Research Participation Opportunities

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Pathways to an Autism Diagnosis

We know that it is very difficult for both parents and autistic individuals
to seek out a diagnosis in Canada. For this reason, we are conducting a
study at Wilfrid Laurier University to try to better understand common
obstacles that people face and to understand the pathway that is
followed while trying to obtain an autism diagnosis in Canada. Our study
is looking for participants 18+ years in age who have obtained autism
diagnosis as an adult or have attempted to obtain an autism diagnosis
as an adult in Canada, or a parent of children who has obtained or has
attempted to obtain an autism diagnosis for their child in Canada. If you
are interested in participating, you will be asked to provide information
through a secure online survey on when you first suspected you and/or
your child may be autistic, the steps taken to obtain a diagnosis,
resources that were helpful and unhelpful, and information about your
and/or your child’s autistic traits. The survey will take about 15-45
minutes to complete and upon completion you will be entered into a
draw for a $50 gift card.


For more information about the study or to volunteer for the study,
please contact: diagnosispathways@gmail.com

Autism Diagnosis Pathways Flyer
Join the Autistic Advisory Committee (AAC) For the MEND Initiative

The Meaningfully Empowering the Neurodiverse (MEND) Initiative from the University of Toronto is currently recruiting participants for an autistic advisory committee (AAC) to explore autistic adults' perceptions and experiences of empowerment with their mental health and co-design a low-fidelity prototype of an intervention. This goal of the intervention is to empower autistic adults to communicate their mental health care needs to healthcare providers.

Individuals who are 18 years of age or older, have an autism diagnosis, can understand and provide informed consent without assistance, have access to a technological device and Internet, are currently residing in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), and are fluent in English can participate. Participants will attend three synchronous, virtual sessions (60 – 90 minutes in duration) with all members of the advisory committee (5-8 members). During these sessions, participants will share their experiences and perceptions of mental health empowerment and help design a prototype for an intervention to assist in this area. Participatory design methods used for this co-design process will be decided upon by the research team and members of the AAC based on their preferences and perceived beneficial value. The overall time commitment is 3 – 4.5 hours. Participants will be compensated for their time. For more information or to learn how to get involved, please contact mendinitiative.trp@utoronto.ca.

AAC recruitment poster
Autistic Adults’ Reflections on Their Elementary School Experiences

My name is Kristina Saunders, and I am an undergraduate student in the Department of Psychology and Health Studies at the University of Saskatchewan supervised by Dr. Melanie Morrison. I am currently working on a research project which looks at autistic individuals’ elementary school experiences and social well-being; the project also will ask whether a particular event from elementary school still impacts them as adults. I am hoping that autistic individuals (either diagnosed with autism or self-identifying as autistic) who are aged 18 or older will participate in the anonymous online survey.  

Participants will be asked to fill out some brief online questionnaires related to elementary school experience, social well-being, and event centrality, which should take approximately 15 minutes to complete. This research project has been approved on ethical grounds by Psy-REC on November 18th, 2023. In appreciation of their time, participants may enter a draw to win their choice of one of three $50 Amazon or iTunes gift cards. The survey will close on March 1, 2024. 

If you have any questions or would like more information, please don't hesitate to contact me at ksm183@usask.ca

If you would like to participate, please click the following link to access the survey: 

https://www.surveymonkey.ca/r/H39826H 

 

Sincerely,  

Kristina Saunders  

Undergraduate Student  

Department of Psychology and Health Studies  

University of Saskatchewan 

Study on The Experiences of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and their Use of Augmentative and Alternative Communication Devices in the Classroom

The purpose of this study is to transform the basic understanding of the use of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) devices and how they may impact the communication of students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Participant criteria:

  • Live and work in Ontario, Canada
  • Have the ability to communicate in English
  • Work as a special education teacher in an elementary school
  • Have experience working with children with ASD who use AAC devices
  • Have worked as a special education teacher, before and during the COVID-19 pandemic
  • Have access to an internet-accessing device

Participation in this study consists of a 1 hour long (approx.) recorded interview via Zoom.

If you are interested, please email Ally Frid - ally.frid@queensu.ca

This study has been reviewed for ethical compliance by the Queen's University General Research Ethics Board.

Queens Study 01.08.2024
Study: Supporting Students in Inclusive Classrooms

If you are the parent/guardian of a child in grades 6 - 12, we are inviting your child to participate in a research project that will explore the learning experiences of students and instructional approaches of teachers. The outcome of the research will support the development of a web mobile app to help teachers identify earlier and effectively support the learning needs of all students in inclusive classrooms. Students in will have a chance to win an iPad, Nintendo Switch or JBL speaker upon completing the survey.

To learn more about the study and take the survey, click here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScnmFeI3VySx-EC1kHewYhFWpuRz1Ugqu9aX4jRzKNOfKllFg/viewform

 

study poster
Family Quality of Life Study

Parents of youth with autism (ASD) or an intellectual disability (ID) wanted for online survey on high school transitions (20-30 min)

To participate, your child must:

  • Have autism (autism, Asperger’s, PDD-NOS)and/or an
  • intellectual disability (developmental delay/disability)
  • Be enrolled in high school (age 14-21)
  • Live in Canada

Survey link: https://unbfpsyc.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_eXV145qwfqoQsPs

Contact: unbtransitionstudy@outlook.com

 

poster
Appel à participation | Recherche doctorale FrancAutisteON

Appel à participation | Recherche doctorale FrancAutisteON

Je cherche à recruter des adultes autistes, leurs proches et des intervenants sociaux ou communautaires de l'Ontario intéressé·e·s pour participer à mon projet de recherche sur les réalités sociales de l’autisme à l’âge adulte en contexte de diversité ! --» Pour participer ou en apprendre davantage, visitez le site web de la recherche : https://lnkd.in/eRA3sxdG

 

franco autise poster
Barriers to, and Facilitators of, Supporting Ottawa's Autistic Adult Mental Health

This project is on understanding the barriers and facilitators of providing mental health support for autistic adults faced by practitioners/professionals in Ottawa.

To participate in this study, you must be:

  • A practitioner or professional who has experience supporting Autistic adults (self-identified, diagnosed or undiagnosed) mental heath in Ottawa.
  • Comfortable completing an online questionnaire and engaging in a 60-90 minute recorded Zoom interview 
  • At least 18-years old 
  • Comfortable in the English language

Participants will be compensated with a $10 e-gift card for participating in the interview

Please contact the researcher, Margaret Janse van Rensburg, for more details on this study at margaretjansevanrensburg@cmail.carleton.com

 

research poster

 

Participating in a unique Lego Robot programming course for children on the autism spectrum

We are inviting autistic children to participate in a curriculum with researchers at the University of Toronto. Parents are welcome to join the sessions. The curriculum aims to teach autistic

children how to program a Lego robot, while also enhancing non-verbal social-communication skills. We are now conducting a feasibility trial on  this new curriculum.

 

Many researchers have studied robot programming as a means of fostering communication between students with ASD. Researchers have also found that some autistic individuals are interested in learning to program and developing their social skills through a shared interest with other students.

 

Who we’re looking for:

  • Children on the autism spectrum
  • 8-12 years old
  • No prior robot programming experience

 

When/where?

  • Starting week of          
  • About six 90-minute sessions
  • University of Toronto

 

During the sessions, the researchers will teach the students how to program a Lego robot using the prepared material, and obtain feedback from the students and  parents regarding whether:

  1. the material is engaging to the students
  2. the concepts and examples being taught are clear
  3. the student has shown improvement in their social communication skills

 

We will provide compensation for your participation.

Participation in this study is voluntary, and participants can withdraw at any time.

 

If you have any questions, please contact the researcher:

Jenny Lee: jennyl.lee@mail.utoronto.ca, using the subject line Robot Programming for Autistic Children

poster with robot
Survey— Virtual Mental Health Experiences for Caregivers

Help the team at CAMH understand the experiences of school-age autistic children and their families while accessing virtual mental health supports during the pandemic by filling our their survey, here: edc.camhx.ca/redcap/surveys/?s=843PC7RTRRJYLK9M

 

emh_study_flyer_eng_page_1.jpg

 

 

Survey— Experiences of Clinicians Providing Mental Health Support

Help the team at CAMH clinicians’ experiences supporting school-age autistic children and their families during the pandemic by filling out their survey, here: edc.camhx.ca/redcap/surveys/?s=843PC7RTRRJYLK9M

 

emh_study_flyer_eng_page_2.jpg
Study of a Brain Stimulation Treatment for Depression in Young Adults with Autism (rTMS-MDD)

Participant requirements:

  • 16 to 35 years old
  • Have received a clinical diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder
  • Experiencing significant depressive symptoms
  • Without prior diagnosis of intellectual disability

What is the study about?

