Improving the health and healthcare of people with neurodevelopmental disabilities and their families

The Azrieli Adult Neurodevelopmental Centre at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health works to improve the health and mental health of adults with neurodevelopmental disabilities (NDD) and their families through research, clinical innovation, education and training, and knowledge exchange. Despite growing recognition of their needs, there remains limited information on effective models of care for this population. Our current work focuses on two key challenges. The first is how to deliver optimal primary care for adults with NDD. Research has shown that this population is less likely to receive high-quality primary care, and more evidence is needed on which primary care funding and delivery models in Ontario are associated with better outcomes. The second challenge is how to support the brain health of people with NDD and their families as they age. Thanks to medical advances and improved social supports, people with NDD are living longer than ever before, yet little is known about how best to support them in later life. Additionally, individuals with NDD, in particular those with Down syndrome, face a higher risk of developing dementia, but they are often excluded from mainstream dementia initiatives. This project will contribute to developing and evaluating effective models of care, while supporting knowledge translation with patients, families, and providers.

Faculty Supervisor:

Lori Ross;Jennifer Brooks

Student:

Partner:

Centre for Addiction and Mental Health

Discipline:

Sociology

Sector:

Health and Related Sciences & Technology; Professional, scientific and technical services

University:

University of Toronto

Program: