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Research Projects and Partners


Research Projects
Graduate Students conducting research through The Steadward Centre
Research Partners

 Research Projects

Dignity in Design and Use of Space

Johnston, K., Goodwin, D., & Peco, J.

Buildings are often designed around a standard set of accessibility guidelines. These guidelines do not necessarily consider how a space is used, or the different needs of the people who use it. Using the notion of dignity to frame our discussion, we are holding a number of focus groups with members of The Steadward Centre, including adults, youth and family members. These discussions will help us to understand what dignity means in the design and usage of space in a fitness centre for people with disabilities. Results from this study will be shared with the architects involved in designing the new fitness facility.


Trail Rider Excursion Program (TREP), or the One-Wheeled Off Road Rush

Photo: TREP sherpa help a Steadward Centre member enjoy trail-ridingGoodwin, D., Peco, J., & Ginther, N.

Outdoor recreation experiences are an enriching component of the lives of many active adults. Using adapted hiking equipment called the Trail Rider, the meaningfulness of an outdoor recreation initiative to people with spinal cord injuries was examined. Participants experienced the excitement, uncertainty, and risk of negotiating ungroomed trails. They also expressed feelings surrounding the importance of team cohesion, but at the price of accepting help, and identified the opportunity to reconnect with the outdoors.


 Graduate Students Conducting Research through The Steadward Centre


Katie McGillvary, MA Candidate
Dr. Marcel Bouffard, Supervisor

Empowerment of individuals with disabilities through physical activity
The purpose of this study is to examine whether involvement in physical activity for persons with a disability impacts their perceived levels of empowerment and to gain a better understanding of the processes that are occurring in the physical activity setting that impact changes in perception of individual empowerment.


Photo: Graduate student Joanna Clair in the Human Neurophysiology labJoanna Clair, Provisional PhD candidate
Dr. Dave Collins, Supervisor

Reflex contributions to muscle contractions evoked by electrical stimulation after spinal cord injury
Human neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) can restore function and reduce muscle atrophy for people with spinal cord injury (SCI).  It is often thought that muscle contractions are evoked during NMES through activation of a muscle or nerve below the stimulating electrodes. These experiments will be the first to investigate the extent to which spinal reflexes contribute to contractions evoked by NMES after SCI. The results will have implications for rehabilitation and provide insight into changes in reflex transmission after SCI. 

Graduate Students Supervised by Donna Goodwin, PhD

  • Keith Johnston, PhD Probationary Candidate
  • Lori Butcher, MA Candidate (2006-     )
  • Ali Jonzon, MSc Candidate (2006 -   )
  • Melanie Elliot, MSc Candidate (2004    )
  • Paul Gustafson, MSc Candidate (2003     )
  • Robin Thurmeier, MSc Candidate (2004   )

Visiting International Students

  • Øyvind Førland Standal, Norway  (Oct – Feb 2007)
  • Kyong June Yi, North Korea (Oct – Aug 2007)


 Research Partners