We are studying whether a form of brain stimulation called rTMS (repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation) is an effective treatment for depressive symptoms in Autistic youth and young adults. 

What do you need to do?

  • Screening and baseline questionnaires and clinical interviews
  • Cognitive tasks
  • 10 minute rTMS sessions Monday to Friday for 6 weeks at CAMH (Queen and Ossington  – Toronto)
  • Two MRI scans that are 60 minutes long: 1 before rTMS begins and 1 after sessions are completed
  • Additional questionnaires will be performed on a weekly basis during rTMS sessions, as well as 1, 4 and 12 weeks after sessions are complete

Would I be compensated for my time?

Participants will receive an honorarium in appreciation for their time. If you decide to withdraw before the study end, you would be paid for the study visits you completed.

Contact information: Anjuli Ner, Research Analyst at autismtms@camh.ca

STUDY OF A BRAIN STIMULATION TREATMENT FOR DEPRESSION IN YOUNG ADULTS WITH AUTISM (rTMS-MDD) Poster
Leaving Places: Autistic People’s Perspectives on Departure and Well-Being

Principal Investigator: Margaret F. (Meg) Gibson, Renison University College, Associate Professor in Social Development Studies & School of Social Work, margaret.gibson@uwaterloo.ca.

To help you make an informed decision regarding your continued participation as a co-researcher, this letter will remind you what the study is about, what your role would be, the possible risks and benefits, and your rights as a co-researcher.

What is the study about?

As you know, this project aims to help us understand Autistic people’s experiences of eloping (running away, departing suddenly, going missing, wandering off). We also want to learn what responses from other people (such as teachers, family members, or police) are helpful – and which are not.

The project you originally participated in lasted just over a year and included designing and sharing an online survey. We have received funding to expand on the project and include interviews and arts-based research. At this stage in the project, we are asking 2-4 more Autistic adults (age 18+) to join our existing team as co-researchers. As a reminder, co-researchers are people with lived experience of the topic who want to be a part of making research plans and decisions, and four co-researchers are already working with the project.

What does being a co-researcher involve?

Participation as a co-researcher in this project will be very similar to what you have already done. There will be co-researcher meetings 2-3 times per year that will take place virtually, with opportunities to do additional research roles as interested. For example, you may want to conduct data analysis, write sections of articles or reports, or design graphics to help share research findings. We will send the agenda, questions or topics and any documents by email before the meetings. You can email ideas after the meeting as well. You can participate on the chat, by email, and/or by using spoken language in the meetings. Meetings will last up to 2 hours each, and happen once every few months. You will get some emails before and after the meetings with the agenda, and you will get emailed copies of any documents we will be discussing. The meetings will be conducted over an online platform, Zoom. Zoom has implemented technical, administrative, and physical safeguards to protect the information provided via the Services from loss, misuse, and unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, or destruction. However, no Internet transmission is ever fully secure or error free.

Co-researcher team meetings will be video recorded, and university research team members may take notes during or after the meetings. The primary purpose of recording and note-taking is to keep track of ideas and share them with other team members. Some of this data may also be included in reports, presentations, and/or publications. If the university research team wishes to use direct quotes from a co-researcher meeting, consent will be sought from individual co-researchers. In the event that a co-researcher consents to the use of a direct quote, they can choose whether or not to have the quote attributed to them.

This project will be carried out over the next five years. We ask that co-researchers try to commit to participating for one year, however they may stop participating at any time. Co-researchers will collaborate with the university researcher team to i) consult on the analysis and sharing of findings from an online survey, ii) recruit participants for interviews and arts-based research, iii) design and implement interview and arts-based research procedures (eg. help decide what questions should be asked during interviews), iv) consult on the analysis and sharing of interview and arts-based research findings, and v) prioritize other directions for research and community collaboration.

Is participation as a co-researcher voluntary?

Participating in research is totally voluntary. It is up to you to decide if you want to continue participating as a co-researcher or not. You can decide to leave the project any time by notifying Meg Gibson (margaret.gibson@uwaterloo.ca). If you leave the project, you can choose whether or not to have your name included on documents. If you leave the study and want the information you contribute removed, we will do our best to remove individual data (e.g., quotes), however, please be aware that it will not be possible for us to remove your contributions to group activities/conversations due to the collaborative format of the study. Additionally, it will not be possible to remove your contributions once findings from the study have been submitted for publication or otherwise shared publicly.

Will I receive anything for participating as a co-researcher?

You will continue to receive $100 for each meeting you attend. If you only attend one meeting, you will still get $100. This is to thank you for your contribution. (The amount received is taxable. It is your responsibility to report this amount for income tax purposes.)

What are the possible benefits of participating as a co-researcher?

As was the case with the previous project, participation in this longer project will not have direct benefits for co-researchers. However, previous we hope that you will continue to find participation to be a meaningful experience. Participation will also include indirect benefits such as having the opportunity to learn research skills and to co-author and co-present materials from the project, as well as to shape strategies to benefit autistic communities more broadly.

What are the risks associated with participating as a co-researcher?

As was the case with the previous project, there is a chance that you might find some conversations uncomfortable or may feel nervous about being part of a research project. You will not be required to share any personal experiences with the group, and you will always be able decline to answer any question or participate in any discussion. If you are upset during the course of being a co-researcher, please let Meg Gibson or the project coordinator know. Meg will then connect with you by email to see if you need any support. For example, you may want to talk to Meg about something that upset you during a co-researcher meeting, or you may want the contact details for a local mental health service.

Will my identity be known?

As was the case with the previous project, you can decide whether you want your participation to be kept confidential or not. You will be asked if you want to be an author on reports, publications, and presentations as the group works on them. If you do not want people to share your name as a part of the project, we will keep it confidential. You can discuss your own participation in the project with other people. We ask that you respect everyone’s privacy. We will also ask you not to share the names of other co-researchers with people outside the project unless these co-researchers choose to be an author on project documents. You can feel free to talk about the role of the principal researcher, research assistants, and students with other people.

If the research team would like to quote any of your comments in papers and publications resulting from this study, you will be able to review and approve your comments before they are shared publicly. The information we collect during this study, including details such as your name and contact information, will be stored on a password-protected computer for seven years so that the researcher may contact you about ongoing study activities. Though this study will officially end in five years, it is typical for researchers to continue writing about and sharing data from studies past their official end date.

Has the study received ethics clearance?

This study has been reviewed and received ethics clearance through a University of Waterloo Research Ethics Board (REB #45592) and a University of British Columbia Ethics Board (REB #H23-02932). If you have questions for the Board, contact the Office of Research Ethics, toll-free at 1-833-643-2379 (Canada and USA), 1-519-888-4440, or reb@uwaterloo.ca

Who should I contact if I have questions regarding my participation in the study?

If you have any questions regarding this expanded project, or would like additional information to assist you in reaching a decision about participation, please contact Meg Gibson at margaret.gibson@uwaterloo.ca. She can answer your questions by Zoom or by email.  

 

Nipissing University Seeking Autistic Adults Aged 18-29 for Study about their Experiences in the Ontario K-12 Public Education System

The purpose of this study is to understand the social and sensory experiences that Autistic people have in Ontario K-12 public schools, and to learn how the education system could be made more inclusive for Autistic students.

We are looking for participants that meet the following criteria:

  • Autistic adults (formally diagnosed or self-identified) between the ages of 18 and 29
  • Attended one or more public schools in Ontario for at least six years

This study is open to participants from all regions of Ontario.

Participants will be asked to complete an online survey questionnaire about their experiences as a K-12 student that should take about 15-20 minutes. After completing the survey, participants may enter a random draw for one of two $25 Amazon eGift cards. Based on an estimate of 50 participants, the odds of winning one of the two eGift cards are 1 in 25.

There is an optional follow-up interview that would take about one hour and would also take place online, either through Teams software or by email. All participants in the follow-up interview would be compensated for their time with a $50 Amazon eGift card.

This research study has been reviewed by the Nipissing University Research Ethics Board.

Participants are asked to follow the link below:

Qualtrics Link

If you have any questions, you can contact the Principal Investigator, Dr. Lorraine Frost, at frost@nipissingu.ca or the co-investigator (PhD candidate) Christopher Peters at cdpeters394@my.nipissingu.ca.

If you have questions regarding the rights of a research participant, contact:

 

Research Coordinator, Nipissing University

100 College Drive

North Bay, ON

P1B 8L7

ethics@nipissingu.ca

Trans Autistic Research Study

A trans autistic graduate student at Carleton University is currently recruiting participants for a study about autistic people’s experiences of gender-affirming care in Ontario. To be eligible, participants must be 19 or older, autistic, and have accessed gender-affirming care in Ontario in the past 5 years as an adult. Participants will be asked to participate in an interview in English, which can be conducted in-person in Ottawa; over Zoom using video, audio, and/or chat; or using Microsoft Teams chat messages. Self-diagnosed and self-identified autistic people are welcome to participate. Participants will receive $40 for completing an interview and must have a Canadian bank account to receive the honorarium.

 

If you are interested in participating, learn more and complete a short survey here: https://carletonu.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_7OQxLPGxjTqxb0y. If you have questions for the researcher, please email KaiJacobsen@cmail.carleton.ca

 

The ethics protocol for this project has been reviewed and cleared by the Carleton University Research Ethics Board. If you have any ethical concerns with the study, please contact the Carleton University Research Ethics Board-A (by phone at 613-520-2600 ext. 2517 or via email at ethics@carleton.ca). The project clearance number is 119889.

 

Trans Autistic Research Study. Are you: Autistic (with or without a formal diagnosis), and have accessed (or tried to access) gender-affirming care as an adult in the past 5 years in Ontario, and are age 19 or older? Consider participating in a trans autistic-led study to improve gender-affirming care! Trans flag image. Rainbow neurodiversity infinity symbol. Carleton University Logo.

 

 

 

Vocational Experiences in Autism Study
poster for study

 

 

 

Looking for participants for research study on the vocational experiences in autism    

We are conducting a research study on vocational experiences in autism. The purpose of this study is to better understand the career experiences of individuals with a confirmed autism diagnosis. We are looking to conduct virtual interviews with a total of 15 individuals who would like to share their work experience, with the ultimate goal of understanding how their diagnosis, motivations and meaning, influence their career outcomes and work experience.  

Who can participate? 

1.     Be between the ages of 18-25  

2.     Have a confirmed diagnosis from a psychiatrist or psychologist  

3.     Have worked for a minimum of 2 consecutive months within the last 5 years 

4.     Are fluent in English, as interviews will be conducted in English  

 

What is involved? 

Participants will be invited to participate in an audio-recorded interview. To accommodate participants, interviews will be conducted via telephone or video-conference. During the interview, we will be asking you questions about your work experience, career meaning, work motivations and satisfaction. 

Participants who complete interviews will be offered $10 as a token of appreciation for their time and effort.   

The study has been reviewed and approved by the Research Ethics Board at the University of Toronto (#44205). Individuals who are interested in participating can contact the researcher by email at vocationinautism@gmail.com to learn more about the study.  

Study on Barriers to, and Facilitators of, Supporting Ottawa’s Autistic Adult Mental Health

Are you a practitioner or professional who has supported an Autistic adults’ mental health?
Participate in a study on Barriers to, and Facilitators of, Supporting Ottawa’s Autistic Adult Mental Health

This project is on understanding the barriers to and facilitators of providing mental health support for autistic adults faced by practitioners/professionals in Ottawa.
To participate in this study, you must be:
✓ A practitioner or professional who has experience supporting an Autistic adults* mental health in Ottawa.
✓ Comfortable completing an online questionnaire and engaging in a 60 to 90-minute recorded Zoom interview
✓ At least 18 years old
✓ Comfortable in the English language

This study will ask you to fill out an online demographic and work experience questionnaire via Qualtrics and to participate in an audio-recorded one-to-one semi-structured interview via Zoom for approximately 60-90 minutes, where you will be asked questions about structural, organizational, practitioner, personal, and individual barriers to supporting autistic adult mental health, and strategies, adaptations, and considerations you find useful.

Participants will be compensated with a $10 e-gift card for participating in the interview.

Please contact the researcher, Margaret Janse van Rensburg, for more details on this study at margaretjansevanrens@cmail.carleton.ca

Autistic adults* refers to self-identified, diagnosed, and undiagnosed
This study has been cleared by the Carleton University Research Ethics Board (A) Clearance #11980

Recruitment poster for a study based out of Carleton University
Western University study on experiences and perspectives from autistic adults h ABA-based services and supports and autism-related research
study recruitment poster

 

 

We are looking for volunteers to take part in a study of the experiences and perspectives of autistic adults with ABA-based services and supports and autism-related research who meet the following criteria:

  • You are age 18 or older
  • You self-identify as being on the autism spectrum
  • You have experience receiving ABA-based services and supports

If you are interested and agree to participate you would be asked to:

  • Complete the survey linked here.
  • The responses to the survey will be used to inform the upcoming online conference in Fall 2023 hosted by Autism Ontario, the University of Western Ontario, and Brock University. You are invited to join the conference here.
  • You will also have the option to participate a one-on-one interview to speak about your experiences in more detail (an option given at the end of the survey).

Your participation would involve completing the survey one time (which will take approximately 35 minutes). If you are interested in participating in a one-on-one interview, it will involve one online interview lasting approximately 1 hour.

In appreciation for your time, you have the chance to win 1 of 3 Amazon gift cards valued at $25 each by entering a draw at the end of the survey.

For more information about this study, or to volunteer for this study, 
please contact:
Dr. Gabrielle Lee

Assistant Professor, Faculty of Education at University of Western Ontario

 

Email: glee329@uwo.ca

Study on Math Apps

Attention parents!

We are looking for 100parents to participate in a research study called “how parents choose math apps”.

To participate, you need to have:

  • A child 36 years old ( OR 3 10 years old if your child is on the autism spectrum
  • Internet access & a smartphone or tablet that can download apps
  • The ability to read English

NO EXPERIENCE WITH APPS IS NEEDED!

What happens during the study?

  • You will explore and rate some math apps with Nicola virtually on Zoom
  • Then there is an online survey youcan do on your own
  • The study will take approximately 45mins of your time in total
  • You can be entered into a raffle for one of four $25 gift cards

Interested? Please contact Nicola: urqu1720@mylaurier.ca

 

posting poster
Studying brain networks supporting hearing, language, and speech in children with autism spectrum disorder

Studying brain networks supporting hearing, language, and speech in children with autism spectrum disorder

A research team at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) is recruiting participants for a study investigating the structure and function of brain areas involved in hearing, language, and speech, in children with and without autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The study may provide valuable information about brain networks impacted by ASD.  We hope that findings will help us to better predict and treat language difficulties in children with ASD, in the future. 

What’s involved?

  • One study visit to SickKids
  • Brief neuropsychological assessment (language, and nonverbal ability)
  • Hearing tests
  • Noninvasive magnetoencephalography (MEG) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

Who can participate?

Children with ASD:

  • Children between 8-10 years of age
  • Diagnosed with autism, with or without an apraxia
  • Ability to complete brief neuropsychological assessment
  • Vocabulary of at least 100 words (by parent estimation)
  • Ability to complete MEG and MRI scanning (lay completely still for 5-10 minute recordings)

Typically developing children:

  • Children between 8-10 years of age  
  • No history of neurological, psychological, psychiatric, disorder
  • Ability to complete brief neuropsychological assessment
  • Mainstream classroom placement
  • Ability to complete MEG and MRI scanning (lay completely still for 5-10 minute recordings)

Are there benefits to participating?

There are no direct benefits to you or your child for participating in this study.

