Media Advisory: Seventh Annual Bloorview Research Institute Symposium

Toronto, Nov. 13, 2012 – The Honourable David Onley, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario will deliver a personal reflection at the 7th Annual Bloorview Research Symposium. This one-day event brings together top Canadian researchers, clinicians, clients and families to share the latest research findings related to children with disabilities. This year the focus will be on transformational research in the areas of autism, cerebral palsy and communication technology.

Join us for a powerful lived experience keynote speech by Shelby Nurse and her father Tom and presentations on the following:

Live keynote speakers – Shelby and Tom Nurse (10:35 a.m.)
Diagnosed with cerebral palsy at the young age of three, Shelby Nurse has spent her adult life inspiring kids with disabilities to become advocates for themselves and is working to eliminate the stereotypes around disability.

Latest research in autism (9:25 a.m.)
Autism affects one in 88 kids. Holland Bloorview researcher, Krissy Doyle-Thomas, presents differences that exist in the brain composition of kids with autism and the potential impact this research has on pharmacological intervention.

Researcher with a disability looks at "unlocking" the communication potential of non-communicative children (9:55 a.m.)
84,000 Canadian Children live with severe disabilities and are unable to communicate with the world. Scientists at Holland Bloorview are continually looking for ways to "unlock" their potential. Researcher, Eric Wan, explores the power of the brain and looks at the potential of using "thought" to control environment.

Pilot study aims to improve outcomes for children dependent on technology (9:35 a.m.)
Nearly thirty per cent of assistive technologies, such as those used for communication by children with complex disabilities, are abandoned. One of several reasons for this is that caregivers do not fully understand how to incorporate the technology into daily life. Researchers, Katherine Chow, Tania Desai and Leslie Mumford, present a case study to demonstrate how their pilot study is addressing the rate of abandonment and aims to give severely disabled children the opportunity to participate and engage with their environment.

Date: Tuesday, November 13, 2012
Time: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Agenda: Full agenda attached

Location: Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital
150 Kilgour Road
Toronto, Ontario

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Media interested in attending all or part of the Symposium, or interviewing presenters should contact:

Danielle Van Duzer
Senior Communications Associate
dvanduzer@hollandbloorview.ca
416 425-6220 ext. 3706

About Bloorview Research Institute
Bloorview Research Institute (BRI) anchors the research agenda at Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, Canada's largest pediatric rehabilitation hospital for kids with disabilities. The BRI is dedicated to research and innovation related to childhood disability. The vision of the Bloorview Research Institute is to be an international leader in applied, multidisciplinary research and development that improves the quality of life and quality of care of children and youth with disabilities and special needs.