UOIT assistant professor named research associate at Grandview Children's Centre

Oshawa, ON - A common goal to conduct research that will positively impact the lives of children and youth with disabilities has resulted in a research and academic partnership between the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT) and Grandview Children's Centre. Dr. Meghann Lloyd, an assistant professor in the Faculty of Health Sciences, has also been named a research associate at the centre.

Dr. Lloyd's research takes a multidisciplinary approach to investigating physical activity and motor development of infants and young children with and without disabilities. The primary focus of her research is exploring the reciprocal relationship between motor development and physical activity in children with and without disabilities. She has studied the physical activity, motor development, self-regulated learning, and inclusion strategies for children with autism spectrum disorders, developmental co-ordination disorder, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome and children with typical development. While at the Healthy Active Living and Obesity (HALO) Research Group her work was funded by Canadian Institutes of Health Research and focused on developing a comprehensive assessment tool of physical literacy. Dr. Lloyd is currently funded by Special Olympics Canada to investigate the relationship between physical activity and fundamental motor skills in six- to 10-year-old children with and without Down syndrome.

"We are very excited about this partnership and on behalf of UOIT, I would like to congratulate Dr. Lloyd on her appointment," said Dr. Mary Bluechardt, dean, Faculty of Health Sciences. "Working with Grandview we will be able to advance much needed research in the area of children with disabilities while providing our students with exceptional hands-on experience."

Through this partnership Grandview will increase its clinical research capacity and UOIT will be able to collaborate with the clinicians to enhance clinical services and explore current best practices. UOIT will have increased access to research participants, clinical programs and staff, space to conduct research, and together they will work to produce cutting-edge scientific papers that will be submitted to peer-reviewed journals.

"We are delighted about this exciting partnership with UOIT and pleased that Dr. Lloyd has accepted the position of research associate," said Vicky Earle, executive director, Grandview Children's Centre. "We believe that this important relationship will provide Grandview with the opportunity to increase our impact on the well-being of children and youth with special needs".

This collaboration will connect Grandview to experienced researchers who can work together with clinicians and their clients, a research ethics board, statistical support and expertise with grant application processes.

"Grandview is a pillar in the community for children with disabilities," said Dr. Lloyd. "I am looking forward to working with them and to having the opportunity to give back to the community."

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