This year's Crosstalk was moderated by Dr. Shauna Kingsnorth, Evidence to Care Lead within the Teaching and Learning Institute and Clinical Study Investigator in the BRI.
The Crosstalk provided an interesting interplay of perspectives – Dr. Barb Gibson Dr. Steve Ryan spoke about defining technologies and the concept of social inclusion, as well as the state of research into the impact of technology on the social experience.
Gail Teachman, the clinician panelist, focused on the tension within the clinician’s role – searching for new and improved technologies that might open a new avenue of communication or social participation, but weighing these options against the learning curve and additional burden that a new technology might place on a child and their family.
Donna Cappelli, our parent panelist, weighed in on each of the other perspectives, and spoke about the advantages that her son’s technologies have provided, but also echoed the clinician’s perspective that new technologies can introduce new challenges and often take years of effort and modification to generate a useful solution.
Crosstalk Panelists:
Dr. Barb Gibson (Researcher) – Dr. Gibson is a Senior Scientist in the Bloorview Research Institute, conducting participation & inclusion research. Dr. Gibson’s area of focus is investigating and improving quality of life, community participation and social inclusion for children and adults with disabilities.
Dr. Steve Ryan (Researcher) – Dr. Ryan is a Senior Scientist in the Bloorview Research Institute, conducting innovation and participation & inclusion research. Some of his areas of interest including assistive devices, particularly the roles of seating, mobility and augmentative and alternative communication technologies.
Gail Teachman (Clinician) – Gail Teachman is an occupational therapist who worked at Holland Bloorview for over 20 years. She is currently a doctoral student at University of Toronto and a Vanier Canada Graduate Scholar.
Donna Cappelli (Parent) –Donna Cappelli is a pharmacist, a wife and a mother to two teenage boys
