Grant: DRA : Canada Graduate Research Scholarship - Doctoral Program (CGRS D)

Teenagers need to develop independence, skills, and friendships to transition to adulthood. However, Canadian youth with disabilities face barriers that make this harder, leading to isolation and mental health challenges. While group programs can help, very few target teenagers, and none use project-based approaches where youth pursue meaningful goals through their own interests. Video games offer a powerful but underexplored opportunity for building confidence and social connections. Most teens with disabilities (81%) play video games, but usually on their own. In our study with 40 youth at Montreal's Technothèque-Canada's only interactive gaming lab for pediatric rehabilitation-participants said gaming helped them feel more confident and connected with peers. Youth took charge by teaching therapists about technology and played together with peers who had different disabilities. Based on this experience, we propose developing and testing a new 8-week project-based group program where teens with disabilities use gaming as a starting point for collaborative projects. For example, they might create accessibility gaming vlogs, design 3D-printed controllers, or develop tutorials for other players with disabilities. Working in small groups, participants will choose projects that interest them while building independence, skills, and friendships. We will first review existing research and gather input from teens and clinicians about what makes programs successful. Then we'll test our program with 15-18 youth, measuring changes in their confidence, independence, and social connections. This innovative approach transforms teens' gaming interests into opportunities for empowerment and skill development. Study results will help us understand how to expand and replicate the intervention at other centres and schools, including evaluating its potential to improve longer-term outcomes like employment and quality of life for youth with disabilities across Canada.