Research Opportunity for BC Families with Neurodiverse Children
Dino Island is a cognitive intervention research study from the University of Victoria (UVic) that is designed to improve attention and executive function in children with neurodevelopmental concerns, special needs and/or disabilities, such as epilepsy.
Researchers in Victoria, Surrey and Calgary are looking for participation from BC families with neurodiverse children.
Why Are Attention and Executive Function Important?
Attention includes being able to remain focused on important tasks, shifting attention from one task to another, dividing attention between different tasks, etc. as well as working memory which allows a person to hold important information in their mind long enough to complete a task.
Executive function includes the ability to resist impulsive actions (inhibition), to adjust to unexpected changes (flexibility and creative problem solving) and to stay focused on the task at hand (self-control).
Attention and executive function are important for self-control, self-regulation, flexibility, perseverance, success at school and work, making and keeping friends and with mental and psychological health. Children may face problems in attention and executive function for a variety of reasons, and failure to address these concerns may lead to long term difficulties with learning, health, and quality of life.
What Is Dino Island?
Dino Island consists of five “serious games”, meaning that they have been designed for a therapeutic purpose (in this case, improving attention and executive function) but have the look and feel of a video game to engage children.
Dino Island uses tablet-based gaming in conjunction with interventionist training that is tailored towards non-professionals (ex. parents, teachers, support workers, etc.) that provides a foundational understanding of cognitive intervention, including specific lessons on how to effectively teach problem-solving strategies so children are eventually able to use them independently in their daily lives, as well how to support children with neurodevelopmental concerns, special needs and/or disabilities, such as epilepsy.
How Can I Take Part in Dino Island?
For more information on Dino Island, please click here. If you are interested in taking part in Dino Island, you can register here.