About Us
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
Adrienne Perry, PhD, CPsych, BCBA, is the Principal Investigator for the GO4KIDDS project. She is an established researcher and clinician, the Director of Clinical Training for the CPA-accredited Clinical-Developmental Graduate Programme with the Department of Psychology at York University and is on the Council of the College of Psychologists of Ontario. She has extensive research experience with children with developmental disabilities and their families, particularly children with autism. Dr. Perry has been a consulting psychologist for various agencies including Treatment, Research and Education for Autism and Developmental Disorders (TRE-ADD), the Toronto Partnership for Autism Services (TPAS) and the Ministry of Child and Youth Services. Her interests include clinical practice, policy work, student and professional training, as well as professional service. Dr. Perry will oversee all aspects of the program of research. In addition, she will act as a co-lead for the “Report Card” Survey and the Family Quality of Life project.
CO-PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATORS
James Bebko, PhD, CPsych, is a professor in the Department of Psychology at York University, as well as a Registered Psychologist in private practice. He has a long-standing commitment to the field of autism and developmental disabilities, having worked with children, adolescents and families in the field for more than 25 years. He has been a consulting psychologist for various community agencies, providing diagnostic, assessment and consultative services directly to families. His research focuses on the interface between language and cognition in children with ASDs in the processing of information. Dr. Bebko will act as a co-lead for the Social Inclusion study.
Patricia Minnes, PhD, CPsych, is a professor in the Department of Psychology and cross appointed in the Departments of Psychiatry and Rehabilitation Therapy at Queen's University. She is a Clinical Psychologist whose research and practice focus on inclusion and health needs of children and adults with developmental disabilities, and well-being of families. She has published widely on these and related topics and is a longstanding mentor of students and clinicians in the field of developmental disabilities. She is also a consulting psychologist and member of an interprofessional team serving individuals with developmental disabilities and mental health/behavioural challenges and their families. Dr. Minnes will contribute primarily to the Social Inclusion study in addition her involvement in the “Report Card” Survey and the Family Quality of Life study.
Jonathan Weiss, PhD, CPsych, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at York University as well as a Registered Psychologist. His research focuses on the prevention and treatment of mental health problems in people with autism spectrum disorders and/or intellectual disabilities across the lifespan. He conducts studies into how individuals with developmental disabilities access mental health care in Ontario, and is interested in their health service needs, their emergency service use, and their experiences of psychiatric crisis. Dr. Weiss will act as a co-lead for both the “Report Card” survey as well as the Health and Service System project.
CO-APPLICANTS
Nicholas Barrowman, PhD, is the Senior Statistician for the Clinical Research Unit at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) Research Institute. His areas of expertise include biostatistics, meta-analysis, applied statistics and statistical analysis. He will be an important resource to all of the projects, and will contribute to the overall direction of the program of research.
Rosemary Condillac, PhD, CPsych, is an Assistant Professor in the Centre for Applied Disability Studies at Brock University, and serves as consulting psychologist to a number of clinical services for people with Developmental Disabilities. She has been working in the field of disabilities for over 20 years, in a variety of capacities. Her research focuses on the assessment and treatment of problem behaviour in children and adults with developmental disabilities, service access and prioritization for people with complex needs, treatment adherence, and the impact of de-institutionalization on former residents, their families and communities. She will act as a co-lead for the Health and Service System project.
Jennifer Dunn Geier, PhD, CPsych is the Clinical Director for the Autism Intervention Program - Eastern Region and an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Psychology at both Carleton University and the University of Ottawa. Her research interests include assessment and treatment of children with autism and other developmental disabilities. She will continue to provide valuable input for the “Report Card” study and other projects as needed.
Barry Isaacs, PhD, is the Director of Research and Evaluation at Surrey Place Centre in Toronto. His research interests include family quality of life, medical students’ attitudes towards individuals with developmental disabilities, and service outcomes. His work has highlighted the need for professional education in developmental disabilities and the development of improved parent-professional partnerships. He will act as a co-lead for the Family Quality of Life study.
Tracie Lindblad, M.Sc., M.Ed., Reg. CASLPO, is a Speech-Language Pathologist in private practice, and the Director of the Child Development Centre of Oakville and Clinical Director of Four Point Intervention Strategies, Inc. She has a special interest in serving children with autism and other related Pervasive Developmental Disorders. She has extensive experience with assessment, program design, and implementation of various intervention strategies for children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. She is a member of the Health and Service System team and will provide valuable input for other projects as needed.
Alvin Loh, MD, FRCP(C), is a Developmental Pediatrician specializing in developmental disabilities and autism at Surrey Place Centre. As one of the lead investigators of the Autism Treatment Network in Toronto, he has extensive research and clinical experience working in interdisciplinary contexts at the Hospital for Sick Children, Bloorview Kids Rehab, and Surrey Place Centre, He is a member of the Health and Service System team, and will contribute primarily to this study, as well as other projects as needed.
Rob Nicolson, MD, FRCP(C), is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Western Ontario, as well as a Child Psychiatrist at the Child and Parent Resource Institute (CPRI) in London, Ontario. He is also the Chair of the Division of Developmental Disabilities and co-director of the Autism Centre of Excellence at The University of Western Ontario. His areas of research include the investigation of the behavioural and cognitive features of autism and brain abnormalities associated with autism and intellectual disabilities. He is a member of the Health and Service System team, and will contribute primarily to this study, as well as other projects as needed.
Helen Flanagan, MA, is a Doctoral Student in the Department of Psychology at York University, currently on internship at the IWK Hospital in Halifax, NS. Her areas of interest and expertise include community effectiveness research, autism and developmental disorders, and the measurement of treatment quality. She will continue to provide valuable input for the “Report Card” study and other projects as needed.