We will provide:

  1. A picture of your child’s brain
  2. A gift certificate as appreciation for participation

Contact information:

Principle Investigator: Dr. Darren S. Kadis

416-813-7654 ext. 308283

darren.kadis@sickkids.ca

Coordinator: Kristen Li

(416) 813-7654 ext. 309042

language.imaging@sickkids.ca

Contribution of molecular biomarkers to early diagnosis, disease management and stratification of Autism Spectrum Disorder

This study is being performed to validate the findings of the previous research by looking at
ASD diagnostic biomarkers (metabolites and proteins) in the blood and urine of children, which
would help enable earlier and more effective treatment.

Researchers: Molecular You

Who can participate?

  • Children between 3-12 years of age
  • Canadian residents
  • Not undergoing undergoing gene, chemo-, or radiotherapy
  • No current immunosuppressive or infectious conditions (ex. RSV, Chicken Pox, Common cold, Strep throat, Diabetes Mellitus Type 1, organ/bone marrow transplant, steroi treatment etc.)
  •  ASD group: Diagnosed via ADI-R and ADOS
  • Neurotypical group: Self-identify as healthy, no chronic or acute disease, not currently taking any prescription medication.

What's involved?

  • Screening Questionnaire
  • Completion of the medical questionnaire (online)
  • Provide a sample of blood and urine at clinical partner lab

How will participants be compensated for their participation?
Participants will receive a CAN$50 gift card as a ‘thank you’ for participating in the study at the
end of the blood collection visit.

Is there a deadline to participate?
No deadline to participate. Recruitment has started and enrollment is ongoing.

Contact Information:
You can learn about the study by visiting this link:
research.molecularyou.com/?trk=organization_guest_main-feed-card-text

You can contact us with by emailing to research@molecularyou.com OR calling +1 (800)
380-1468 ext. 6

Participants Needed for a Project on Neuroinclusivity!

[La version française suit le texte anglais]

 

Participants Needed for a Project on Neuroinclusivity!

 

We are looking for neurodivergent adults to provide input that will contribute to the development of a policy toolkit and educational resource that will help make Canada more accessible and inclusive.

 

What is involved?

Participants will do a 2-hour (with a 15-minute break) online focus group (small group conversation) about their recommendations for making society more accessible and inclusive, based on their lived experiences. Accommodations are available.

 

Who can participate?

To participate, you must be:

  • Neurodivergent (including but not limited to autism spectrum, ADHD, and learning disabilities),
  • Self-identified and/or diagnosed,
  • 18 years or older,
  • Located in Canada, and,
  • Able to communicate in English, French, ASL, or LSQ, with or without support.

 

Neurodivergent adults who belong to other marginalized communities (for example, Indigenous, people of color, trans/non-binary, queer, non-speaking) are especially encouraged to participate.

 

Research participants will receive a $75 gift card for their participation in the study.

 

How to sign up: https://carleton.ca/accessibility-institute/nd-lens/nd-lens-recruitment/

poster for research opportunity

 

Personnes recherchées pour participer à un projet sur la neuroinclusivité!

 

Qu’est-ce que cela implique?

Les participants et les participantes prendront part à une discussion de groupe en ligne de deux heures (incluant une pause de 15 minutes) afin d’exprimer leurs recommandations pour améliorer l’accessibilité et l’inclusivité au sein de la société fondées sur leur vécu personnel. Des mesures d’accommodement sont offertes.

 

Qui peut participer?

Pour participer, vous devez :

  • Avoir reçu un diagnostic de neurodivergence ou vous auto-identifier comme étant une personne neurodivergente (il existe plusieurs types de neurodivergences, notamment l’autisme, le TDAH et les difficultés d’apprentissage)
  • Avoir plus de 18 ans;
  • Résider au Canada;
  • Être capable de communiquer en anglais, en français, en American Sign Language (ASL) ou en langue des signes québécoise (LSQ), avec ou sans soutien.

 

Les personnes adultes neurodivergentes qui appartiennent à d’autres communautés marginalisées (par exemple, les Autochtones, ainsi que les personnes de couleur, trans, non binaires, queers et muettes) sont particulièrement encouragées à participer.

 

Les participants à la recherche recevront une carte-cadeau de 75 $ pour leur participation à l'étude.

 

Comment s'inscrire: https://carleton.ca/accessibility-institute/nd-lens/nd-lens-recruitment/

 

recruitment poster
Are You Interested in Learning to Identify Strengths in Your Child with Autism?

Strength Spotting with Parents of Autistic Youth

If you are a caregiver of a child with autism who is between 10 and 18 years old, we invite you to participate in a research study called, “The Effects of Strength Spotting on Parenting and Parent-Child Relationship Quality in Caregivers of Autistic Youth”. 

We are addressing the following research question: 

What are the effects of Strength Spotting on parenting and parent-child relationships of caregivers of autistic youth? 

  

Should you choose to participate you will be asked to: 

  1. Meet online with a researcher to complete a consent form and questionnaires (~30 mins) and do two brief tasks (one just with you and the second with you and your child) (~30 mins) 
  2. Participate in an online caregiver workshop to learn about strengths and Strength Spotting (~90 mins) 
  3. Strength Spot on your own for 14 days (~5 min each day) 
  4. Final meeting with a researcher to complete questionnaires and do the same two brief tasks at the first online meeting (~30 mins) 

  

No monetary or other form of compensation will be offered for participating in this study.

Strength Spotting Recruitment Poster

If you wish to participate, please follow the link below: 

brock.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_4JDQMgm7moRD4RU  

If you have any questions, please contact the Student Principal Investigator, Kevin Yu at yc20tw@brocku.ca 

Optional Research Study: Into the Lives of Mothers with an Autistic Child

This message is being sent on behalf of Dr. Shahid Alvi and Peter Kokkoros (graduate student).

You are invited to participate in an optional research study that attempts to learn more about mothers who have children with autism, about the challenges experienced, and how society has supported the parents of these children. We are interested in understanding and documenting the inner care and inner life of mothers who care for children with autism. Participation is entirely voluntary, and there is no obligation or need to participate if you do not want to do so.


Participation in this research study will be through an online interview with the researcher (Peter Kokkoros). It will include questions concerning challenges, experiences and views on Canada's current support systems granted to mothers who have a child with autism. If you agree to participate, you will be given a 20$ dollar Tim Horton's gift card for taking the time out of your busy schedule to be interviewed. The interview should take approximately one hour.


If you are interested in participating or have further questions, please contact Peter.kokkoros@ontariotechu.net / Shahid.Alvi@ontariotechu.ca /(x3412).

If you have any questions regarding your rights as a participant or concerns about this study, please contact the Research Ethics Office at researchethics@ontariotechu.ca or 905.721.8668 (x3693).

This study has been reviewed by the Ontario Tech University Research Ethics Board #17266 on April 17th 2023.

Sincerely,
Dr. Shahid Alvi and Peter Kokkoros
 

Research positing for optional Research Study: Into the lives of Mothers with an Autistic Child
Experiences of Adults with autism spectrum disorder with the Emergency Department

My name is Sabrina Brodofski, and I am a Master of Nursing student at Athabasca University. As a requirement to complete my degree, I am conducting a research project about the experiences of adults who have a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder while accessing the emergency department. I am conducting this project under the supervision of Dr. G. Dewart and Dr. G. Martin.  

Why are you being asked to take part in this research project?
You are being invited to participate in this project because you are an adult between the ages of 18-64, with a formal or official diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder, and have accessed healthcare in an emergency department within the past 12 months. 

What is the purpose of this research project?
The purpose of this research is to gain a deeper understanding of the experiences of adults with autism spectrum disorder while accessing healthcare within the emergency department.  The autism community could benefit from this study as the information gathered from this study will build knowledge and understanding to inform healthcare officials regarding potential ways to make emergency departments supportive for those seeking medical care.

What will you be asked to do?
The study involves structured interview questions to be completed virtually.  The following will describe all the procedures and participant-related activities during the study:

  • The nature of the information that will be collected will be about your lived experiences while accessing the emergency department.
  • You will only need to participate in one virtual interview, which should range from one to two hours; depending on the information you are willing or able to share.
  • You have the right to pause the interview and resume it at a later time.
  • The interview will be conducted at a date and time that is mutually agreed upon.
  • The estimated number of participants in the study will range from 8-12.
  • The interview will be recorded for the purpose of it being transcribed for analysis.  Once your interview has been completed, it will be transcribed.  NO identifying information will be used on the transcription. 

