Click here for French translation
Grant award: $100,000
Principal Investigator: Walter Wittich, PhD
Co-Principal Investigator: Sarah Granberg, PhD
Co-Investigators: Mahadeo Sukhai, PhD, Atul Jaiswal, PhD
Collaborators: Serge Maynard, MSc., Genevieve Lizé, BSc, erg, Sherry Grabowski, Sonja Van de Molengraft, MSc, Frank Kat, MSFM, Ricard Lopez, Renu Minhas, MA, Jennifer Robbins
Project Summary:
Our team aims to answer the question “What are the most relevant codes within the ICF classification system that best describe body functions and structure, activities and participation, as well as environmental factors as they pertain to individuals living with deafblindness?” We will identify these codes from the perspective of persons living with deafblindness and their allies (Phase 2), professionals working with this population (Phase 3) and through an applied exploration of clinical assessments of persons living with deafblindness by experts in the field (Phase 4).
The synthesis of the results across these phases (consensus conference in year 2) will result in the presentation of the ICF Core Set for deafblindness, which will then be included in the ICF Core Set documentation tool of the ICF Branch of the World Health Organization and will be published in scientific journals and presented in various national/international conferences.
The Core Set will improve our understanding of how deafblindness affects functioning in society. This understanding will significantly facilitate the functioning and quality of life of those living with deafblindness at the individual, institutional, and societal levels. With the growing population living by deafblindness (especially older adults with acquired impairments), there is a greater demand for policies and services that meet their unique needs. An ICF Core Set for deafblindness will benefit the deafblind population not only in Canada but across the globe who are often excluded from social participation, policies, and services.
We are thrilled to share that this CHS-funded research has led to the development of an ICF Core Set for Deafblindness, providing a global framework to address the unique needs of individuals with deafblindness. Our first two studies published include:
• Qualitative Interview Study Access Here
• International Expert Survey Access Here