Services. In each region of Ontario, hundreds of children are now on school health waitlists, many for over 24 months.

The problem is complex:

1) by the time children are finally seen, they have usually developed secondary problems;

2) therapists are still using traditional intervention models that are individualized and lengthy;

3) interventions are not meeting the needs of children and families.

This innovative initiative will close the demand gap in health care services by shifting service provision away from individual interventions that are designed to change children's impairments to an approach that changes the environment. In this project, researchers from CanChild are partnering with decision-makers from the Mississauga-Halton Local Health Integration Network and with Community Rehab, providers of services for these children. CanChild has a strong history of translating knowledge into practice through the development and evaluation of educational materials for target audiences and is the first centre in the world to develop evidence-based materials about children with DCD. Together, we will work with all stakeholders to plan and evaluate an intervention in which OTs translate knowledge to help families and teachers better support children with DCD. Concrete, evidence-based suggestions will be provided to teachers about how to adjust the environment and modify activities to increase children's participation and prevent the development of secondary physical and mental health problems.

Overview of Partnering for Change Service

Description of OT Role in Partnering for Change

Research Team

Cheryl Missiuna, PhD., OTReg(Ont)
Cathy Hecimovich, MEd. (Principal Decision-Maker)
Nancy Pollock, MSc, OTReg(Ont)
Dianne Russell, PhD.
Sheila Bennett, PhD.
John Cairney, PhD.
Robin Gaines, PhD., CCC-SLP
Barbara Ruttan
Peter Rosenbaum, MD

For more information contact: Liz Molinaro, Project Coordinator

Funders

Pilot Phase: 2008-09
Ontario Neurotrauma Foundation (ONF)/Ontario Rehabilitation Research Advisory Network (ORRAN)