A copy of the interview transcript can be emailed to you – at your request – if you feel the need to alter or clarify your comments.  

What are the risks and benefits?
The following is a list of the possible risks and inconveniences that you may experience if you choose to participate in the study:

  • There is potential for some psychological discomfort pertaining to any emotions you may feel when the questions are asked.
  • There is the potential for some physical discomfort pertaining to your position related to the length of time you will be seated for the duration of the interview.
  • To help reduce the risks, you are welcome to inform me that you need a break from the interview; you can get up, walk around, switch positions or relocate to a different location if it will assist you.
  • If any of the questions make you uncomfortable or you do not want to answer it, you do not need to.  You have the right to refuse to answer any questions.

As stated previously, the autism community will benefit from this study.  Information gathered will help build knowledge and understanding to inform healthcare officials regarding potential ways to make emergency departments supportive of those with autism spectrum disorder community.  There are no anticipated direct benefits to you for taking part in this study.   

Do you have to take part in this project?
As stated earlier in this letter, involvement in this project is entirely voluntary.  You may withdraw from this study at any time while the information is being collected.  You can end an interview partway through, you are able to change your mind and withdraw from the study before the interview takes place or before the interview is transcribed.  Any data collected will be automatically destroyed.  Please note:  once the interview has been transcribed, there will be no identifying information on the transcript, and therefore, any data collected will not be able to be removed.

* There are NO consequences to you if you decide to withdraw.

How will your privacy and confidentiality be protected?
The ethical duty of confidentiality includes safeguarding participants’ identities, personal information, and data from unauthorized access, use, or disclosure.

Your confidentiality will be respected.  No information or records that disclose your identity will be published, nor will any information or records that disclose your identity be removed or released without your consent unless required by law.

How will my anonymity be protected?
Anonymity refers to protecting participants’ identifying characteristics, such as name or description of physical appearance.

You will be assigned a unique study number as a participant in this study.  Only this number will be used on any research-related information collected about you during the course of this study so that your identity [i.e. your name or any other information that could identify you] as a participant in this study will be kept confidential.  Information that contains your identity will remain only with the Principal Researcher.

Every reasonable effort will be made to ensure your anonymity; you will not be identified in publications.

How will the data collected be stored?

  • The recorded interviews as well as a copy of the transcript will be kept in an encrypted and password protected file and stored within the Athabasca University server where only the principal researcher has the key
  • All data will be held for 5 years, then it will be permanently deleted
  • Transcripts that have zero identifying information on it will be stored in an encrypted and password protected file that only the principal researcher knows what the password is.
  • The principal researcher will have access to the data ONLY.
  • Athabasca University, the supervisors as well as research journals will have access to the final report – where NO identifying information will be present.

Who will receive the results of the research project?

  • The existence of the research will be listed in an abstract posted online at the Athabasca University Library’s Digital Thesis and Project Room, and the final research paper will be publicly available.
  • Direct quotes from the anonymous transcripts will be used.
  • NO audio/video recordings will ever be published or accessed by anyone other than the principal researcher
  • After the research project has been completed, a report of the findings will be emailed to you upon request.

Who can you contact for more information or to indicate your interest in participating in the research project?

Thank you for considering this invitation. If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact me, (the principal investigator) by e-mail sbrodofski1@learn.athabascau.ca or my supervisors by gdewart@athabascau.ca or gmartin@athabascau.ca.

If you are ready to participate in this project, please complete and sign the attached Consent Form and return it by email to sbrodofski1@learn.athabascau.ca no later than August 31, 2023.

Thank you.

This project has been reviewed by the Athabasca University Research Ethics Board. Should you have any comments or concerns about your treatment as a participant, the research, or ethical review processes, please contact the Research Ethics Officer by e-mail at rebsec@athabascau.ca or by telephone at 780.213.2033.

Experiences of Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder with the Emergency Department

--

You are invited to take part in a research project entitled ‘Experiences of Adults with autism spectrum disorder with the Emergency Department’.

This form is part of the process of informed consent. The information presented should give you the basic idea of what this research is about and what your participation will involve, should you choose to participate. It also describes your right to withdraw from the project. In order to decide whether you wish to participate in this research project, you should understand enough about its risks, benefits and what it requires of you to be able to make an informed decision. This is the informed consent process. Take time to read this carefully as it is important that you understand the information given to you. Please contact the principal investigator, Sabrina Brodofski if you have any questions about the project or would like more information before you consent to participate.

It is entirely up to you whether or not you take part in this research. If you choose not to take part, or if you decide to withdraw from the research once it has started, there will be no negative consequences for you now, or in the future.

Sleep and Human Evolution Lab Sleep Studies

Recent work in neurodiversity demonstrates that there is a greater frequency of sleep related problems in autistic individuals compared to neurotypical individuals. Behavioral interventions, which are methods that can be used to improve one’s sleep-wake cycle based on changes in the surrounding environment, will be used in this study in order to try and improve sleep quality for autistic individuals.

Get the chance to win one of five 50$ gift cards!
Help us learn about the possibilities of improving sleep quality for autistic individuals.
Get to learn about the quality of your sleep and you sleep pattern.

Who can participate?
Must be 18 years or older Individuals diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Individuals who are not on the autism spectrum (neurotypical) Must be able to communicate in English Must live in or near the Toronto area.

What is involved?
- Wearing an Oura ring and actigraph watch (Fitbit-like device) that will track your sleep for a period of 8 weeks.
- Following behavioral interventions (e.g., keeping a consistent sleep schedule) for only 4 of the 8 weeks
- Answer a few questionnaires

If you have any questions or want to sign up, contact
Dominick Roussel, MSc student
Dominick.roussel@mail.utoronto.ca

poster for sleep study
Queen's University Seeking Volunteers to Participate in Reading Comprehension Experiences Study

Do you know a student with autism spectrum disorder? Did this student complete grade 9 applied English Language Arts within the 2021-2022? We are seeking volunteers for a study!

The aim of this research study is to investigate the perspective of students with autism spectrum disorder related to their experiences in developing their reading comprehension skills within the applied stream secondary English Language Arts classrooms in Ontario.

We are looking for participants that meet the following criteria:

  1. Participants have been identified with autism spectrum disorder by the Identification, Placement, and Review Committee (IPRC);
  2. Participants have previously completed a grade 9 applied Ontario English Language Arts credit within the 2021-2022 school year; and
  3. Participants completed their grade 9 ELA credit within a setting placement of regular class with indirect support or regular class with resource assistance.

All participants will be asked to partake in an approximately hour and a half interview, which will include a semi-structured interview and a creative expression activity. The findings from this study will provide further insights on supports that teachers can provide students with autism in regards to the development of their reading comprehension.

 

If you or someone you know is interested, check out this flyer to learn more about how they can participate in a study regarding their reading comprehension! Contact j.graham@queensu.ca for more details!

Queen's University Volunteer Study
National Survey on Physical Activity for Young Adults

We want to hear from you! We are seeking feedback from autistic young adults (18 to 35 years of age) on their opinions on participating in physical activity and using wearable activity trackers.

Purpose: To learn about your experiences related to engaging in physical activity and thoughts about using activity trackers to improve physical activity.

How can you help? Please visit our website: activehealthproject.com, to complete a brief survey (10 mins) and learn more about our study.

The principal investigator of this study is Michael Barrett (mcbarret@ualberta.ca)

This study is approved by the Alberta Research Information Services (ARISE) Ethics Board through the University of Alberta (Ethics ID: Pro00118119).

National Survey on Physical Activity for Young Adults Poster
University of Calgary research opportunity for youth with neurodevelopmental disabilities

Do you enjoy physical activity? If so, we would love to hear about your experiences!

We invite youth (ages 15-24 years of age) with neurodevelopmental disabilities to participate in our study.

Purpose:
To explore the impact of physical activity on the mental health of youth with neurodevelopmental disabilities.

What we need from you:
We need you to participate in an interview about your physical activity experiences (~ 45min).

