Welcome
Promoting a Future of Inclusive Healthy Lifestyles for Everyone
The ProFILE Lab is part of the Bloorview Research Institute at Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, and is led by Dr. Amy McPherson, Senior Scientist at Holland Bloorview and Associate Professor at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health and Rehabilitation Sciences Institute at the University of Toronto. Amy is a Chartered member of the British Psychological Society, Division of Health Psychology. She is also a psychotherapy trainee.
The work conducted in the ProFILE Lab addresses timely research questions around the promotion of the health and wellness of children with disabilities and long-term conditions. Weight management, body diversity, sexuality, mental health, and disordered eating are priority areas of investigation. The lab regularly involves family stakeholders in research study teams to ensure research is timely and relevant.
To learn more about our research projects or to become involved in a study, visit our Research page.
Mission
To support children and young people with disabilities live their healthiest life - whatever health means to them. No topic is taboo.
Priority areas of investigation include:
- Weight-related communication: Developing best practices in weight-related communication; understanding consultation priorities for parents, children and health care professionals; and developing tools to assist in positive communications around weight and health with children and families.
- Strengths-based interventions: Implementing interventions such as solution-focused coaching to foster healthy lifestyles in children and young people with disabilities.
- Sexuality: Exploring how healthcare professionals can best discuss sexuality with children and young people with disabilities and developing resources.
- Mental health: Understanding how mental health and wellness can best be discussed with children and young people with disabilities
- Wellness: Integrating wellness goals into personalized care pathways for children and youth with disabilities; integrating wellness promotion into Special Olympic programs through the development of a principles- focused evaluation framework.
