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Child Disability

Improving the lives of children with a disability and their families sits at the core of our team.

Around 1 in 10 children have a disability that impacts on their ability to function in the same way as other children.

Sometimes they are born with these disabilities, sometimes they develop after birth, and sometimes they are caused by illness or injury. There are many types of disability, including intellectual, neurological, physical, sensory, and psychological, which can influence how the child thinks, behaves, and develops skills.

Disabilities can create many barriers for children and their families, which can significantly alter their quality of life.

Our vision is that all children impacted by disability and their families will live their best lives. We will support this vision by conducting an evidence- and consumer-informed program of research, underpinned by excellence in study design, analysis, and reporting.

To achieve this vision, we will:

  1. Engage with children with disability and their families across all walks of life to better understand their needs,
  2. Prevent or reduce disability and ensure that our research helps support meaningful and impactful changes,
  3. Engage key stakeholders to improve access to services and influence policy and practice.
  4. Collaborate with the community, health professionals, service providers, researchers, and policy makers.

Team leader

Professor Jenny Downs
Professor Jenny Downs

BApplSci (physio) MSc PhD

Head, Child Disability

Team members (16)

Dr Emma Glasson
Dr Emma Glasson

BPsych BSc (Hons) PhD

Senior Research Fellow

Senior Research Officer

Jacinta Saldaris
Jacinta Saldaris

BSc (Hons), PhD

Senior Research Officer, Child Disability

Kate Dorozenko
Kate Dorozenko

B Psych (First Class Honours), PhD (Psychology)

Senior Research Officer

Senior Research Fellow

Jess Keeley
Jess Keeley

BPsych(Hons), PhD (Psychology)

Research Officer

Peter Jacoby
Peter Jacoby

BA (Hons) MSc

Biostatistician

Clinical Associate Professor Raewyn Mutch
Clinical Associate Professor Raewyn Mutch

MBChB., DipRACOG., Cert.HPRT, FRACP., PhD

Research Officer

Carolyn Drummond
Carolyn Drummond

B. App Sci (Physio.)

Research Officer

Mohammed Junaid
Mohammed Junaid

BDS, MDS, MFDS RCPS (Glasg.), DDPH RCS (Eng)

Honorary Team Member

Dr Kingsley Wong
Dr Kingsley Wong

MBBS, MPH, MMedStat

Research Officer

Caitlin Gray
Caitlin Gray

BPsych MPH PhD Candidate

Research Assistant and Student

Reports and Findings

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Movement difficulties in children with neurodevelopmental disorders: considering a transdiagnostic approach to classification

Children with neurodevelopmental disorders often experience difficulties in acquiring and executing movement skills. Although the motor profiles of neurodivergent children frequently overlap, rigid conceptual distinctions between diagnostic labels have been imposed by traditional categorical approaches to taxonomy. An alternative transdiagnostic approach is proposed to better represent the similarities between presentations.

Can Respiratory Hospital Admissions in Children with Cerebral Palsy Be Reduced? A Feasibility Randomized Controlled Trial (RESP-ACT)

To investigate the feasibility of implementing recommendations of the consensus statement for the Prevention and Management of Respiratory Disease in children with severe cerebral palsy (CP) via RESPiratory hospital Admissions in children with cerebral palsy: a feasibility randomized Controlled Trial (RESP-ACT).

Evaluating the Introduction of Humidified High-Flow Nasal Cannula Therapy Into an Australian Aeromedical Service Within a Paediatric Population: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Humidified high flow (HHF) oxygen is increasingly used to treat acute respiratory illnesses in children; however, use during aeromedical transfer is not well described. This was a retrospective cohort study. Children who were transferred from rural locations and were initiated on HHF prior to transfer between 1 January 2015 and 31 December 2018 were identified from the Royal Flying Doctors Service database. Clinical variables prior to transfer, during flight and after transfer were collected from medical records and flight records. 

Online Health Literacy Resources for People With Intellectual Disability: A Grey Literature Scoping Review

People with intellectual disability experience higher rates of physical and mental health problems than those without intellectual disability. Health literacy includes accessing, understanding, appraising and applying health information. Improving health literacy is associated with better health outcomes. The internet is a primary source of health information for many people. This study aimed to evaluate available online health resources for people with intellectual disability and their families to understand information gaps.

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