Interested? Email Henna Hans at henna.hans1@ucalgary.ca to express your interest.


The principal investigator of this study is Dr. Carly McMorris (e: camcmorr@ucalgary.ca) (p: 403.220.5457)

The University of Calgary Conjoint Faculties Research Ethics Board has approved this study (REB#21-0687).

Study recruitment flyer
Youth students — We want to hear from you!

Autistic high schoolers from grades 9-12 are wanted for online interviews about preparing to leave high school (~ 60min).

There's a 1 in 12 chance to win a $25 CDN Visa gift card!

If you are interested, please send an email to jbest1@unb.ca
* Note that you must be diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder and attend a high school in Canada.

We want to hear from you
Parents of autistic youth students — We want to hear from you!

Parents of autistic high schools in grade 9-12 are wanted for online interviews about their child's preparing to leave high school (~ 60min).

There's a 1-12 chance to win a $25 CDN Visa gift card!

If you are interested, please send an email to jbest1@unb.ca

Parents - We want to hear from you
PECS®perts! 2022: An Augmentative and Alternative Communication Study

Is your child:
• Between 2 – 8 years old?
• At risk/diagnosed with a developmental disability (e.g., autism spectrum disorder, intellectual disability)?
• Significantly delayed in his/her communication? (example, not speaking or using only a few words)

The Picture Exchange Communication System® (PECS®) is designed to teach functional communication skills and is commonly used among children diagnosed with autism and other developmental disabilities. Research shows that PECS® is associated with improvements in communication, social-communicative behaviour, and challenging behaviour. But not a lot is known about PECS® use in community settings and how best to train parents and professionals to teach PECS®. This study is designed to explore the use of PECS® within a community setting. Parents who participate in this study will be expected to attend a two-day virtual PECS® training and participate in four weeks of training, including one session/week virtual coaching and one session per week coaching with your child (either face-to-face or online). Parents will be asked to attend a total of two sessions a week.

If you are interested in learning more about the study, please contact the recruitment coordinator: Hannah Floyd at hf22rd@brocku.ca.

PECSperts! 2022 Parent Poster
Social Processes Initiative in Neurobiology of Autism-spectrum and Schizophrenia-spectrum Disorders (SPIN-ASD)

Who can participate?
Individuals 16-35 years old with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) diagnosis, who have not been diagnosed with intellectual disability.

What is the study about?
We are interested in understanding more about how the brain works in ASD, and how brain properties (e.g. structure, function) relate to behaviour. This is an imaging study, which means if you decide to participate you will have a brain scan, and we will also ask you to complete some assessments in person. Our study team is interested in better understanding the relationships between the brain and behaviour in people who have a diagnosis of ASD. We hope this knowledge informs treatment development. Your participation would go a long way to helping us understand more about ASD and mental health.

What do I have to do and how much time would it take?
If you decide to participate, you would take part in screening and clinical assessments. They involve things like demographic questions, a urine sample, and some social thinking and decision making tests. You would also complete an MRI brain image. Completing all of the components of this study would take 3-4 days

Would I be compensated for my time?
You would be compensated for your time and efforts in cash after completing all of the components of this study. If you decide to withdraw before the study end, you would be paid for the study visits you participated in.

Who do I contact if I have questions or I want to participate in the study?
The Study Investigator is Dr. Stephanie Ameis. If you have any questions about the study or would like to participate, please contact our Research Analyst at: Enea Koxhioni, 416-535-8501 ext. 39140, email: enea.koxhioni@camh.ca.

Social Processes Initiative in Neurobiology of Autism-spectrum and Schizophrenia-spectrum Disorders (SPIN-ASD)
Experiences of Peer Interaction Amongst Autistic 2SLGBTQ+ Youth in Secondary Institutions

What is the purpose of the study?

The research aim is to understand the ways in which autistic 2SLGBTQ+-identifying youth (16-19 years old) interactions with peers may have shaped how they view themselves, how their identities are experienced in secondary institutions, and determine sources of resiliency and supports which help facilitate positive relationships for 2SLGBTQ+ youth.

Who can participate?

Youth are eligible if they are ages 16-19 from the autism community, they also identify as 2SLGBTQ+ and have been in a secondary institution in Canada since grade 10 (this can include Indigenous, Canadian, or undocumented youth).

What’s involved?

One interview (on Zoom or Microsoft Teams) per participant, which should take approximately 45 minutes to 1 hour. Participants will also be given the option to contribute to member reflections, which is essentially allowing them to view and comment on categories/quotes/themes that have been generated during data analysis. Member reflections can be done either by providing a written email response, or by attending a group meeting on Zoom.

What is the recruitment period?

August – December 31, 2022

Will I be compensated?

By participating in this research, each participant will receive one $25 Amazon gift card.

Who is conducting this study?

This research is being conducted through Wilfrid Laurier University and has been approved by the Laurier Research Ethics Board (REB#8262).

Who do I contact to get involved?

If you are interested in this study or have any questions, please contact Brianna by email: come7440@mylaurier.ca.

Study Poster Experiences of Peer Interaction Amongst Autistic 2SLGBTQ+ Youth in Secondary Institutions

 

University of Toronto: Social Stimuli on Physiological Reactivity and Cognitive Performance

We are recruiting participants for a study about how social stimuli may influence cognitive performance and physiological reactivity (such as heart rate). This study is being conducted by Ms. Agnes Wong (PhD student, M.A., MOT, HKROT Part 1), and supervised by Prof. Earl Woodruff at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE) at the University of Toronto. This study has been approved by The University of Toronto Research Ethics Board

Aims:

  • Considering the frequent use of strategies for increasing eye contact in clinical practice, it is crucial to understand the physiological reactivity to social stimuli such as eye contact. The findings will bridge the significant knowledge gap and have important contributions to research and clinical practice
  • Targeted participants:
    • Aged 13 to 18, with or without autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
    • With estimated normal intelligence, and normal or corrected-to-normal vision

Methods:

  1. Online screening: English comprehension task (~15 minutes)
  2. Face-to-face experiment at OISE / location at the organization to be confirmed after ensuring the lighting and room availability: Digit span task (~30 minutes). Contactless Transdermal Optical Imaging (TOI) will be used to measure heart rate, basal stress index and blood pressure

Compensations:

  • $5 gift card for screening
  • $15 gift card for completing the experiment
  • A list of mental health services information sheet
    • A talk related to ASD and stress for parents (topic to be confirmed and adjusted in collaboration with the organization)

For any queries and application, please contact Ms. Agnes Wong at skagnes.wong@utoronto.ca.

High School Transition Study

Parents of youth with autism or an intellectual disability wanted for online survey (20-30 minutes)

We are interested in your child's experiences as they pre pa re to transition out of high school. 

To participate, your child must: 

  • Have autism (autism, Asperger's, PDD-NOS) and/or an intellectual disability (developmental delay/ disability)
  • Be enrolled in high school (age 14 - 21)
  • Live in Canada

Compensation

  • Be entered to win a $25.00 CAD Amazon gift card (24 available)

For more information, email unbtransitionstudy@outlook.com.

This study is being conducted by PhD student, Lindsey McCullough, at the University of New Brunswick in Fredericton, Canada. 

High School Transition Study poster
Holland-Bloorview - Workplace Disclosure Tool Study

Codesigning and evaluating the usability of a workplace disclosure tool for Canadian youth and young adults on the autism spectrum
 

Are you a Canadian youth or young adult on the autism spectrum? Consider participating in Holland Bloorview’s latest study to help design and provide feedback on a workplace disability disclosure decision-aid guide and planning tool.

 

What is this study about?

We are looking for feedback on a prototype (early draft) of an online workplace disability decision-aid guide and planning tool. We want to know whether you found the tool useful, easy to use, liked or disliked it, and if anything needs to be added, changed, and/or removed.

 

Who can participate?

  • Autistic youth and young adults (age 15-29)
  • Is looking for paid work or has paid work experience
  • Able to access internet and a tech device
  • Able to communicate in English
  • Lives in Canada

 

What’s involved?

  • Reviewing the tool
  • Participating in one interactive online session (using Zoom and Slido platforms) to answer questions and provide feedback on the tool (~2 hours) with other youth and young adults on the autism spectrum

 

Participants will receive an e-gift-card of their choosing and can also receive volunteer hours as a token of appreciation for participating.

