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PONI - Pediatric Onset of Neuromotor Impairments Lab

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PONI - Pediatric Onset of Neuromotor Impairments Lab

The PONI Lab, based in the Alberta Children's Hospital in Calgary, AB, Canada, works with individuals with neuromotor impairments to conduct research.

Principal Investigator: Dr. Elizabeth Condliffe

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03/31/2026

🌸🏀 Looking for adapted opportunities for your child to get active this spring?

Check out the Calgary Adapted Hub (CAH) for inclusive and accessible sport and recreation programming in the city — their partners have a range of adaptive activities up and running, as well as ones just about to start, from swimming to gymnastics.

Does your child want some time in the water after a season of snow? Check out Westside Recreation’s Spring/Summer Swim Abilities courses from now until August, or Vecova's Adapted Aquatics program for those aged 5-17 at the Foothills Aquatic Center!

If they’re in more of a dancing mood, the City of Calgary runs Adaptive Creative Dance sessions for 9–12-year-olds every Thursday until April 23rd.

Want more than one option? FUNdamental Movement or the Special O program (Indigenous athletes only) are multi-sport programs that will introduce participants to a wider range of movement and sports.

For more information, activity options, and ways to sign up, take a look at the CAH’s website here: https://www.calgaryadaptedhub.com/.

03/26/2026

Today is Purple Day!

Did you know 1 in 100 people are estimated to have epilepsy? Or how about that there are 65 million people worldwide that have epilepsy? The effects of this relatively common neurological condition have not always been properly understood by the general public, and Purple Day was first introduced to change that. By wearing purple, you’ll be helping raise awareness about epilepsy in the spirit of improving the understanding of its prevalence in our world.

Fun fact: Canada is the only country that officially recognizes March 26th as Purple Day with the Purple Day Act. However, there are many people from across the world in different countries that also informally recognize it. Here at the lab, there are many research participants in our studies who have epilepsy, so we understand the importance of spreading the word about this condition. Join us today in recognizing the important place people with epilepsy have in our communities!

If you’d like to learn more about Purple Day, epilepsy, and how to raise awareness, follow this link: https://purpleday.org/

03/24/2026

Are you ready to run? Sign up for the Million Reasons Run by March 31 and be entered into a draw for a pair of ON running shoes!

The Million Reasons Run is a 31-day running challenge starting May 1. You decide when, where, and how far you'd like to go and the donations you raise will help support your local children's hospital lifesaving research on everything from rare diseases to everyday illnesses. For those in Alberta, you’ll help support the Alberta Children’s Hospital's efforts to improve pediatric neurocritical care, imaging, immunotherapy, brain computer interfacing, and more.

You can run solo, as part of a group, or make it a corporate team challenge. Make sure to share why you're running so friends, families, coworkers, or whoever you tell can cheer you on and help fundraise!

Interested in participating? Check out https://www.millionreasons.run/ for more information.

03/20/2026

This week is Neurodiversity Celebration Week!

Although the week is almost over, we wanted to highlight the importance of this event and how it relates to our work at the lab.

No two brains are the same; we all have different ways we think about and communicate information. Neurodiversity is an umbrella term used to describe this phenomenon in our society. Did you know that 15-20% of the population is neurodivergent? People with ADHD, autism, dyscalculia, dyslexia, dyspraxia, and Tourette syndrome are just a few examples of individuals with neurodifferences. Many of our participants fit into these categories as well as some of our team members.

We all have strengths and weaknesses when it comes to using our brains. Neurodiversity Celebration Week is about recognizing that these differences add variation to our world, making it a unique and special place. Always, we should do what we can to ensure that the environment and systems in our communities are structured to accommodate people of all neurological backgrounds.

If you’re interested in learning more about Neurodiversity Celebration Week and what people are doing to celebrate, follow this link! https://www.neurodiversityweek.com/

03/13/2026

🧠 It’s almost Brain Awareness Week!

From March 16-22, join us in raising awareness about brain health and the importance of advancing the research, treatments, and supports available to the more than 3 billion people worldwide who live with a neurological condition. In Canada, nearly 2 in 3 will develop a brain disease or disorder in their lifetime.

Brain Awareness Week is organized by the Dana Foundation as an opportunity to showcase the work being done in brain research, as well as the progress in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disorders of the brain. Brain health is something that affects us all — today’s research and education will ensure the brain health of the future is better understood, valued and protected across our lifespans.

Check out , , and the Dana Foundation’s website https://dana.org/brain-awareness-week/ for more information about Brain Awareness Week and what’s being done to advance neuroscience and support brain health.

03/10/2026

Calling all hockey fans!

The Calgary Sledge Hockey Association is hosting the Matt Cook Memorial Cup from April 3-5 at the Winsport Arena here in Calgary! Sledge hockey teams will be coming from all across Western Canada to compete in the tournament. It will be a great showcase of athleticism and an opportunity to enjoy many different games of higher-level sledge hockey. There’ll also be try-it events to engage your hockey interest and raffles for a chance to win prizes. For more information, check out the Calgary Sledge Hockey Association’s social media platforms listed on the image and tagged to this post.

