Offord Centre for Child Studies

A long table is set up with a blue tablecloth and a variety of flyers and brochures, as well as candies, fidget toys, and pens. There are two banners along each side of the table. One depicts information about the McMaster Autism Research Team, and the other about the Offord Centre for Child Studies.

🌟 Interested in #autism research? Want to take part?

🙌 The PARC Study is tabling at the Ron Joyce Children's Health Centre's Camp & Recreation Fair today (Thurs, Feb 19th)! If you are in the area, come say hello & learn more!

#Hamilton #AutismResearch @macautism.ca @offord-centre.bsky.social

📣 Happening tomorrow! Don’t miss your chance to join this informative talk!

➡️ Register here: bit.ly/parcspeaker8

#Autism #AutismResearch #ASD #ChildHealth #Neurodiversity

📣 One week away from this live talk by Dr. Elizabeth Kelley and Dr. Caroline Roncadin! Limited virtual seats available.

➡️ Register here: bit.ly/parcspeaker8

#Autism #AutismResearch #ASD #ChildHealth #Neurodiversity

This is a picture of Laura Duncan

Offord core member Laura Duncan, has been named the Government of Ontario/Children’s Secretariat Chair in Early Childhood Development.

Learn more: offordcentre.com/laura-duncan...

PARC Study Speaker Series: Understanding and Supporting Autistic Children’s Mental Health, by Dr. Elizabeth Kelley and Dr. Caroline Roncadin. The event will occur on Wednesday, January 28th, 2026 from 12pm-1pm ET, as a virtual Zoom session. Image includes a picture of Dr. Elizabeth Kelley and Dr. Caroline Roncadin, as well as logos for the PARC Study, Queen’s University, the Autism Studies Lab at Queen’s University, McMaster Children’s Hospital – Ron Joyce Children’s Health Centre, the McMaster Autism Research Team, and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR).

🧠Learn about common co-occurring emotional & behavioural conditions with #autism (anxiety, depression, OCD, & ADHD) & practical strategies for caregivers!

🧑‍💻Free live speaker talk by Dr. Elizabeth Kelley & Dr. Caroline Roncadin:

➡️Register, open to all: bit.ly/parcspeaker8

#AutismResearch #Research

Developmental vulnerabilities in kindergarten-aged children have been increasing steadily since 2010, challenging assumptions that the COVID-19 pandemic was the primary driver of change, according to new research from the Offord Centre.

offordcentre.com/childhood-de...

Christine Wekerle can be seen in this image.

Meet Christine Wekerle.

She is an associate professor with @macupediatrics.bsky.social. She is a leading expert in child maltreatment and an associate member of the Offord Centre for Child Studies.

Her area of expertise is in child maltreatment.

Learn more: offordcentre.com/get-to-know-...

Julia Close can be seen wearing a white shirt.

How can Ontario improve access to youth mental health services? Julia Close, a first-year master’s student at McMaster University, is tackling that question with the support of the highly competitive Canada Graduate Scholarships – Master’s.

Learn more: offordcentre.com/masters-stud...

Is your child playing Roblox or other online games? Expert tips for parents on keeping kids safe online The massively popular online game, Roblox, is facing a slew of lawsuits from parents who are calling the platform “a hunting ground for predators”. Expert tips for parents for kids online.

Is your child playing Roblox or other online games?

Teresa Bennett, core member with the Offord Centre, speaks with @insidehalton.bsky.social about the things parents should consider and how they can encourage good communication with their kids.

www.insidehalton.com/news/roblox-...

📣 Happening tomorrow! Don’t miss your chance to join this informative talk!

➡️ Register here: bit.ly/parcspeaker7a

#Autism #Canada #AutismResearch #Autism #ASD
#ChildHealth #AutismResearch #Neurodiversity

📣 One week away from this live talk by Dr. Jonathan Lai and Dr. Deepa Singal! Limited virtual seats available.

➡️ Register here: bit.ly/parcspeaker7a

#Autism #Canada #AutismResearch #Autism #ASD
#ChildHealth #AutismResearch #Neurodiversity

Congratulations to Ryan Miller, who has successfully defended his #MSc in Health Research Methodology at @mcmasteruniversity.bsky.social as a masters candidate on the AYM team!

Read more about Ryan's MSc and time at AYM: aym.mcmaster.ca/aym-trainee-...

@offord-centre.bsky.social

YouTube video by McMaster University Health Sciences Here’s what you should know about oppositional defiant disorder

Oppositional defiant disorder is a persistent and regular pattern of mood and behaviour experienced by about three to 10 per cent of kids or teens.

Here's what you should know: www.youtube.com/watch?v=uw8s...

📣 Two weeks out from this live talk by Dr. Jonathan Lai and Dr. Deepa Singal! Virtual seats are limited, so register soon!

➡️ Register here: bit.ly/parcspeaker7a

#Autism #Canada

Back-to-school season can be exciting, but stressful, especially for families raising neurodivergent kids.

Teresa Bennett spoke with CBC’s Just Asking on how parents are navigating new routines.

