The ResearchWorks Podcast

Profiling the oral language and psychosocial skills of young people attending Flexible Learning Programs. Dr Emily Jackson https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41432037/

Swimming for Children with disability: experiences of rehabilitation and swimming professionals in Australia. Karen Graham, Katarina Ostojic, Leanne Johnston ,Iain Dutia, Elizabeth Barnes-Keoghan and Georgina L. Clutterbuck Abstract Background Swimming is a common goal for children with disability, and the most popular sport for children in Australia. This study explored swimming and rehabilitation professionals’ perceptions of swimming for Australian children with disability. Methods Rehabilitation and swimming professionals with recent experience working with children with disability completed an online survey. Quantitative data: Binary and Likert-scale questions were analysed descriptively. Qualitative data: Open-ended questions were evaluated using reflexive thematic analysis and mapped to the family of Participation-Related Constructs (fPRC). Results 91 swimming professionals and 55 rehabilitation professionals ($n = 146$) responded. Confidence vs. Knowledge: Most were confident supporting children with disability with swimming goals (rehabilitation = 71.6%, swimming = 73.8%). Most had neutral to very low knowledge of para-swimming eligibility and classification (rehabilitation = 75%, swimming = 77.7%). Themes Identified: 10 themes (33 code groups) covering all core elements of the fPRC were identified. Barriers & Facilitators: Included pool accessibility (physical and sensory), program availability, affordability, acceptability (of content and culture), and having accommodating professionals and programs. Program Goals: Professionals believed swimming programs should develop children’s confidence, water safety, swimming skills, and fitness. Conclusion Rehabilitation and swimming professionals should review existing programs to ensure they meet the needs of children with disability. Further research is needed to create an action plan to improve swimming participation for Australian children with disability. https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/22/11/1633

Activating parents in early childhood intervention: a multi-study examination of the PAIR model as an implementation strategy. This study evaluated the PAIR model as a practical tool for implementing family-centred, relational early childhood intervention. Across three linked studies, they found that while brief training improved practitioners’ knowledge and confidence, sustained adoption and observable practice change were strongest when training was combined with reflective supervision. The research highlights that organisational barriers, particularly short service blocks and limited time for reflection, remain major constraints. It provides timely evidence on what is required to translate relational approaches into consistent, scalable practice that positions parents as primary agents of their child’s development. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/1034912X.2026.2651694

Well... actually we are over 300 episodes old but it took a while to get the band back together after the European Academy of Childhood-onset Disabilities conference! Join Dayna, Ash and Marissa (and a special guest appearance by Ed - on video no less!)

Enhancing physically active leisure participation for children with cerebral palsy: a randomised controlled trial. Professor Leanne Sakzewski

ResearchWorks is heading to AACPDM 2026 in Philadelphia this year! We can't wait to see you there - it's a special 80th Annual Meeting for the American Academy for Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine (AACPDM). Join with us as we speak with Dr Kristie Bjornson - live from EACD 2026 in Galway Ireland, the final episode that we recorded on our European tour! A preview of what to expect from this year's annual congress and a look at the host city, Philadelphia! Register here: https://www.aacpdm.org/events/2026/registration

It's the special summary episode of our EACD 2026 conference series live from Galway Ireland! The conference was centred around the F-words and there was a call to action on the clinical application of the F-words. Enjoy the final episode of our European Academy of Childhood-onset Disability Annual Congress series - the ResearchWorks team are on a mini-break, which we hope you'll use to catch up the entire series of episodes from Galway. We'll be back with full length episodes in a few weeks time! Thank you to everyone who came by the booth to say hello, to all of our guests on the show, to Theresa for the generous shout-out in the closing ceremony and to those who keep telling Ed he needs his own podcast, or to record his own audiobook! He's too busy editing the pod to do that but he is very honoured whenever he gets asked for a selfie.... that happens more than you might think! :)

Developmental regression in childhood - identification, investigation and outcomes.

An evidence-based, standardized, and practical diagnostic framework for cerebral palsy.

Avoid the tyranny of orthodoxy, the F-words, goal setting and real life application.

Helping Children Flourish: Parent-Informed Social Narratives to Support Readiness for Upper Limb Rehabilitation in Cerebral Palsy

Health-Related Quality of Life after Guided Growth Treatment for Hip Displacement in Young Children with Cerebral Palsy

The implementation of evidence-based exercise supports (FitSkills) and the impact of young people with disability participating in their communities alongside peer mentors

Building capacity for real world participation.

Optimising the neuroplasticity window: from evidence to early CP intervention

Does multi- level surgery weaken muscles in ambulatory youth with CP?

Non-invasive Measurement of work of breathing in children and young adults with high level cerebral palsy.

Why do families not participate in free parent education programs? a cross sectional population based study of preschoolers

Power mobility experience, meaning and outcomes for children with complex non-ambulant cerebral palsy: A scoping review

Dynamic Movement Intervention, Cuevas Medek Exercises and the state of the evidence. Challenging the status quo.