03/06/2026

❄️️🥌 Tune in to the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Games and help support today’s and tomorrow’s para athletes!

The 2026 Paralympic Winter Games start today and will showcase around 665 athletes competing in 79 medal events. From March 6-15, check out some of the world’s best as they compete across six sports: para alpine skiing, para biathlon, para cross-country skiing, para ice hockey, para snowboard, and wheelchair curling.

Stay up to date with this year’s Paralympic Games through CBC Gem, where you’ll find free coverage of the events, highlights, replays, and more!

Want to support Canadian Paralympians’ journey to the next Paralympic Winter Games? For a minimum donation of $25, you can claim your virtual seat, share a message with this year’s team, and help — these donations will support the next generation of para athletes and contribute to a more inclusive and accessible Canada, where every Canadian with a disability has the opportunity to access sport and fulfill their competitive dreams. Check out https://paralympic.ca/foundation/fillthestands/ for more info.

03/05/2026

🦿Participate in Robotic-Assisted Walking Survey Research!

Are you someone who's used, is using, or would like to use a robotic-assisted walking device like the Trexo, Agilik, Biomotum SPARK, etc.? Are you a family member or guardian of someone who fits into one of these groups? Do you have experience as a professional who works with or would like to work with robotic-assisted walking devices? Are you a staff member of an adapted device/equipment lending program?

If you're one of the above, you're eligible to participate in one of our short online surveys asking about the factors that currently help and hinder access to robotic-assisted walking devices, or about the management and maintenance of adaptive equipment lending programs — we'd greatly appreciate your insights! Your response would help our research team's efforts to improve access to these kinds of devices, as well as support the development of an Alberta-based device-lending hub.

🔎 Interested in participating or want more information? Contact nadine.rodrigues@ucalgary.ca, or the PONI Lab at poni.lab@ucalgary or (403)-955-5528.

03/04/2026

March is Brain Health Awareness Month!

An important part of Brain Health Awareness Month is understanding brain injuries. Over the next few weeks, there will be many opportunities to learn more about what causes brain injuries, who they affect, and how they can be prevented/managed. To spark your curiosity, we’ve summarized a couple of facts here about brain injuries, some of which came from BrainLove.ca (https://www.brainlove.ca/).

Of course, at the lab, we work with individuals who have experienced childhood brain injuries that affect their motor skills. Cerebral palsy, for instance, relates to a brain injury that takes place during or shortly after birth. There are no cures for brain injuries of any type, but there are many things that can help manage symptoms and improve quality of life, such as the physical rehabilitation strategies we investigate in the lab.

Now is a great time to learn more about how we can support research and treatments for brain injuries. As the month progresses, we'll talk more about brain health and what we can do to have healthy brains as part of Brain Health Awareness Month.

02/27/2026

Tomorrow is Rare Disease Day!

Join us this Saturday in raising awareness about the impact of rare diseases and pushing for equitable access to diagnosis, treatment, and care for the 300 million people affected worldwide.

5% of the global population is affected by rare diseases, and children and young people are disproportionally challenged in number and severity. Did you know that 70% of genetic rare diseases start in childhood? Here at the PONI Lab, we’re deeply grateful to the many people and families affected by rare diseases who partner with us and choose to participate in our research.

On February 28th, we’d like to spread the word, light up buildings and homes, call on policymakers, and shine a light on people living with a rare disease. Check out https://www.rarediseaseday.org for more information and to find an event near you — if you’re in Calgary, the TELUS Spark Science Center will tomorrow!

02/23/2026

Get ready for Pink Shirt Day on Wednesday, February 25th!

1 in 5 children are affecting by bullying, and each year on Pink Shirt Day, we spend time recognizing that. Often, people are bullied because they’re different from someone else. Pink Shirt Day isn’t just about standing up against bullying, but about recognizing that everyone is different; we are all unique, with our own special preferences, abilities, and characteristics. Our differences invite us to use kindness, compassion, and empathy to understand one another, recognizing the world is a beautiful and fun place because of its diversity. This Pink Shirt Day, join in by wearing a pink shirt to stand against bullying and show our appreciation for everyone in our amazing, unique world!

02/17/2026

📖 Shaping the future of child/maternal health research

The PONI Lab is proud to be a member of the Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute, one of Canada’s most active, collaborative child and maternal health research communities!

In the last five years, ACHRI’s secured major research investments and continues to grow its membership, supporting more than 400 researchers across 10 faculties in research operations, knowledge dissemination, trainee education, and more. Child health and wellness research now represents 20% of the University of Calgary's research — we’re proud to contribute to this work here at the PONI Lab and we’re continually thankful for the support that makes it possible, like that of ACHRI’s, our patient partners, and the families we work with.

ACHRI continues to grow, bringing patient care and research teams closer together and leveraging funding to support world-class care. For more information about ACHRI’s work in the last 5 years, check out their impact report here: https://online.fliphtml5.com/achri-impact-report-21-25/ACHRI_5Year_Report_Final_Jan21/ =1

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