CPERL Builds Capstone Readiness through CanChild Sponsored Contract

Introduction

This summer in lab, we leaned into opportunities to deepen our KT contributions in ways that align with Dianna's recommendations outlined in her OTD capstone. We co-authored two videos to share our translation of knowledge with families and clinicians. We created one video to share how best practice guidelines are relevant when updating culturally adapted versions of the Young Children's Participation and Environment Measure (YC-PEM), and we created a second video on lessons we learned for centering family voice to understand and improve early intervention across entire states. We also collaborated with two of our colleagues in other parts of the world to co-author a poster version of the first video at the International Society on Early Intervention (ISEI) conference. We were funded to meaningfully advance these products while strengthening our professional habits for focused scholarly collaboration, critical curiosity, and clear communication.

Lily reflects: Vivian's mentorship in creating my first KT product, a video on YC-PEM upgrades for practitioners, equipped me with skills to design meaningful visuals for a specific audience. Vivian and Mary's mentorship empowered me to take a step outside of my comfort zone by submitting an abstract and then creating and presenting a poster at my first international conference. I learned that it takes teamwork, dedication, and tenacity to create valuable KT products. Mentoring Annika and Lauren was special as I could share my experience and support them in creating their KT product. Together, these experiences have been a source of growth that I am eager to further develop in my OTD capstone and OT career.

Annika reflects: I experienced the power of mentorship and teamwork while creating the KT video for the culturally adapted YC-PEM. Turning a complex topic into a video that families and clinicians could actually use felt overwhelming at first. But with Lily’s mentorship and the support of the CPERL team, I found myself able to create something I’m truly proud of. This process deepened my appreciation for knowledge translation and the importance of making research accessible, which are principles I’ll carry throughout my OT career.

Lauren reflects: Creating a video allowed me to develop and refine my skills for impactful KT, following the path forged by Vivian and Lily’s prior work. With Lily’s guidance in learning new tools and Vivian’s insight on tailoring materials, I learned to translate complex information into accessible content. Innovation, tenacity, and lots of constructive feedback from the CPERL team reinforced that high-quality work is worth the time and effort, and this experience has built my capacity for further KT as I look toward my OTD capstone.