Collaborative Research - Quality Outcomes
Collaborative Research - Quality Outcomes

Social Enterprise Workshop

On August 24th Dr. Rosemary Lysaght gave a presentation to staff from multiple Ontario ministries as part of a workshop on social enterprise sponsored by the Ministry of Economic Development & Growth. Goals of the workshop were to Illustrate the benefits of social enterprise versus more traditional service delivery organizations, highlight new research on social enterprise and social finance, and explore opportunities for Ontario Public Service staff to support social enterprises. Rosemary’s presentation focused on best practices and emerging needs identified in her past and current research, much of which was collected during a Ministry of Community and Social Services sponsored study on social enterprise in the IDD sector. Participants discussed challenges to social enterprise development and growth, and government actions that could help  move this form of employment generation forward.

 

Ethical Factors With New Technologies

Dr. Virginie Cobigo and her team are working on an innovative transdisciplinary research and development project (WP8.3 PRIV-SENSE). The aim is to study ethical factors that arise during the development, commercialization, diffusion and adoption of a technology, which assists aging persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and their caregivers in the safe use of medications. In addition to interviews with relevant stakeholder groups (i.e., healthcare professionals and policy makers) and monitoring data via meeting notes and the researcher’s diaries, this inclusive project engages 6 aging persons with IDD who attended 5 focus groups. During the focus groups, the participants helped the technology developers identify the required features and functionalities of the proposed technology application, and tested the prototype. Currently, data are being analyzed and important insights on the ethical issues related to technology adoption and development for/by aging persons with IDD are expected. A first article was accepted and is to be published in the fall of 2017 in the journal of “Ethics and Behaviour”. It explores privacy protection behaviours and attitudes of aging persons with IDD when using information technologies. This 5-year project is funded by AGE-WELL NCE- a national research network in technology and aging, with a span of 25 universities and research centres across Canada, and more than 80 industry, government, and not-for-profit partners.

New HSO Members

We are pleased to announce that Dr. Hélène Ouellette-Kuntz and Dr. Lynn Martin have officially joined Health Standards Organization (HSO) as members of the Developmental Disabilities Technical Committee.

They will help drive the standards development process and ensure that all points of view relating to a standard revision are represented. This HSO Technical Committees includes an individual with a disability, families, service providers, and researchers. For more information: www.hso.world

Projected IDD Populations in Canada

A recent study led by Hélène Ouellette-Kuntz presents two epidemiological approaches to estimate changes in the size of the older adult population with IDD in Ontario. Both methods project an increase. One method suggests a moderate increase (20.5%) while the other method suggests a small increase (4.1% to 8.4%). Full study available here: http://bit.ly/2ibULMj

MAPS Member Newest Fellow of IASSIDD

Hélène Ouellette-Kuntz was among 8 outstanding researchers from 5 countries named fellow of the International Association for the Scientific Study of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IASSIDD) at the Association’s 15th World Congress held in Melbourne, Australia this past summer. Fellowship in IASSIDD is granted to those recognized by peers in the Association for outstanding contributions in the field of IDD.  Since 1996, 116 researchers from 21 countries have been named fellows. Only 8 Canadians hold the title.

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