Grant: Dissemination Events - PA: Musculoskeletal Hlth, Arthritis, Skin & Oral Health

Participation in leisure activities has undisputed physical and mental health benefits. Children and youth with physical disabilities such as cerebral palsy, arthritis or developmental coordination disorder are less engaged in leisure activities when compared to peers, and activities tend to be more passive and home-based. Many barriers to participation, such as accessibility, family and peer support and availability of adapted programs are potentially modifiable. Moreover, families are not adequately informed of existing resources and programs supported by policies in local communities. We and others have conducted recent studies on leisure participation in children and youth with physical challenges and factors that influence engagement. We propose to organize two workshops in Quebec and Ontario, to translate these research findings to key stakeholders. Participants will include families, individuals with physical disabilities, health care providers, researchers, grassroots organizations and policymakers. As part of this dissemination event, stakeholders will interact with the aim of collectively formulating ideas to overcome barriers to participation. In addition to the workshop event, a short YouTube video on the challenges and successes of engagement in leisure activities for children with physical limitations will be made, as a dissemination strategy to the public at large. We will create an App for families to locate resources and programs that support participation. Finally, this activity will provide the impetus to create a network (CHILD Leisure-Net) to partner the various stakeholders to enhance knowledge sharing, participatory research and development of new programs and policies that promote leisure participation. A diverse and committed team of stakeholders has been assembled with the goal of enhancing active, healthy lifestyles to promote the well-being of children and youth with chronic, lifelong musculoskeletal and other physical disabilities.