The Bloorview Research Institute celebrated its 9th annual BRI Symposium on November 13, 2014. With a focus on Participation in Action, the event brought together researchers, clinicians, scientists, government, students, and clients and families to explore new research from the BRI.
Below you will find summaries and videos from the Symposium.Please note - videos require Windows Media Player to view - Chrome users may require an additional plugin.
We want to thank Lori Beesley, a parent and BRI's Family-Centred Care Specialist, for co-hosting the event with Dr. Tom Chau. Lori’s role brought further family perspective to the day.
Welcome
Watch the day's introductions, including a message from Ontario's Minister of Research and Innovation, the Honourable Minister Reza Moridi.
Mickey Milner International Professorship Lecture
Dr. Gillian King Traces the History of Participation Research
The Mickey Milner International Professorship Lecture is named for Dr. Milner, one of the world's best known and most highly respected rehabilitation engineers.
Read the abstract for Dr. King's keynote lecture or watch the whole thing here.Lived Experience Panel
Keynote Lived Experience Panel Highlights the Client Perspective in Research
Current and former clients Abdi Hassan, Emily Chan and Casey Morrison (pictured here with the Honourable Minister Reza Moridi) formed this year's Lived Experience Panel, speaking about their experiences participating in research and translating research knowledge to their communities.
Read a summary of the Lived Experience Panel, or watch the whole thing here.
Research TEDTalks
TEDTalks Bring Research to Life
This year’s Symposium featured a new format for the four research talks, asking presenters to follow the TEDTalk style to ensure that content was engaging and accessible for everyone.
Learn more about each Research TEDTalk below.
"Social Connectedness through Exergaming in Adolescents with CP”
Read a summary of the talk or watch the whole thing here!
Speakers:
- Lauren Switzer, Manager of the CP Discovery Lab in the Bloorview Research Institute
- Hamilton Hernandez, PhD Candidate from the EQUIS Lab at Queen’s University School of Computing
- Wesley Magee-Saxton, Grade 10 student and Holland Bloorview client, joined by his mom Jan Magee
“Exploring the Mechanisms of Social Participation Restrictions Faced by Children and Adolescents with Prenatal Brain Injury"
Read a summary of the talk or watch the whole thing here!
Speakers:
- Dr. Sara Stevens, Clinical Neuropsychologist and BRI Clinical Team Investigator
- Dr. Sabrina Agnihotri, Former PhD graduate from the Bloorview Research Institute
“Weighty Conversations: a Clinical Dilemma”
Read a summary of the talk or watch the whole thing here!
Speaker:
- Dr. Amy McPherson, Scientist in the Bloorview Research Institute, Co-Lead of the Centre for Leadership in Participation & Inclusion at Holland Bloorview
“How a Ride-on Toy Powers Participation for a Preschooler”
Read a summary of the talk or watch the whole thing here!
Speaker:
- Masters student Kamil Pieszczynski
Research Quick Hits
Scientists and trainees from the Bloorview Research Institute provided 12 Quick Hits of research, timed at two minutes each, to provide a broad overview of the BRI’s diverse research pursuits.
Quick Hit Presenters included: Alyssa Komar, Johanna Shenstone, Ashleigh Townley, Chun Lam, Monica Gomez-Orozco, Shauna Kingsnorth, Samantha D'Souza, Kristen English, Calvin Ngan, Eric Smart, James Murphy, Rachel Vizcarra, Lisa Bennett
CrossTalk on Technology
CrossTalk Panelists Look at Technology from All Angles
Dr. Mickey Milner chats with the CrossTalk panel members
This year’s BRI CrossTalk took on Technology and its role as mediator for social inclusion.A CrossTalk brings together different perspectives on the same issue – in our case, researchers, a clinician and a parent all weighed in on the impact of technologies for children with disabilities.
Read a summary of the panel discussion or watch the whole thing here.
Award Ceremony
The BRI Symposium ended with an awards ceremony recognizing the work of the following individuals.
Canada Research Chair Appointments
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- Dr. Gillian King (left) - Canada Research Chair in Optimal Care for Children with Disabilities. Award presented by Dr. Susan Rappolt, Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy.
- Dr. Evdokia Anagnostou (right) - Canada Research Chair in Translational Therapeutics in ASD. Award presented by Dr. Denis Daneman, Paediatrician-in-Chief at SickKids and Professor in the Department of Paediatrics at SickKids.
Holland Family Chair in Acquired Brain Injury
- Dr. Michelle Keightley (accepted by Dr. Nick Reed). Award presented by Dr. Susan Rappolt, Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy.
Chang Family Foundation Chair in Access Innovations
- Dr. Tom Chau (left). Award presented by Dr. Chris Yip, Director of the Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering (IBBME) at the University of Toronto.
Whittaker Award
- Moira Kaminker, SLP (right). Award presented by Mrs. John Whittaker.
Graduate Student Awards
- 2014-2015 Kimel Family Graduate Student Scholarships in Paediatric Rehabilitation ($20,000) winners:
- Nicole ProulxHarnessing the fast optical response for a brain-controlled communication aid
- Alicia HilderleyLinking neuroplasticity with the outcomes of motor learning based interventions: a multimodal evaluation of walking-based training in children and youth with cerebral palsy
- 2014-2015 Kimel Family Graduate Student Scholarships in Paediatric Disability Research ($20,000) winners are:
- Calvin NganDesign and Evaluation of a Prosthetic Knee Joint based on Automatic Stance-Phase Lock (ASPL) Technology for Children with Transfemoral Amputations
- Alborz Rezazadeh Sereshkeh Development of robust multimodal brain-machine interfaces
- Ellen DrummThe learning, language and attentional challenges of school-aged siblings of children with ASD
- "Whipper" Watson Graduate Research Studentship Award ($10,000) winner is:
- Stefanie GlowinskyQuantifying physiological synchrony between nonverbal youth and their caregivers
- The Holland Bloorview Foundations Graduate Student Award ($10,000) winner is:
- Joanne WongExergames: improving cardiovascular fitness in youth with CP (GMFCS III) via cycling
