Research Participation Opportunities

What is the study about?

• Researchers at the University of Toronto want to know what made it harder or easier to get health care services for your children, how these experiences have impacted both you and your children, and what you think should change about child health care for mothers with disabilities and their families.

• What you share will help us create tailored supports for mothers with disabilities and their families.

You may be able to participate if you:

• Are 18 years or older

• Identify or may be identified as having a disability (e.g., physical disability, hearing loss, vision loss, developmental disability)
• Have a child or children up to 10 years of age living with you
• Live and receive health care in Ontario

How will the study work?

• You will be asked to do a 1-hour interview about your experiences accessing health care for your children.

• The interview will be done by telephone or Zoom video chat with researchers at a time that works for you.
• You can do the study, or not do the study. The choice you make will not impact any of the services you use now or later.
• If you need any supports or accommodations to participate, these will be provided.
• For participating, you will receive a $50 gift card to thank you for your time.

Contact us to participate

• You can email wiresearch.utsc@utoronto.ca or call 289-804-6101

This study has been reviewed and approved by the University of Toronto Research Ethics Board [#42970] and is funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.

The University of Exeter is hosting a research study investigating the relationship between social camouflaging ('masking'), fatigue, and wellbeing in autistic people aged 16 years and above. The study is inviting young people (aged 16 to 25 years) who are diagnosed with autism, or self-identify as autistic, to take part. The study also welcomes autistic people with co-occurring conditions, such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). The study involves a survey using Microsoft Forms. The survey will ask about experiences of masking, autistic traits, sleep, fatigue, symptoms of low mood, symptoms of social anxiety,  symptoms of anxiety, and well-being. Additionally, there will be an open text box where additional thoughts can be expressed about experiences with masking and fatigue.

As a token of our thanks for participating in this study, participants will have the option to provide their email address through another survey to enter a prize draw to win one of five £10 Amazon vouchers.

The lead researcher of this study is Christophe El Haber. Christophe El Haber is an MSc Clinical Psychology student at the University of Exeter and can be contacted at ce425@exeter.ac.uk. The other researcher is Dr Anna Adlam, who is supervising the research and can be contacted at a.r.adlam@exeter.ac.uk.

Dear Black Youths (Students & Professionals),

We seek participants for a study involving individuals who identify as Black and have one or more disabilities. Participation in our research consists of 45-60-minute individual interviews, and all information disclosed during the interviews will be kept confidential.

You would be compensated $50 for the interview for your time immediately following your participation. These interviews will be conducted in English or French, depending on your preference.

Therefore, it would be our pleasure to interview you if you meet the following selection criteria:

• aged between 18 and 35 years old;
• self-identify as Black; 
• self-identify as having a disability OR had an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) in high school;
• completed high school in Canada 

Recruitment is currently ongoing and will end as soon as the target number of participants is reached. If you are interested in participating, please scan the QR code on the attached poster OR follow this link below to tell us how to contact you. 

EN: https://www.surveymonkey.ca/r/KHBTMYF

FR: https://www.surveymonkey.ca/r/K6VZVFX

The Autism, Stress and Anxiety Program (ASAP Lab) at UBC is conducting a study that aims to understand how the ability to make sense of others' thoughts, feelings and intentions (i.e., perspective-taking) relates to mental health and social well-being among autistic young adults. We often hear from autistic youth and young adults in our clinical and research work that, for some, their experience of "missing the social script" and struggling to understand others' social cues (particularly neurotypical peers, friends and family) has led them to feel distressed, confused, and anxious in social situations. Through this study, we want to see whether autistic young adults with specific perspective-taking styles (e.g., tending to "overinterpret" social situations, or interpret them more negatively) are more likely to experience social distress and may benefit from more tailored mental health supports

Institution hosting the research, study purpose/research question, participant eligibility, what participation will involve, whether compensation is provided

