for Canadian neurodiverse children to receive habilitation and rehabilitation services; Determine the current wait times for Physical Therapy (PT), Occupational Therapy (OT), and Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) services at Grandview Kids from 2020 to 2023; and Explore the association between age, sex, residential location, and referral source and wait times for Physical Therapy (PT), Occupational Therapy (OT), and Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) services at Grandview Kids from 2020 to 2023.
Simran Walia, BHSc
IDRR Student
Institution: Ontario Tech University
Project title: Exploring Wait Times for Pediatric Habilitation and Rehabilitation Services for Children who are Neurodiverse in Durham, Ontario
Project background: Grandview Children’s Centre (Grandview Kids) is the sole Ministry-funded Children’s Treatment Centre (CTC) in Durham Region, Ontario. Grandview provides essential rehabilitation and habilitation services, including physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and speech-language pathology, to children with neurodiverse conditions. Due to the rising population and increased demand, wait times for these services have become a significant challenge. Understanding factors associated with wait times is crucial to addressing challenges in accessing pediatric rehabilitation and habilitation services.
Project objectives: The current state of pediatric habilitation and rehabilitation has critical gaps, particularly in early and timely interventions for children who are neurodiverse. My thesis will include two studies: Study 1) a scoping review of the literature, and Study 2) a historical cohort study. Specifically, I will: Synthesize the available literature on the duration of and factors associated with wait times
Supervisor: Dr. Pierre Côté / Co-supervisor: Dr. Heather Shearer