Moire Stevenson Psychologist

01/27/2026

30 Days of Outdoor Activity: Day 25
Yesterday it was ver, very cold but o told myself I could at least walk for 15 minutes. So I set a timer for 15 minutes and this is what I discovered.

01/25/2026

I am happy to say we have openings for psychological assessments for children and adults starting in mid-February/March!

We assess for:
Learning disabilities (dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia)
ADHD
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
Anxiety
Depression
Amongst others.

To learn more or book an appointment, go to www.moirestevenson.com/services or you can email us at info@moirestevenson.com

01/21/2026

Proud to share our latest publication.

Our article, “Assessment of Autism Spectrum Disorders in Children with Visual Impairment and Blindness,” has just been published in the Journal of Rehabilitation Therapy.

This paper addresses a critical and often overlooked challenge in pediatric neurodevelopment: how Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is assessed in children with visual impairment and blindness (VIB).

Many widely used ASD assessment tools rely heavily on visual behaviours such as eye contact, gaze following, and joint attention. In children with VIB, these behaviours are shaped by sensory access rather than social development, raising significant concerns about diagnostic validity.

Key points from the article:

– Children with visual impairment are consistently reported to show higher rates of ASD or ASD-like features, yet the nature of this relationship remains unclear
– Most standard ASD assessment tools were developed for sighted populations and may not translate appropriately to children with VIB
– There is an urgent need for assessment approaches that account for non-visual developmental pathways
– The field would benefit from adapted tools, clearer clinical guidelines, and longitudinal research specific to this population

This work contributes to a growing call for more inclusive, developmentally sensitive, and accurate diagnostic practices that better reflect the lived experiences of children with sensory differences.

Read the full article here:

Children with visual impairment and blindness (VIB) are consistently reported to show higher rates of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or ASD-like features than sighted peers, yet the nature of this association remains unclear. A major source of ambiguity lies in the use of assessment tools developed....

01/13/2026

30 Days of Outdoor Activity: Day 9
On Friday, Day 9 of this challenge, I was tired after a long week of work. I wanted to go home and get under a warm blanket but it was one of my friend’s birthday party and I didn’t want to miss it. I decided to stay at my office at the hospital and go directly to the party from there. To wake myself up and refresh, I explored downtown by foot on my way to the party. In the end, the party was fantastic, and I had a wonderful evening!

What was the trick? Addressing the transitions. If I had gone home, I would have had to convince myself to go out again. By leaving from my office, I was already “out” so it was a less dramatic transition and just felt easier.

01/10/2026

30 Days of Outdoor Activity: Day 8. On Thursday, I took my daughter to the climbing gym. Again, we could’ve drove, but we decided to walk. We had a lovely walk involving a couple of snow fights and a great bouldering sesh at the gym.

I also walked to the metro to get to work. So by the end of the day, I had walked about 45 minutes outside. I didn’t have to make a big effort to do it. It happened because that’s how I am getting around. I’ve made it easy - walking is the norm.

01/08/2026

30 day challenge. Yesterday I really wasn’t feeling it. I was super cosy at home and I wasn’t in the mood to go outside. But I made my commitment here so I knew I had to do it. I decided to go for a cross country ski in my neighborhood. I’m lucky that my neighbourhood includes a very long ski trail. If you live in a place where there’s snow you might be surprised to find that there are Cross country ski trails in many many City parks.

Once I got into it and started my ski playlist, the rhythm began to take over and the beauty became apparent.

How did I make it happen?
I had to get over that friction point, that inertia point of not wanting to move and not wanting to go out. Once I did, it became a lot easier. Sticking to new habits isn’t about willpower. It’s about getting over that initial friction point.