• Institution - University of British Columbia, Vancouver Campus
• Study purpose/RQ - We hope that this study will help us better understand how mental health challenges, particularly social anxiety, develop and persist in autistic adults, and how to best support them in coping with these challenges and forming positive social connections. For a substantial minority of autistic individuals (~30%), evidence-based therapies are not effective, possibly because therapy is not "one size fits all" and more tailored approaches are needed. Thus, investigating how perspective-taking skills impact mental health in autistic young adults is an important step towards ensuring more effective interventions.
• Eligibility:
  • (1) fluent in English
  • (2) ages 18 - 30 years
  • (3) diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (diagnosed by or before the age of 18)
  • (4) able to attend on-site session at UBC Vancouver Campus OR attend an online session via Zoom
  • What participation will involve:
    • Participating in our study involves completing questionnaires online at home and one visit to our lab at UBC (if you live in the Lower Mainland) OR one remote study visit held via Zoom.
    • Part 1 (At home session): Approximately 5 days prior to your scheduled in-person or online study visit, you will be asked to complete some questionnaires. This will take about 30-45 minutes.  
    • Part 2 (UBC or Zoom visit): Your in-person or online study visit will take about 2-3 hours, and it involves completing some questionnaires and cognitive tasks
    • Participants completing the study in-person will be asked to participate in an interview designed to assess different ways of thinking, communicating, and interacting that are associated with the autism spectrum. This task will take an additional 45-60 minutes.
    • Compensation:

Participants will receive $15 per hour via Amazon Gift Card for completing in-person and online sessions.

Contact Information:

socialstudy@psych.ubc.ca

asap.psych@ubc.ca

604-822-6069

Participants needed for a study to better understand the experience of menses and menstruation for females with an intellectual or developmental disability specifically, Autism, ADHD or intellectual disability.

For more information, click the link below to view the recruitment flyer. 

We are looking for approximately 500 individuals to take part in a study that aims to better understand the pathway they followed while trying to obtain an autism diagnosis in Canada. If you have, or have attempted to obtain, an autism diagnosis in Canada, or are a parent
of children who has, or has attempted to, obtain an autism diagnosis for their child in Canada we would like to learn more about your experience.

If you are interested, 18+ years of age, and agree to participate you will be asked to provide information about when you first suspected you and/or your child might be autistic, the steps you took trying to obtain a diagnosis, resources that were helpful and unhelpful, as well as provide information about your and/or your child's autistic traits.

Information will be gathered through a secure online survey that takes 15-45 minutes (depending on the length of your responses) to complete. Upon completion, you will be entered into a draw for a $50 gift card.

For more information about this study, or to volunteer for this study, please contact:
Dr. Nichole Scheerer, diagnosispathways@gmail.com

We are looking for autistic and non-autistic adults to take part in our study exploring differences in analytic thinking styles. We hope to use this information to frame autistic differences as strengths rather than deficits.

• Who can take part? English speaking autistic and non-autistic adults aged 18 and above.
• How long is the survey? The survey takes about 30 minutes to complete.
• How can I take part? Please copy and paste the link below into your browser: https://schulich.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_57O2Zt9QCAjfUbk
• Any questions?  E-mail lhartman@schulich.yorku.ca. 

This research has received ethics review and approval by the Human Participants Review Sub-Committee, York University’s Ethics Review Board and conforms to the standards of the Canadian Tri-Council Research Ethics guidelines.

Lorne Hartman PhD

Schulich School of Business

York University

The extensive literature on autism has primarily focused on the deficits of autistic characteristics, potentially perpetuating stigma towards autism. In response, our aim is to replicate a study demonstrating superior skills in autism to explore similarities with their family members and contribute to breaking the stigma surrounding them. This study, to be conducted at McMaster University, aims to explore the strengths of parental dyads (both biological mother and father of a child) with and without a familial history of autism. For instance, parents who have a child with autism, or have a family member diagnosed with autism such as siblings or uncles, and those who don't, will serve as the control group. Participants will undergo testing with the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS) and the Autism Quotient (AQ) questionnaire, followed by an experimental session utilizing the Useful Field of View task (UFOV) to assess cognitive performance in extracting visual information.

The study's duration is approximately 1 hour for the WAIS and 30 minutes for the experimental task and questionnaire. Each participant will receive compensation of CAD$15, with dyads receiving CAD$30 in total (CAD$15 for each parent). While there are no specific regional restrictions, accessibility favors Hamilton and McMaster for participants. Interested individuals can contact us via email at bapstudies@gmail.com.

Participants Required for Research Study

A research project (undertaken by Ally Frid) requires special education teachers, and teachers who work with children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) from across Ontario, for a research study about their experience working with children with ASD who use augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) devices in the classroom, before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study has been reviewed for ethical compliance by the Queen’s University General Research Ethics Board. Contact Ally Frid or Dr. Thomas Abrams for more details.

My name is Angeline Moshonas, and I am a master's student in Social Work at the University of Ottawa. My research thesis focuses on how social workers can intervene with autistic children and adolescents to promote their mental health. To achieve this, I plan to conduct individual interviews with young adults on the autism spectrum, exploring their subjective experiences related to mental health during childhood and adolescence. The goal is to formulate concrete recommendations to improve social work practices.  

