Easy Reads
Easy reads are documents that present information using plain language with larger text, graphics, and images to make the information more accessible and easy to understand. Our easy reads are developed at the Azrieli Adult Neurodevelopmental Centre together with advisors with developmental disabilities.
Research Papers Easy Reads
2024
A Virtual Health and Wellness Course During COVID For Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD)
This study looked at how a virtual wellness program can help adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities improve their health. Thirty-six adults joined the program and reported high satisfaction and improvements in their mental health and well-being. This study shows that virtual programs can be helpful for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
This study examined a 6-week online mindfulness program for Special Olympics athletes and their caregivers during COVID-19, finding that it significantly improved athlete well-being and mental health while reducing caregiver stress and enhancing mindfulness.
Health Check-in: Teaching people with developmental disabilities and their families about a tool for doctor visits
We looked at a tool called the Health Check-in Tool in a program about staying healthy for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). We found that 44% of adults with IDD and their families used the tool. They found it helpful, but some had trouble using it. We think it's important to use tools like this more often in healthcare and to ask people who have experienced these things to help make them better.
Watch the video below with Dr. Yona Lunsky and self-advocate advisors, Marissa Blake and Victor Pereira, as they talk about the Health Check-in Tool and making doctor visits better for people with developmental disabilities.
“Everything has changed since COVID”: Ongoing challenges faced by Canadian adults with intellectual disabilities during waves 2 and 3 of the COVID-19 pandemic
This study looked at how a virtual program helped people with intellectual disabilities feel better during the COVID-19 pandemic. The researchers talked to people in 2021 to see how they were doing after they finished the program. They found three main things that were still hard for them: money and finding jobs, dealing with all the changes and rules, and thinking about and getting vaccines. The study shows how important it is to keep helping and supporting people with intellectual disabilities during the pandemic.
2023
Things that will help people to leave the hospital
This is an Easy Read of a report called: Supporting Alternate Level of Care (ALC) Patients with a Dual Diagnosis to Transition from Hospital to Home: Practice Guidance. Sometimes people can't leave the hospital even if they don't need help anymore. When people are in the hospital longer than they need to be, they are called “Alternate Level of Care” or “ALC” for short. This report is about how to help people move out of the hospital who are ALC and have a dual diagnosis.
A dual diagnosis is when a person with a developmental disability also has a mental illness. This report from the H-CARDD team gives some important ideas to help ALC patients with a dual diagnosis move from the hospital to a better place in the community.
Health problems and health service use of Autistic women and men in Ontario
This research study looked at the health conditions and health care services used by Autistic adults in Ontario. The study also compared this information to adults without intellectual and developmental disabilities. It concludes that we need to make sure health and mental health care services are able to better support Autistic adults.
A study about depression for Special Olympics athletes and people who do not do Special Olympics
This study found that young adults who were part of a sports club called Special Olympics were less likely to feel depressed compared to those who didn't join. More research is needed to find out if it's because of exercise or because they felt happy being part of a group.
Virtual Mindfulness Groups: Are they Helpful for Autistic Adults?
This study looked at how to help autistic adults with a kind of meditation called "mindfulness". After joining a mindfulness course, autistic adults said they liked it and felt better after doing it. The researchers think that mindfulness can help autistic adults feel calmer and less stressed.
2022
Avoidable deaths in adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities including Down syndrome in Ontario
This study found that more people with intellectual and developmental disabilities pass away compared to people without disabilities, and that some of these deaths could have been prevented. The researchers suggest that we need to improve how caregivers and healthcare providers work together to help prevent these avoidable deaths.
Does virtual health care work for adults with developmental disabilities?
This study talked to patients, caregivers, and doctors to see how helpful virtual health care was for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) during the COVID-19 pandemic. The researchers found that different people need different kinds of care, and we need to make sure everyone can get the care they need.
This is about my health: Researchers working with patients and families to help share what we learn in research
Patients with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families were advisors on health care communication in this study. They showed that with the right support, they can successfully share their experiences and help others understand what it's like to have IDD. It's important to include self-advocates and their families in these projects and to be creative and flexible to support them.
Did an online course help family caregivers of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities during COVID?
This study looked at how a virtual course helped family caregivers of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants liked the course, attended regularly, and felt that it helped them. This study shows that virtual courses can help caregivers and create a community of support for them.
Online Course to Improve the Mental Health of People with Intellectual Disabilities (ID) During COVID-19
This study is about a virtual mental health course that was created to help adults with intellectual disabilities with their mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic. The course was well-liked, and the participants felt more confident in doing things to help their mental health after taking it.
Differences in death: comparing Autistic adults and non-Autistic adults in Ontario, Canada
This study found that autistic people were more likely to die earlier than those without any problems, but they were less likely to die earlier than people with other developmental disabilities. The researchers indicate that we need to give extra help to autistic people to make sure they stay healthy and live as long as possible.
Opioid medication use among Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities in Ontario, Canada
This easy read is a summary of a study that looked at new opioid use and risk of opioid-related adverse events among adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) in Ontario, Canada. This research assessed adverse events after opioid use among adults with IDD versus without IDD.
2021
ECHO for Support Providers
This study looked at a virtual education program delivered to health and social care providers caring for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities during COVID-19. The study showed that the program is a good way to help people who take care of others, but more research is needed to see how it can help in the long term.