🎧https://www.cbc.ca/listen/live-radio/1-1424-just-asking/clip/16169408-nurturing-neurodivergent-kids

📣 Three weeks out from this live talk by Dr. Jonathan Lai and Dr. Deepa Singal! Virtual seats are limited, so register soon!

➡️ Register here: bit.ly/parcspeaker7a

#Autism

📆The McMaster Equity Based Co-Creation Hub is hosting an upcoming webinar titled "Parenting on the Border: Co-Creating Trauma-Informed Parenting Support for Migrant Families from Myanmar", taking place on Sept. 19 from 9 AM - 10:30 AM EDT.

Register here: www.eventbrite.ca/e/parenting-...

PARC Study Speaker Series: Canada’s National Autism Strategy: What It Means for Families and How Autism Alliance of Canada Is Turning Policy into Progress, by Dr. Jonathan Lai and Dr. Deepa Singal. The event will occur on Thursday, October 2nd, 2025 from 12pm-1pm ET, as a virtual Zoom session. Image includes a picture of Dr. Jonathan Lai and Dr. Deepa Singal, as well as logos for the PARC Study, Autism Alliance of Canada, and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR).

In this free live speaker talk by Dr. Jonathan Lai & Dr. Deepa Singal, learn about Canada's National Autism Strategy and what it could mean for Autistic people and families who raise, support, and stand beside them.

➡️Register here, open to all: bit.ly/parcspeaker7a

#Autism

Upper row, from left to right: Daniel Coleman, Stuart Phillips, Allison Williams and Parminder Raina have been named RSC Fellows. Lower row, from left to right: Olufemi Ayeni, Allan Downey and Stelios Georgiades have been named members of RSC’s College of New Scholars, Artists and Scientists.

Congratulations to Stelios Georgiades, director of the Offord Centre for Child Studies, on being named to the The Royal Society of Canada.

📖 offordcentre.com/offord-direc...

The study title reads, "Examining Interparental Conflict, Parent-Child Conflict, and Child Emotion Regulation Within the Family Check-Up®: A Randomized Controlled Trial". The study authors include Katrina R. Abela, Andrea Gonzalez, Krysta Andrews, Xutong Zhang, Marc Jambon, Katholiki Georgiades, Julie Gross, Magdalena Janus, Ellen Lipman, Paulo Pires, and Teresa Bennett.

📢New pub with MacART members Drs. Kathy Georgiades, Magdalena Janus & Terry Bennett!

📖“Examining interparental conflict, parent-child conflict, and child emotion regulation within the Family Check-Up®: A randomized controlled trial”:
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

@offord-centre.bsky.social

Offord core member Amanda Sim was in Singapore for a screening of Being Family.

The film co-created with migrant communities on the Thailand-Myanmar border has been used as an intervention to reduces violence against children.

Check out the recap:

📖 lnkd.in/gdbBxxC5

📺 lnkd.in/gdQbQJfd

Barbie maker Mattel is adding AI to children’s toys. Here’s why Ontario experts are concerned Barbie maker Mattel is adding Generative AI to children’s toys and experts from Western University and McMaster University are raising concerns about the possible implications.

Toy making giant Mattel is adding AI to children’s toys.

Core member Teresa Bennett spoke with Inside Halton about the need to carefully study the potential ways AI-embedded toys may impact children’s development before releasing this kind of product.

www.insidehalton.com/news/mattel-...

McMaster's University Scholars for 2025

Offord director Stelios Georgiades is among eight McMaster professors to be named 2025 University Scholars, in recognition of their research leadership and the impact of their work.

Congratulations to all!

offordcentre.com/offord-direc...

A huge congratulations to Offord associate member Peter Rosenbaum on his appointment to the Order of Canada for his transformative contributions to the field of childhood disability.

healthsci.mcmaster.ca/peter-rosenb...

Vanessa De Rubeis, Dylan Johnson and Jeffrey McCrossin can be seen in this photo.

Three early-career researchers are receiving funding to support their postdoctoral fellowships at Offord.

Hamilton Health Sciences Foundation, through the generosity of donors, is providing $60,000 in funding to support Vanessa De Rubeis, Dylan Johnson and Jeffrey McCrossin.

tinyurl.com/bdbrnz27

Anorexia is normally treated with therapy. Now a Canadian team is trying the gut | CBC News Anorexia is a life-threatening eating disorder — normally treated with talk therapy, but that only works for about half of patients. Now, Canadian researchers are testing a new approach, tapping into ...

Anorexia is a life-threatening eating disorder.

Jennifer Couturier, an Offord Centre core member, spoke with CBC News about a new approach that involves treating teens with fecal transplants, to change the bacteria in their gut.

tinyurl.com/6fycuf57

Susan Jack can be seen in this image.

A huge congratulations to Offord Centre core member Susan Jack on her appointment as the Dorothy C. Hall Chair in Nursing Research.

Jack will amplify the role of public health nursing in advancing health equity & transforming care for families during the perinatal period.

tinyurl.com/bdzctrn6