CanChild — Centre for Childhood Disability Research

About

Established in 1989 within McMaster University's School of Rehabilitation Science in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, CanChild has built a global reputation over 35 years for rigorous, family-partnered research on childhood disability. Its interdisciplinary team works with families as co-researchers and knowledge translation partners, ensuring that findings reach the people who need them in accessible formats.

What It Does

CanChild's free online resource library includes:

• Condition fact sheets — plain-language explanations of diagnoses, prognosis, and intervention options for families
• Family-centred practice tools — assessments used in early intervention and paediatric rehabilitation settings
• The F-Words Framework — a reframing of childhood disability outcomes around Function, Family, Fitness, Fun, Friends, and Future, available as slides, videos, and implementation guides
• Measurement instruments — including CAPE/PAC (participation and enjoyment) and the GMFCS (gross motor function classification), free to download
• Research summaries, infographics, and webinar recordings translated for families and clinicians

Who It Helps

Families of children with physical, neurodevelopmental, and developmental disabilities; paediatric occupational therapists, physiotherapists, and SLPs; early childhood researchers and programme evaluators seeking validated measurement tools.