Childhood development
Resources for families with special needs
Study shows how the effects of horseback riding improve learning in children. Recent research published in Frontiers in Public Health shows that the effects of vibrations produced by horses during horse-riding lead to the activation
… READ MOREGazeSpeak runs on a smartphone and uses artificial intelligence to convert eye movements into speech, so a conversation partner can understand what is being said in real time. The eyes say it all. GazeSpeak, Enable Team, Microsoft
… READ MOREEmily Pitchers, 16, plucks the strings on a guitar with JB Music therapist Catherine Mitchell during a weekly session at the teenager’s family home. Christina Ryan, Calgary Herald. In celebration of National Music Therapy Month, we
… READ MOREThe OrbIT controller was custom designed to help children with cerebral palsy. David Hobbs photo. Cerebral palsy (CP) is the most common childhood physical disability, affecting more than 34,000 Australians, and more than 17 million
… READ MOREVery little in life slows Jillian Peters down. If you catch her in a hallway, the spunky seven-year-old is likely to race you in her hot-pink wheelchair. Cerebral palsy doesn’t define her. Video games are helping children with
… READ MOREThe nine-year-old is currently playing for the Calgary Venom of the Calgary Sledge Hockey Association. On Monday, the Calgary Flames, with the help of Make-A-Wish, signed nine-year-old defenceman Fionn Daly to a one-day contract.
… READ MOREKnee pain is common in children with CP, but given the many health challenges facing this patient population, knee symptoms may not be given high priority. Proper diagnosis and treatment of knee pain, however, can be key to maximizing
… READ MOREEven though learning to waltz had been a lifelong dream for Sarah Cauley, she cancelled just one day before her first lesson. She was unable to open her hand enough for someone to hold it, and was afraid no one would want to try.
… READ MOREA person’s gait affects his or her entire body; movement that causes stress in too many places lead to pain, or injury. However, if a comprehensive motion and gait analysis is performed by a qualified professional, the nature of a
… READ MOREOne in every 1,000 babies suffer from a stroke either in utero or shortly after birth. Edmonton researchers are trying to help those young child stroke patients regain mobility and learn how to walk. Linda Hoang with files from Carmen
… READ MOREHelping patients manage an orthotic device can be challenging, but doing so in the face of uneven terrain is a balancing act between stability, mobility, and strength. Device adjustments and rehabilitation protocols can help
… READ MOREA new research report has been published by the charity WellChild which explores parents’ experiences of managing care for children with complex care needs throughout the 24-hour day. Calgary photojournalist Christina Ryan and her
… READ MOREChildhood physical performance measures are significantly associated with knee bone area and cartilage volume in adulthood, concluded researchers who presented at the American College of Rheumatology Annual Meeting in Washington, DC.
… READ MOREProduct design consultancy Renfrew Group, in partnership with the NHS unveiled the innovative modular children’s wheelchair ‘Chair 4 Life’ system designed to address the unmet needs of disabled children at the
… READ MORESurvey paints picture of healthcare system failing people who have disabilities in Arizona. The results of a recent survey of people who have disabilities living in Arizona and their experiences with medical providers reveals a
… READ MORE‘It’s been really neat to watch because we never thought we would see it.’ Evelyn Moore, an Edmonton toddler who suffered paralysis after a tumour developed on her spine, is now standing on her own two feet with the
… READ MOREStudy finds that home care is beneficial for the children, but it comes at great cost to family members or guardians. U.S. families provide nearly $36 billion [USD] annually in uncompensated medical care at home to children who have
… READ MOREBecause of her cerebral palsy, 4-year-old Scarlett Wilgis has trouble opening her hands and can’t get around without help. Her parents have scoured store shelves and websites for toys for her but have mostly been disappointed.
… READ MOREJust like other children learn how to crawl, Evelyn slowly figured out how to wheel. Evelyn Moore at Treehouse, an indoor playground in northeast Edmonton that she often visits with her mom. With no wheelchairs small enough for baby
… READ MOREClassical ballet classes may help improve balance while enhancing social skills in school-aged children with cerebral palsy (CP), according to a new study. Ballet Academy East, New York. Photo Rosalie-O’Connor Joana Fernandes PhD,
… READ MOREThe Calgary Protocol: bracing for Pectus carinatum. Braceworks UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital November 26, 2016 – Updated July 2021 Pectus carinatum is characterized by a protrusion of the sternum that occurs as a result
… READ MOREThe bureaucratic mess will make you mad. The human harm could make you weep. Don Braid, Calgary Herald. Alberta’s auditor general says the government is failing the severely disabled through its income supports program.
… READ MOREYouth Transitions For youth between the ages of 16 and 25, we offer customized support to help them prepare for adult life. Activities include one-on-one counselling, group support and transitions workshops and an emphasis on
… READ MORECompared with typically developing children, ambulatory children with mild spastic cerebral palsy (CP) have pronounced deficits in cortical bone architecture, lower bone strength, and elevated infiltration of fat in the bone marrow
… READ MOREOne of my most memorable moments in high school came during my freshman year. A motivational speaker was addressing us in a huge assembly. I was seated with one of my best friends at the front of the auditorium, and the whole group
… READ MOREShare your thoughts on research in cerebral palsy. What do researchers need to know about living with CP? In conjunction with the NeuroDevNet Brain Development Conference 2016, the annual CP in Motion conference will include a patient
… READ MOREEntering the playground, I heard a boy call my son’s name. We turned and saw one of his classmates running toward us. “We’re playing soccer! Wanna be on my team?” Illustration by Giselle Potter By Sandra Joy Stein, The New
… READ MOREUAlberta study recruiting children to evaluate Lokomat gait training program. Researchers at Canada’s University of Alberta Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine are investigating the effectiveness of a gait training program on a
… READ MORERIO DE JANEIRO — The old swimming adage is that breaststrokers are born, not made. You often can look at a swimmer standing still and tell whether they are a natural fit for the most esoteric of the four strokes. Kevin Cordes
… READ MOREEducators in California, Montana and Washington explain how technology makes it easier to engage students with physical and learning disabilities. Wendy Burkhardt, seen here with student Kevin O’Brien, says the convergence of
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