Date & time
Monday, March 24, 2025
2 p.m. – 3 p.m.
2 p.m. – 3 p.m.
Conferences & lectures
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Overcoming health and physical activity challenges for neurodivergent youth
A School of Health Colloquium
Speaker(s)
William J. Harvey, Ph.D.
Cost
This event is free
Organization
School of Health
Contact
Where
Communication Studies and Journalism Building
7141 Sherbrooke W.
Room 2.409
Accessible location
Yes
Physical activity is an important component of a healthy lifestyle that many school-aged youth with neurodivergent conditions find challenging to participate in. This presentation will highlight some of the shared facilitators and barriers to physical activity for school-aged youth with varying neurodivergent conditions like autism, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and developmental coordination disorder. Condition-specific and construct-specific intervention approaches to physical activity will be explored in relation to varying disability models. A variety of ways to overcome the challenges of physical activity for school-aged youth with neurodivergent conditions will be discussed. A strengths-based perspective will be emphasized where people with these varying neurodivergent conditions are strongly encouraged to take an active role in choosing how to become physically active. We will challenge the status quo in physical activity interventions for school-aged youth with neurodivergent conditions.
Surmonter les défis de la santé et de l'activité physique pour les jeunes neurodivergents
L'activité physique est un composant important d'un mode de vie sain, mais de nombreux jeunes en âge scolaire atteints de troubles neurodivergents trouvent difficile de participer. Cette présentation mettra en lumière certains des facteurs facilitants et des obstacles partagés à l'activité physique pour les jeunes en âge scolaire présentant divers troubles neurodivergents tels que l'autisme, le trouble du déficit de l'attention avec hyperactivité et le trouble de la coordination du développement. Des approches d'intervention spécifiques à chaque trouble et au développement de compétences liées à l'activité physique seront explorées en fonction des modèles de handicap variés. Une variété de façons de surmonter les défis de l'activité physique pour les jeunes en âge scolaire atteints de troubles neurodivergents sera discutée. Une perspective axée sur les forces sera mise en avant, encourageant fortement les personnes atteintes de ces divers troubles neurodivergents à jouer un rôle actif dans le choix des moyens de devenir physiquement actives. Nous remettrons en question le statu quo des interventions en activité physique pour les jeunes en âge scolaire atteints de troubles neurodivergents.
Join us in person or online! / Rejoignez-nous en personne ou en ligne !
In-person / En personne
Communication Studies and Journalism Building
7141 Sherbrooke W.
Room 2.409
Online / En ligne
Zoom: https://concordia-ca.zoom.us/j/85818173041
The talk will be in English / La conférence sera en anglais
Speaker Bio:
Dr. William Harvey is an Associate Professor and researcher in Adapted Physical Activity at the Department of Kinesiology and Physical Education of McGill University. He is also a part-time instructor in the Department of Applied Human Sciences at Concordia University. Adapted Physical Activity is a professional field that focuses on multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary research and practice about physical activity (PA). His teaching and research interests are focused on the PA and leisure participation of neurodiverse youth and adults through community-based PA programs, service-learning projects, the recovery model approach and self-regulation/self-determination. This research spans from youth with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, autism, and developmental coordination disorder to adults with schizophrenia. He explores the PA and health journeys of people with these various neurodiverse conditions across the lifespan while utilizing a critical, socio-cultural understanding of PA participation and interventions in the community.