Research at TVCC

TVCC has a long history of research, with a dedicated research program since 1988. We believe that research and evaluation activities are an important part of providing quality services to clients and their families.

Our approach to research is based on having research integrated into our daily work here so that it is tied to needs we hear from clients, families, and clinicians. We do program evaluations for our own services as well as large-scale projects with global relevance. 

TVCC Researchers support staff within our organization and collaborate with partners around the world. The ultimate aim of our research is to improve community participation and quality of life for children with disabilities and their families.

Good research gives us information that helps us to do things better. Thoughtful, well-designed, and relevant clinical research provides answers to our questions and helps us to be accountable to clients, families, the community, and funders.

Research helps us to:

  • find answers to questions and issues important to clients and families,
  • improve our understanding of childhood disabilities and the issues they raise, and
  • improve the services we provide.

Key Theme Areas

We focus our research on two strategic research directions relevant and meaningful to clients, their families, and service providers:

  1. Evaluating programs, interventions, and aspects of service delivery
  2. Investigating psychosocial aspects of disabilities, examining the social and emotional needs and outcomes of clients and their families.

 

Goals 

Create a strong research climate that promotes TVCC staff members' awareness, enthusiasm, and participation in research and evaluation, and that fosters ongoing critical appraisal of therapeutic effectiveness as well as increased understanding of the psychosocial aspects of physical disabilities and interventions.

Provide resources and ongoing, individualized support to therapists conducting research.

Share research and evaluation findings internally and externally to clients, families, service providers, and other researchers.