Funding outcome

About 1 in 500 children in Canada live with conditions like cerebral palsy that make it very hard to move around on their own. Not being able to move independently affects a child's ability to play, make friends, and learn. Over time, it can also take a toll on their mental health and overall sense of self. Scientists have been working on technology that lets people control devices using only their thoughts. A small headset placed on the head picks up signals from the brain. A computer then figures out what the person wants to do and sends commands to a device, such as a motorized wheelchair, a wearable suit that helps the legs move, or a robotic arm brace that supports hand and arm movement. This means a child who cannot use their hands or legs could still get around on their own, just by thinking about it. The problem is that this technology was built and tested mostly on healthy adults. Children's brains are still developing, which means their brain signals look different. Children also get tired more quickly and need equipment that is lighter and easier to use. Because of this, current systems often do not work well for children, especially those with brain-related conditions. This research will study how brain signals in these children change over time, build smarter computer programs that require little to no setup time, and identify the simplest equipment that still gets the job done. The goal is to create thought-controlled assistive technology that truly works for children, giving kids across the world more freedom, independence, and opportunity.