Congrats to Brittany Pousett, PhD Candidate and 2026 Public Scholar! 🎉 Her research explores peer support programs that help people with amputations keep doing what matters to them. She's also co-designing a peer support symposium for the community. Supervisor: Dr. William C. Miller

Congratulations to Dr. Gordon on successfully defending his PhD! 🎉 His doctoral research explores where rehabilitation science and game design meet, looking at how digital games can make rehab therapy more engaging and motivating. We're so proud of you, Gordon! 👏

New study: an app called ICanWALK© teaches people how to safely fit and walk with canes, crutches & walkers using side-by-side video feedback. 12 users tested it. Usability score: 88.3/100 (96th-100th percentile). Led by Maureen O'Brien. Published in Disability and Rehabilitation!

New study led by Alfiya Battalova: Disabled cyclists and mobility device users in Metro Vancouver often choose cycle lanes over sidewalks, not because they were designed for them, but because sidewalks fail them first. Researchers call this "unintentional accessibility."

New study led by Stephanie Cimino: 7 adults with lower limb amputation used Photovoice to document accessibility barriers and facilitators in their communities, from parking lots and heavy doors to handrails and automatic sensors. Take a read at the graphics to understand more!

Our recent Open House at GF Strong was a hit! 🪞 Visitors got to try the Smart Mirror, a full-length interactive mirror connecting stroke survivors with their physiotherapist in real time for at-home rehab. Thanks to everyone who came out to see the MATTERS Lab's work in action! 🎬

Call for Papers has been open for the ISPO 21st World Congress (22–25 March 2027, Bangkok, Thailand)! Theme: "A World Connected: Advancing Assistive Technologies for Global Equity." Symposia, instructional courses & technical track proposals close Mon 29 June 2026. Go submit NOW!! 📑

Huge congratulations to Dr. Isabelle Rash on successfully defending her PhD dissertation! 🎉 Her research explored how a "smart mirror" could improve telerehabilitation for stroke survivors, going beyond what Zoom can offer for lower-body rehabilitation. Proud to have hosted this work at GF Strong!

Our latest publication: Access to Fly: A Scoping Review of Travellers with Disabilities’ Experiences in Air Travel✈️ It highlights persistent barriers across the entire travel journey, including limited access to information! Read full paper here: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

Access to fly: A scoping review of travellers with Disabilities’ experiences in air travel

Accessible air travel is recognised as a human right for travelers with disabilities. However, many travellers with disabilities have negative experie…

sciencedirect.com

Back with more research updates! 🦽 CoPILOT study (VCHRI): safer, remote-supported powered wheelchair training www.vchri.ca/stories/2026... 🦿 New CPOJ publication: advancing a national limb loss registry jps.library.utoronto.ca/index.php/cp...

Revolutionizing powered wheelchair training for spinal cord injury recovery

Using a powered wheelchair is an essential component of rehabilitation for individuals with spinal cord injuries (SCI), but traditional training methods often come with risks. The process of learning ...

vchri.ca

Back with more research updates! 🦽 CoPILOT study (VCHRI): safer, remote-supported powered wheelchair training www.vchri.ca/stories/2026... 🦿 New CPOJ publication: advancing a national limb loss registry jps.library.utoronto.ca/index.php/cp...

Revolutionizing powered wheelchair training for spinal cord injury recovery

Using a powered wheelchair is an essential component of rehabilitation for individuals with spinal cord injuries (SCI), but traditional training methods often come with risks. The process of learning ...

vchri.ca

Our latest publication: Access to Fly: A Scoping Review of Travellers with Disabilities’ Experiences in Air Travel✈️ It highlights persistent barriers across the entire travel journey, including limited access to information! Read full paper here: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

Access to fly: A scoping review of travellers with Disabilities’ experiences in air travel

Accessible air travel is recognised as a human right for travelers with disabilities. However, many travellers with disabilities have negative experie…

sciencedirect.com

Professor Claudia Galvão, of the Federal University of Paraíba, Brazil, is undertaking the translation and cultural adaptation of the Wheelchair Outcome Measure (WhOM) into Brazilian Portuguese under the guidance of Professor William Miller, as part of her postdoctoral research.

We are excited to share our latest publication! “A Multi-Level Meta-Analysis of Therapeutic Interventions to Improve Fall-Related Outcomes in Individuals with Lower Limb Amputation” Link: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti... @vchhealthcare.bsky.social @ubcrhsc.bsky.social @ubcosot.bsky.social

Multilevel Meta-analysis of Therapeutic Interventions to Improve Fall-Related Outcomes in Individuals With Lower Limb Amputation

To evaluate the effectiveness of therapeutic interventions on gait, balance, functional independence, and balance confidence in individuals with lower…

sciencedirect.com

We are excited to share our latest publication! “A Multi-Level Meta-Analysis of Therapeutic Interventions to Improve Fall-Related Outcomes in Individuals with Lower Limb Amputation” Link: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti... @vchhealthcare.bsky.social @ubcrhsc.bsky.social @ubcosot.bsky.social

Multilevel Meta-analysis of Therapeutic Interventions to Improve Fall-Related Outcomes in Individuals With Lower Limb Amputation

To evaluate the effectiveness of therapeutic interventions on gait, balance, functional independence, and balance confidence in individuals with lower…

sciencedirect.com

Happy to share a multi-level meta-analysis publication in @ArchivesPMS Key findings indicate that therapeutic interventions have the potential to improve functional outcomes in individuals with lower limb amputation. Read to learn more! www.archives-pmr.org/article/S000...