 

You can learn more about the study at this link: https://redcap.link/codesignusability-readonlyICF

 

If you are interested in participating in this study or have additional questions, please contact Vanessa Tomas at vtomas@hollandbloorview.ca or 416-425-6220 ext. 3091.

 

Principal investigator: Dr. Sally Lindsay

Pilot Evaluation of a Workplace Disclosure Tool for Canadian Youth and Young Adults on the Autism Spectrum

Are you a Canadian youth or young adult on the autism spectrum? Consider participating in Holland Bloorview’s latest study to evaluate an online workplace disclosure decision-aid tool.

What is this study about?

We are looking for feedback on an online, workplace, autism disclosure decision-aid tool. We want to assess the usability, feasibility, and acceptability of the online tool and if it supports your self-determination and decision-making skills.

Who can participate?

  • Autistic youth and young adults (age 15-29)
  • Is looking for paid work or has paid work experience
  • Able to access internet and a tech device
  • Able to communicate in English
  • Lives in Canada

What’s involved?

  • Completing two online surveys at two different time points:
    • Survey 1 (~10-15 minutes) completed before reviewing the tool
    • Survey 2 (~15-20 minutes) completed after reviewing the tool
  • Reviewing/interacting with the online tool (~1 hour)

Participants will receive an e-gift-card of their choosing and can also receive volunteer hours as a token of appreciation for participating.

You can learn more about the study at this link: https://redcap.link/decisionaidtool-pilotstudy

If you are interested in participating in this study or have additional questions, please contact Vanessa Tomas at vtomas@hollandbloorview.ca or 416-425-6220 ext. 3091.

Principal investigator: Dr. Sally Lindsay

Virtual Mindfulness for Autistic Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial

A research study to understand impact of being in a mindfulness group on levels of distress, mindfulness, and connectedness in autistic adults compared to being on a waitlist.

Who is eligible:

  • Autistic adults 18 years or older
  • Proficient in English and able to complete questionnaires
  • Living in Canada
  • Have internet access and a computer or phone

What would you have to do?

  • Attend a 6-week virtual mindfulness course for autistic adults
  • Your participation may be up to 30 weeks
  • Fill out questionnaires
  • Compensation provided for participating

If you are interested, please complete this online Expression of Interest Form.

If you would like assistance by phone or WebEx, please contact us by email at hcardd@camh.ca or phone at 437-328-6761.

CAMH Flyer
Social Stimuli on Physiological Reactivity and Cognitive Performance

We are recruiting participants for a study about how social stimuli may influence cognitive performance and physiological reactivity (such as heart rate)

  • This study is being conducted by Ms. Agnes Wong (PhD student, M.A., MOT, HKROT Part 1), and supervised by Prof. Earl Woodruff at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE) at the University of Toronto
  • This study has been approved by The University of Toronto Research Ethics Board
  • Aims:
    • Considering the frequent use of strategies for increasing eye contact in clinical practice, it is crucial to understand the physiological reactivity to social stimuli such as eye contact. The findings will bridge the significant knowledge gap and have important contributions to research and clinical practice
  • Targeted participants:
    • Aged 13 to 18, autistic or neurotypical
    • With estimated normal intelligence, and normal or corrected-to-normal vision
  • Methods:
    • Online screening: English comprehension task (~15 minutes)
    • Face-to-face experiment at OISE / location at the organization to be confirmed after ensuring the lighting and room availability: Digit span task (~30 minutes)
    • Contactless Transdermal Optical Imaging (TOI) will be used to measure heart rate, basal stress index and blood pressure
  • Compensations:
  • $5 gift card for screening
  • $15 gift card for completing the experiment
  • A list of mental health services information sheet
  • A talk related to autism and stress for parents (topic to be confirmed and adjusted in collaboration with the organization)

 

For any queries and application, please contact Ms. Agnes Wong at skagnes.wong@utoronto.ca.

Thank you very much for your interest! ☺

FAIR Study McMaster Children’s Hospital and McMaster University

What is the purpose of the study?
The Family Check-Up is a family-centered program that has been shown to help reduce emotional and behavioural problems in children and improve caregiver well-being. However, the Family Check-Up has never been tested in families with autistic children. The purpose of this study is to see if the Family Check-Up helps improve child and family well-being in families with an autistic child. This is the first time that the Family Check-Up is being offered in an autism program.

Who can participate?
Families with an autistic child 6-17 years old and challenging emotions and/or behaviours.

What is involved?
Families will be asked to take part in 5 study visits at McMaster Children’s Hospital over a one-year period.
The first, 6-month and 12-month visit involve completing questionnaires, doing simple activities with your child, and doing a brief interview about your child. These visits take about 2-3 hours.
The other two study visits are less than an hour and involve questionnaires and a brief interview.
After the first study visit, families will be randomly assigned to either receive the Family Check-Up right away or receive it in one year at the end of the study. Family Check-Up visits can be done in person at McMaster Children’s Hospital or virtually.

Will I be compensated to take part?
You will receive gift cards for each study visit that you complete. You will also be given a parking pass for your visits at McMaster Children’s Hospital so you don’t have to pay for parking.

Who can I contact to learn more?

If you’d like to learn more about the study, please contact the study coordinator, Julie Gross at grossj@mcmaster.ca or 905-525-9140 ex 27066.'

FAIR poster
Family Experiences and Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Researchers at the University of Manitoba are looking for parents or caregivers of children with ASD and/or ADHD, ages 2-18

What is the Study About?

The purpose of this study is to learn about the strengths and parenting experiences of families with or without a child diagnosed with ASD and/or ADHD. In this study you will be asked to complete a survey on parenting, your family, your well-being, and your child’s development.

Why Participate?

By taking part in this study, your contribution will help to improve the lives of families and allow clinicians to more effectively provide parent-child support. You will also be entered to win one of ten $50 Amazon eGift Cards!

To Participate in this Study:

  • Click on this link to open a new browser: https://survey.pra.ca/S2/1/UM202223Reg/

  • This will lead you to a website where you will be asked to enter your email

  • An automatic email will be sent to you with the survey link

  • This will lead you to a survey that will take approximately 30-45 minutes to complete

If you are interested in participating in this research project and would like to learn more please email Dr. Jen Theule at jen.theule@umanitoba.ca or call 204-474-7417. Please feel free to share this information with anyone else you think might be interested! Recruitment is open until February 8, 2023.

COVID-19, Resilience, and Well-Being in Children with Disabilities - Youth

Are you a youth that identifies as having a disability? You can participate in our research study and share your experiences during the COVID 19 pandemic.

What is this study about?
The COVID 19 pandemic has changed people’s routine and presented unique challenges. We would like to learn from youth with disabilities about any challenges they faced and how they overcame them.

Who can participate?
We are looking for:

  • Youth between the ages of 12 to 21
  • Youth that identify as having a disability
  • Must understand and be able to communicate in English
  • Must have a stable internet connection

What’s involved

  • You will complete an interview and answer questions about your experience during the COVID 19 pandemic and how you overcame any challenges
  • The study is one visit that will take approximately 1 hour

Potential Benefits
We want to learn about the strategies and skills you have used to adjust to changes that came from the pandemic. This may provide other youth with the resources to thrive in similar situations

Potential Risks
Some participants may feel uncomfortable sharing their thoughts and feelings about certain topics. Participants may share whatever they are comfortable with.

Participants will receive a small token of appreciation to thank them for their time.

To ask questions or sign up, please contact Sonya Basarke at: thenovellab@hollandbloorview.ca.

recruitment flyer
COVID-19, Resilience, and Well-Being in Children with Disabilities - Caregivers

Are you a caregiver of youth with a disability?

You can participate in our research study and share your experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic.

What is this study about?

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed people’s routine and presented unique challenges. We would like to learn from caregivers about any challenges they faced and how they overcame them.

Who can participate?

We are looking for

  • Caregivers of youth between the ages of 5to 18
  • Must consider themselves to be one of the primary caregivers of a youth with a disability
  • Must understand and be able to communicate in English
  • Must have a stable internet connection

What’s involved?

