Welcome
Promoting a Future of Inclusive Healthy Lifestyles for Everyone
The ProFILE Lab is part of the Bloorview Research Institute at Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, and is led by Dr. Amy McPherson, Senior Scientist at Holland Bloorview and Associate Professor at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health and Rehabilitation Sciences Institute at the University of Toronto. Amy is a Chartered member of the British Psychological Society, Division of Health Psychology. She is also a Registered Psychotherapist.
The work conducted in the ProFILE Lab addresses research questions around the promotion of the health and wellness of children with disabilities and long-term conditions. Sexuality, body diversity, mental health, and disordered eating are priority areas of investigation. The lab regularly involves family stakeholders in research study teams to ensure research is timely and relevant.
To learn more about our research projects or to become involved in a study, visit our Research page.
Mission
To support children and young people with disabilities live their healthiest life - whatever health means to them. No topic is taboo.
Priority areas of investigation include:
- Sexuality: Exploring how young people with disabilities navigate sexuality, relationships and identity and the barriers they face to accessing affirming, inclusive information and care. This work reimagines sexuality education and services through a lens of rights, access and lived experience. As part of this, we develop evidence-informed resources for youth, parents and healthcare professionals.
- Body diversity: Investigating how body diversity and disability intersect and the impact of societal norms on the experiences of young people with disabilities. The work challenges ableist and sizeist assumptions, to reshape how bodyweight, body image and inclusion are understood across clinical social and educational contexts.
- Mental health: Understanding the unique challenges and strengths of youth with disabilities, investigating the impact of ableism, stigma and service gaps on their experiences. Our work also seeks to understand how mental health and wellness can best be discussed with children and young people with disabilities.
- Disordered eating: Examining unique risk factors for youth with disabilities around disordered eating/eating disorders, including body image concerns, ableism, reduced autonomy, diagnosis-specific factors and medical monitoring. The work aims to inform more inclusive and preventative approaches within paediatric rehabilitation care.