As such, I am looking for 3 to 5 participants who meet the following criteria: aged between 18 and 25, have a diagnostic of Autism Spectrum Disorder, reside in Ontario, and have experienced difficulties related to mental health during childhood and/or adolescence.  

Participation involves an online individual interview of approximately 60 minutes. During these interviews, participants will have the opportunity to share their experiences related to mental health during their childhood and adolescence.  

Your valuable collaboration would play a crucial role in the success of this research.  

Please send me an email at amosh037@uottawa.ca if you have any questions of if you are interested in participating. 

******************

Je m’appelle Angeline Moshonas, je suis une étudiante à la maîtrise en travail social à l'Université d'Ottawa. Je vous contacte afin de solliciter votre précieuse collaboration pour un projet de recherche qui me tient particulièrement à cœur.  

Mon mémoire de recherche porte sur la manière dont les travailleurs sociaux peuvent intervenir auprès des enfants et adolescents autistes afin de favoriser leur santé mentale. Pour ce faire, je prévois réaliser des entrevues individuelles avec de jeunes adultes autistes, afin d'explorer leurs expériences subjectives liées à la santé mentale pendant leur enfance et adolescence. L'objectif final est de formuler des recommandations concrètes pour améliorer les pratiques en travail social.  

Conséquemment, je suis à la recherche de 3 à 5 participants répondant aux critères suivants :  être âgés de 18 à 25 ans,  avoir un diagnostique du trouble du spectre de l’autisme, résider en Ontario,  et avoir vécu des difficultés en lien avec la santé mentale lors de l'enfance et/ou l'adolescence. 

La participation implique une entrevue individuelle virtuelle d'environ 60 minutes. Durant ces entrevues, les participants auront l'opportunité de partager leur vécu en lien avec la santé mentale pendant leur enfance et adolescence.    

Votre collaboration précieuse jouerait un rôle déterminant dans la réussite de cette recherche.  

SVP m'envoyer un courriel à amosh037@uottwa.ca si vous avez des questions ou si vous aimeriez participer à cette recherche. 

Researchers from Western University are recruiting participants for our S3 research summer camp. Briefly, the study examines science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) skills, social skills, and friendship formation in youth ages 9-14 with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities in an inclusive informal learning environment, called the S3 Camp.  

Participant selection is based on meeting the following criteria (a) between the ages of 9 and 14 and; (b) have an interest in participating in the camp. Participants with intellectual and developmental disabilities must also have a diagnosis of IDD from a regulated health professional (e.g., pediatricians, psychologists). 

During the study, participants attend the camp (taking place at Western University) during the week of July 8th to 12th or July 15th to 19th, Monday to Friday, 9 am to 4 pm. Children will collaboratively work with other children who are about the same age on different kinds of STEM activities including computer coding and robotics activities. Children will be taught daily social skills lessons involving communicating and interacting with others. They will also receive short lessons on disability awareness. Caregivers and children will attend a 1-hour and 25-minute baseline assessment, and a 45-minute post-assessment. If they are in the waitlist-control first group, they will conduct an additional 45-minute baseline assessment. 

For more information, contact Dr. Nicole Neil, nneil@uwo.ca

Recruitment start date and end date: Start; March 4, 2024. End; June 4, 2024. 

Purpose:

Researchers from the METRE Lab in the Faculty of Science Department of
Psychology, Neuroscience, and Behaviour at McMaster University are
looking for participants to take part in a study on rhythm and time
perception differences in autism.

Participant Requirements:

• 17 to 50 years old
• Have received a clinical diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder
• Have normal or correct-to-normal vision

What Will You Be Doing?

• Coming in to the lab at McMaster University for a 90 minute study.
• Filling out questionnaires
• Tapping along to a metronome using your finger

HOW CAN I PARTICIPATE?

If you are interested in participating, please visit the survey:
https://forms.office.com/r/kLqDqmHts9?origin=lprLink

About the study:
Later diagnosis of autism for women can have an impact on their experiences of mental health. This study aims to develop and evaluate a virtual peer-led program to provide post-diagnostic supports and improve the mental well-being of autistic women

What does participation involve?

• Take part in a group virtual peer support program once/week for 1.5hours, over 8 weeks
• Complete surveys
• Participate in an individual interview about your experience in the program

Do you need support to participate?
We can work together to plan for support that you need to take part in this study
Compensation will be provided

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

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.  

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

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.

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.  

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

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

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

[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/

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/

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.

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 

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
 

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.

--

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.

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

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!

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).

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).

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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