Congratulations to Dr. Virginie Cobigo, who won the Inclusive Research, Exemplary Research: Inspiring Stories Competition organized by the Office of the Vice-President at the University of Ottawa.
Read more here: https://bit.ly/inclusive_research
Vidéo : « Des mots pour le dire » – définir la déficience intellectuelle
This video (in French) from Open Collaboration for Cognitive Accessibility video explores the definition of intellectual disability. The video includes open-ended questions and answers provided by five individuals with intellectual disability. Questions include how the individuals defined intellectual disability, what words others use to speak about intellectual disability they do not like, and how to change the public’s opinion of intellectual disability.
Cette vidéo de Open Collaboration pour l’accessibilité cognitive explore la définition de la déficience intellectuelle. La vidéo inclut les questions et réponses ouvertes de cinq personnes qui ont une déficience intellectuelle. Les questions incluent comment ces individus définissent la déficience intellectuelle, les mots utilisés pour parler de la déficience intellectuelle qu’ils n’aiment pas, et comment changer l’opinion publique en ce qui concerne les personnes avec une déficience intellectuelle.
Vidéo : L’amitié : la perspective des personnes qui ont une déficience intellectuelle
This video (in French) from Open Collaboration for Cognitive Accessibility explores the concept of friendship among persons with intellectual disability. The video includes open-ended questions and answers provided by five individuals with intellectual disability. Questions include how do you know if someone is your friend, what do you do with your friends, would you like to see your friends more often and why don’t you see your friends more frequently.
Cette vidéo de Open Collaboration pour l’accessibilité cognitive explore la perspective de personnes qui ont une déficience intellectuelle concernant l’amitié. La vidéo inclut les questions et réponses ouvertes de cinq personnes qui ont une déficience intellectuelle. Les questions incluent comment savez-vous si quelqu’un est votre ami, que faites-vous avec vos amis, est-ce que vous voulez voir vos amis plus souvent et pourquoi ne pouvez-vous pas voir vos amis plus souvent.
Vidéo : Des technologies au service des personnes qui ont une déficience intellectuelle
This video (in French) from Open Collaboration for Cognitive Accessibility explores information and communication technology use among persons with intellectual disability. The video includes open-ended questions and answers provided by five individuals with intellectual disability. Questions include what do you think of these technologies, what technologies do you use, why do you use these technologies, what supports do you receive to use these technologies, and what obstacles are there when accessing or using these technologies.
Cette vidéo de Open Collaboration pour l’accessibilité cognitive explore l’utilisation des technologies de l’information et de la communication par les personnes qui ont une déficience intellectuelle. La vidéo inclut les questions et réponses ouvertes de cinq personnes qui ont une déficience intellectuelle. Les questions incluent que pensez-vous des technologies, quelles technologies utilisez-vous, pourquoi utilisez-vous ces technologies, quel soutient recevez-vous pour utiliser les technologies, et quels sont les obstacles à l’accès et à l’utilisation des technologies.
Congratulations to Virginie Cobigo (Principal investigator) and Rosemary Lysaght (Co-researcher) on receiving the AGE-WELL Catalyst grant and New Frontiers grant. Through the AGE-WELL grant, they will be developing a social enterprise that will employ and train persons with cognitive disabilities to provide a suite of services, in French and English, to technology developers (academics and private industry, including start-ups), accessibility professionals (i.e., offering accessibility consulting and assessment), caregivers, as well as policymakers. Through the New Frontiers grant, they will conduct a small-scale implementation of an inclusive approach to R&D with their first confirmed partner, the IT Accessibility office at Employment and Social Development Canada (Government of Canada).
While it is recommended that adults with IDD see their primary care physician regularly for a comprehensive health examination, less than a quarter in Ontario do so. A recently published study based on interviews with adults with IDD identifies their experiences and their needs when scheduling, traveling to, and attending these medical appointments. Read the findings here: https://bit.ly/2vKyr4g
Self-determination for people revolves around the idea of maintaining or improving quality of life through autonomy. Previous literature has identified lower levels of self-determination in individuals with IDD and methods to develop this determination. However, less research looks at how the family structure supports and enables self-determination. One MAPS study looking at how two families promoted self-determination for young adults with IDD found a balance between short- and long-term goals, focusing on a stepwise progression for independence and choice. Read more about these two families and how they built self-determination for the young adults here: https://bit.ly/2vkkREd
Efforts in Ontario since 2006 to improve the provision of primary care to adults with IDD were the focus of a recent study led by Hélène Ouellette-Kuntz. The authors compared preventive care provided through primary care to adults with IDD aged 40-64 from 2003 and 2016 to determine any impact the interventions had. While a small increase in provision for preventive care was seen for men, no change was seen for women, suggesting a small population-level impact. Read the full methodology and the authors’ recommendations for future research here: https://bit.ly/2pK6XZz.
Virginie Cobigo speaks with Gérald Filion of ICI RDI about how to improve employment opportunities for persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities. (in french: “Comment améliorer et accroître l’activité sur le marché du travail des personnes ayant certaines déficiences? Entrevue avec Virginie Cobigo”) pic.twitter.com/PWbu103LZm
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.