  • You will complete an interview and answer questions about your experience during the COVID-19 pandemic and how you overcame any challenges
  • The study is one visit that will take approximately 1 hour

Potential Benefits

We want to learn about the strategies and skills you have used to adjust to the changes and challenges that came from the pandemic. This may provide other families with the resources to thrive that are in similar situations

Potential Risks

Some participants may feel uncomfortable sharing their thoughts and feelings about certain topics. Participants may share whatever they are comfortable with

Participants will receive a small token of appreciation to thank them for their time.

To ask questions or sign up, please contact Sonya Basarke at: thenovellab@hollandbloorview.ca.

recruitment flyer
Parental Decision-Making in Autism

Exploring communication and information processes for parental informed decision-making in the context of autism diagnosis

What is the purpose of the study?
We aim to explore available information provided to parents in conventional healthcare settings after children’s autism diagnosis and parental perceptions of the information in relation to usage in treatment decision-making. Precisely, the goal is to assess the extent to which there is a gap in available information and the information used in decision-making and how parents cope with this gap.

Who can participate?
Parents/caregivers of autistic children diagnosed within a year. We aim to recruit a maximum of 10 participants. Participants will be selected on a first-come/first-serve basis.

What is involved?
Two 30 minutes unstructured interviews (T1 = 6 months post-diagnosis, T2 =9 months post-diagnosis). Interviews will take place during the day at a time convenient for participants between 8 am and 5 pm. Format: Online or In person (depending on Public Health recommendations at the time).

What is the recruitment period?
August 1st – December 31, 2022

Will I be compensated?
Each participant will receive one 40$ Tim Hortons gift card as a thank you for participating in the two interviews.

Who is conducting this study?
This research is being conducted through the University of Ottawa and has been approved by the University’s Office of Research Ethics and Integrity (REG#8008).

Who do I contact to get involved?
To participate, please contact the principal investigator Marie Dominique Antoine by email: md.antoine@uottawa.ca.

Prise de décision parentale dans l’autisme

Exploration des processus de communication et d’information pour la prise de décision éclairée des parents dans le contexte de diagnostic d’autisme

Notre objectif est d’explorer les informations disponibles fournies aux parents dans les établissements de soins de santé conventionnels après le diagnostic d’autisme d’un enfant et les perceptions parentales quant à ces informations par rapport à leur utilisation dans la prise de décision en lien aux traitements. Plus précisément, l’objectif est d’évaluer dans quelle mesure il existe un écart entre les informations disponibles et les informations utilisées dans la prise de décision et comment les parents font face à cet écart.

Qui peut participer ?
Parents/personnes aidants d’enfants autistes diagnostiqués à l’intérieur d’une année. Nous souhaitons recruter un maximum de 10 participants. Les participants seront sélectionnés sur la base du premier arrivé, premier servi.

En quoi consiste l’étude ?
Deux entretiens non structurés de 30 minutes (T1 = 6 mois après le diagnostic, T2 = 9 mois après le diagnostic). Les entretiens auront lieu dans la journée, à un moment qui convient aux participants, entre 8 heures et 17 heures. Format : En ligne ou en personne (selon les recommandations de la Santé Publique lors de l’entretien).

Quelle est la période de recrutement ?
1er Août au 31 décembre 2022.

Est-ce que je serai rémunéré ?
Chaque participant recevra une carte-cadeau Tim Hortons de 40 $ en guise de remerciement pour sa participation aux deux entrevues.

Qui mène cette étude?
Cette recherche est menée par l’Université d’Ottawa et a été approuvée par le Bureau d’éthique et d’intégrité de la recherche de l’Université (REG#8008).

Qui dois-je contacter pour participer ?
Pour participer, veuillez contacter la chercheure principale Marie Dominique Antoine par courriel à md.antoine@uottawa.ca.

Preparing for the Transition to Adulthood Research Study - Autistic High School Students

Autistic high schoolers (Grade 9-12) wanted for online interview about their experience preparing to transition into adulthood.

This research is hosted through the University of New Brunswick. Participants are eligible if they are an autistic person in high school in Canada OR if they are a parent/caregiver of an autistic child in high school in Canada. Parents and children do not both have to participate to be eligible (i.e., a parent can participate if their child chooses not to and vice versa).

Participation will involve completing a semi-structured interview (~1hr) about the transition out of high school, including strengths already present and hopes for how the transition could look in an ideal world. Participants are eligible to be entered a draw for one of five $25 Visa gift card.

Participants interested in learning more can email jbest1@unb.ca for more information. Note that emailing does not oblige you to participate.

This project has been approved by the research ethics board at the university of New Brunswick and is on file REB# 2022-173.

Preparing for the Transition to Adulthood Research Study - Parents of an Autistic High School Student

Parents of autistic high schoolers (Grade 9-12) wanted for online interview about their child’s experience preparing to transition into adulthood.

This research is hosted through the University of New Brunswick. Participants are eligible if they are an autistic person in high school in Canada OR if they are a parent/caregiver of an autistic child in high school in Canada. Parents and children do not both have to participate to be eligible (i.e., a parent can participate if their child chooses not to and vice versa).

Participation will involve completing a semi-structured interview (~1hr) about the transition out of high school, including strengths already present and hopes for how the transition could look in an ideal world. Participants are eligible to be entered a draw for one of five $25 Visa gift card.

Participants interested in learning more can email jbest1@unb.ca for more information. Note that emailing does not oblige you to participate.

This project has been approved by the research ethics board at the university of New Brunswick and is on file REB# 2022-173.

Evaluation of Services for Autistic Adults in Peterborough, ON

Evaluation of Services for Autistic Adults in Peterborough Ontario

The purpose of this study is to explore the different types of services available for autistic adults in Peterborough Ontario. The study aims to highlight the services that are being used by autistic adults in Peterborough, which services work best, and if there are any improvements that can be made to existing services to make sure autistic adults in Peterborough are getting their service needs met.

Who can participate?

Service providers at an organization assisting autistic adults in Peterborough, or autistic adults/caregivers of autistic adults (18 years old or older) using the services of an organization assisting autistic adults in Peterborough are eligible to participate. If you choose to participate in this study, your identity will not be made known to the service organization you are referring to, and your identity will remain anonymous throughout the final report.

What’s involved?

One interview in a location of your choosing (Zoom, public library...). The interview should take approximately 30 minutes to an hour. For service providers, the interview will focus on the types of services you provide to autistic adults in Peterborough, which services are most used by autistic adults in Peterborough, and if you think there are any improvements that can be made to your services to best meet the needs of autistic adults in Peterborough. For autistic adults/caregivers, the interview will focus on focus on the types of services you use at an organization in Peterborough, what you like/dislike about these services, and if you think there are any improvements that can be made to these services to best meet your needs.

Who is conducting this study?

This study is being conducted through Trent University and has been approved by the Trent University Research Ethics Board (REB #28286).

What is the recruitment period?

Interviews will take place in the month of January 2023.

Who do I contact to get involved?

If you have any questions about this study or are interested in participating, please contact haileypower@trentu.ca.

recruitment poster
Knowledge, Perceptions and Use of Psychedelics Online Survey

Knowledge, Perceptions, and Use of Psychedelics among intellectually able adults with autism spectrum condition (ASC): An online survey. 

What do you think about psychedelics? Have you ever tried them? Fill out a survey to tell us!

Help us find out: 

  • What do you know about psychedelics and their effects?
  • How beneficial or harmful do you think they are for your mental and physical health?
  • Have you ever tried psychedelics, and if not, are you willing to try them in the future?
  • If you have tried psychedelics in the past, how do you evaluate your experience?

Eligibility

  • Above 18 years old
  • Self-identified or diagnosed ASC
  • Fluent in English

We are a group of researchers from Azrieli Adult Neurodevelopmental Centre at Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Canada and University of Toronto, Canada. We are investigating the perception and experiences of psychedelics in autistic adults. If you are autistic, fluent in English, and aged above 18 years, we want to hear about your story. To fill out the survey please go to: https://is.gd/Psychedelics_Autism 

Contact:

Hsiang-Yuan.Lin@camh.ca or sahba.afsharnia@mail.utoronto.ca

poster with information on a survey about the  Knowledge, Perceptions, and Use of Psychedelics among autistic adults