A Multi-Level Meta-Analysis of Therapeutic Interventions to Improve Fall-Related Outcomes in Individuals with Lower Limb Amputation

To evaluate the effectiveness of therapeutic interventions on gait, balance, functional independence, and balance confidence in individuals with lower limb amputation. Additionally, to examine effects...

archives-pmr.org

Pleased to share a recent publication evaluating the feasibility of CoPILOT, a shared-control powered wheelchair training program that is showing promise for safely enhancing powered wheelchair skills for new users with spinal cord injuries. Read more here: www.nature.com/articles/s41...

A feasibility study of a shared control powered wheelchair training program for individuals with spinal cord injury - Spinal Cord

Spinal Cord - A feasibility study of a shared control powered wheelchair training program for individuals with spinal cord injury

nature.com

Pleased to share a recent publication evaluating the feasibility of CoPILOT, a shared-control powered wheelchair training program that is showing promise for safely enhancing powered wheelchair skills for new users with spinal cord injuries. Read more here: www.nature.com/articles/s41...

A feasibility study of a shared control powered wheelchair training program for individuals with spinal cord injury - Spinal Cord

Spinal Cord - A feasibility study of a shared control powered wheelchair training program for individuals with spinal cord injury

nature.com

Adventure mode: ON 🏔 An epic day on the mountain with RAD Society!

UBC MOT students got hands-on experience with innovative technologies and mobility devices at the 2025 Assistive Technology and Wheelchair Skills Training Days! A big thank-you to the amazing organizations who shared their expertise and inspired the future OTs.

Excited to share a new paper by Principal Investigator Dr. William Miller and research assistant Adit Dhariwal. It explores the growing challenge of fraudulent participation in research, with recommendations on prevention and detection. www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti... #research #academicsky

Fraud, Deception, and Subversion: Recommendations for Maintaining Data Integrity

Researchers increasingly use online tools to advertise studies, recruit participants, and collect data, enabling access to individuals in remote or ru…

sciencedirect.com

The Peer-HELP study is actively recruiting participants to help improve peer support and social connection in patients with lower limb loss. Take part in a 30–60 minute interview to share your experiences adjusting to life with limb loss and accessing peer support resources.

We had a great experience attending the ISPO 20th World Congress in Sweden. A global celebration where Adit and Brittany had the privilege of presenting, and a special congratulations to Adit for winning the Best Paper and Poster in the sustainability category! #ISPO2025

Happy to share that one of our PhD students, Brittany Pousett, was featured on the O&P Research Insights Podcast, where she discussed her research on prosthetic socket comfort, pain, and mobility in individuals with lower limb amputation! Check it out here: aaop.podbean.com/e/the-relati...

OSOT Professor and @agingsmart.bsky.social PI Dr. Bill Miller's studies of the Smart Mirror, the SMART Program, Recreational Adaptive Devices, and 3D-printed prosthetics were featured in @vchhealthcare.bsky.social's story on @matterslab.bsky.social's research www.vchri.ca/stories/2025... #OT365

Behind the lab doors: Breaking barriers with assistive technologies at MATTERS Lab

In Canada, 10.6 per cent of individuals aged 15 and over have a mobility disability — meaning they experience difficulty or an inability to walk for 15 minutes without resting. At the Mobility Assisti...

vchri.ca

Excited to share this feature by the Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute on the incredible work happening at the MATTERS Lab! Learn more about how we are breaking barriers using assistive technology here: www.vchri.ca/stories/2025... @vchhealthcare.bsky.social #research

Behind the lab doors: Breaking barriers with assistive technologies at MATTERS Lab

In Canada, 10.6 per cent of individuals aged 15 and over have a mobility disability — meaning they experience difficulty or an inability to walk for 15 minutes without resting. At the Mobility Assisti...

vchri.ca

A great day attending the INCREASE BC conference and supporting our PhD students, Raneem and Brittany, with their respective poster and presentation. Congratulations to Brittany for her 2nd-place award in the 3-Minute Thesis competition!

@ubcrhsc.bsky.social student Brittany Pousett came second in the INCREASE BC 3MT competition for her talk “Understanding how People with Lower Limb Amputations in British Columbia Cope with the Challenges Associated with Life with an Amputation” #OT365 @matterslab.bsky.social @agingsmart.bsky.social

Want to contribute to research? OSOT faculty @ben-vanmortenson.bsky.social & @matterslab.bsky.social, the RAD Society, & colleagues are seeking participants for their study of adaptive devices for outdoor recreation icord.org/studies/2024... #OT365 @agingsmart.bsky.social @vchhealthcare.bsky.social

Recreational Adaptive Devices (RAD) Study

ICORD researchers Dr. Ben Mortenson and Dr. William Miller have partnered with RAD Society to encourage outdoor recreational activity for individuals with mobility impairments. Together they have o…

icord.org

Congratulations to Emma Smith and Adit Dhariwal who have been nominated for the Best Paper and Poster Prize in the category “Greatest Contribution in Advancing Sustainability” at the International Society for Prosthetics and Orthotics (ISPO) 20th World Congress!