Meghann Lloyd, PhD
Associate Professor, Faculty of Health Sciences; Research Associate, Grandview Children’s Centre | University of Ontario Institute of Technology
Oshawa, ON, CANADA
Internationally published researcher and advocate for children with disabilities and their families
Biography
Working with children has always been the dream for Meghann Lloyd, PhD, Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT), and Research Associate at Grandview Children’s Centre in Oshawa, Ontario. Early on, she realized that children with disabilities needed her more so she became an advocate for enhancing their lives through early intervention.
Dr. Lloyd joined UOIT in 2010 and leads the university’s Motor Behaviour and Physical Activity Lab, inspiring and mentoring her students to develop new strategies for improving the quality of life for children with disabilities, their families, and organizations that service their needs. Largely community based, Dr. Lloyd's hands-on research targets the development of interventions for children with disabilities to promote fundamental motor skills which have a positive impact on other areas of their lives. She is the recipient of the prestigious International Federation of Adapted Physical Activity 2015 Young Researcher Award.
Dr. Lloyd completed her Bachelor of Kinesiology (Honours) at Acadia University, School of Recreation Management and Kinesiology in 2001. During her undergraduate studies she was involved with the SMILE Program, working one-on-one with children with disabilities. Paired with a young boy with autism spectrum disorder, her experience solidified her path toward making a difference in the lives of children with disabilities. In 2003, she graduated with a Master of Arts from McGill University’s Department of Kinesiology and Physical Education, and in 2008, she obtained her Doctorate from the University of Michigan, Division of Kinesiology and pursued a Post-Doctoral Fellowship at U-M’s Centre for Motor Behavior and Pediatric Disabilities.
That same year, she began her career as a junior research scientist in the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute’s Healthy Active Living and Obesity Research Group, and still serves as an adjunct investigator with the Hospital. In 2008, she also joined the University of Ottawa as an assistant professor in the Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, and in 2009, she was appointed adjunct professor in the university’s Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Human Kinetics (non-tenure track).
A revered expert in her field, Dr. Lloyd’s research has been published in the international journals Autism and Research in Developmental Disabilities.
Industry Expertise (2)
Research
Education/Learning
Areas of Expertise (10)
Physical Literacy
Interaction of Fundamental Motor Skills and Physical Activity
Paediatric Obesity in Children With and Without Disabilities
Early Intervention
Autism Spectrum Disorder (Asd)
Developmental Co-Ordination Disorder (Dsd)
Down Syndrome
Children and Infants
Obesity in Children With Disabilities
Physical Activity and Motor Development
Accomplishments (4)
Assistant Professor, Faculty of Health Sciences, UOIT (professional)
2010-08-01
During her time at UOIT, Dr. Lloyd has received numerous government research awards from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, and the Canadian Centre for Disability Studies, to advance early intervention for children with disabilities. An important milestone in her career, Dr. Lloyd’s research demonstrates that children with ASD have motor skill delays.
Research Associate, Grandview Children’s Centre (professional)
2011-03-01
An independently operated not-for-profit organization, Grandview Children’s Centre is the only children's treatment centre in Durham Region providing specialized programs, outpatient clinical treatment, and support to thousands of children and youth with special needs and their families. Since 2011, Dr. Lloyd has worked as a research associate on studies to provide positive interventions for children with disabilities; and served on the Research and Evaluation Committee since 2012.
Board Member, International Federation of Adapted Physical Activity (IFAPA) (professional)
2013-07-01
Elected in July 2013 as the North American Representative, Dr. Lloyd is a Board Member of IFAPA, a cross-disciplinary professional organization of individuals, institutions, and agencies supporting and promoting adapted physical activity, disability sport, and all aspects of sport, movement, and exercise science for individuals with disabilities.
2015 International Federation of Adapted Physical Activity (IFAPA) Young Researcher Award (professional)
2015-06-11
Dr. Lloyd received the distinguished IFAPA Young Researcher Award at the 20th International Symposium on Adapted Physical Activity (ISAPA) in Israel. The award recognizes the development of passionate enthusiasm and inspiration in young Adapted Physical Activity professionals around the world. The goal is to encourage, recognize and support young professionals interested in physical activity for people of all abilities.
Education (4)
University of Michigan : Post-Doctoral Fellow, Center for Motor Behavior and Pediatric Disabilities 2008
University of Michigan : PhD, Division of Kinesiology 2008
McGill University: MA, Department of Kinesiology and Physical Education 2003
Acadia University : BKin, School of Recreation Management and Kinesiology 2001
(Honours, Acadia Advantage)
Affiliations (2)
- North American Federation of Adapted Physical Activity
- International Association for the Scientific Study of Intellectual Disabilities
Event Appearances (13)
Motor skills and physical activity in 6-10 year old children with and without Down syndrome
International Symposium of Adapted Physical Activity Istanbul, Turkey
2013-07-19
A Motor skill intervention for 4 year old children with autism spectrum disorder: A pilot study
International Symposium of Adapted Physical Activity Istanbul, Turkey
2013-07-19
Evidence of a Health Disparity in Adults with Intellectual Disabilities: BMI Status by World Economy
Health Disparities Research at the Intersection of Race, Ethnicity, and Disability Washington, DC
2013-04-25
BMI of adolescents with intellectual disabilities: A global comparison
North American Federation of Adapted Physical Activity Conference Birmingham, Alabama
2013-10-11
International BMI comparison of children and youth with intellectual disabilities
International Association for the Scientific Study of Intellectual Disabilities World Congress Halifax, Nova Scotia
2012-07-09
Body Mass Index of Adults with Intellectual Disability by World Region
International Association for the Scientific Study of Intellectual Disabilities World Congress Halifax, Nova Scotia
2012-07-09
Obesity Trends of Young Special Olympians in the United States
International Association for the Scientific Study of Intellectual Disabilities World Congress Halifax, Nova Scotia
2012-07-09
The importance of Fundamental Motor skills: What the research tells us
Physical and Health Education Canada Pre-Conference Workshop Halifax, Nova Scotia
2012-05-10
Linking Physical Activity to Early Intervention in children with Down Syndrome
Combined Sections of the American Physical Therapy Association Chicago, Illinois
2012-02-08
Physical activity and motor skills in 3-5 year old children with and without Down syndrome
Health and Wellbeing in Developmental Disabilities Toronto, Ontario
2011-11-07
Fundamental motor skills: Role in the physical activity of preschool age children with and without Down syndrome
International Symposium of Adapted Physical Activity Paris, France
2011-07-04
Resources to promote “Active Start” and “FUNdamentals” in Canadian children with disabilities
International Symposium of Adapted Physical Activity Paris, France
2011-07-04
Physical activity of preschool age children with and without Down Syndrome
The 3rd International Congress on Physical Activity and Public Health Toronto, Ontario
2010-05-05
Style
Research Grants (4)
Maximizing the Use of Special Olympics International's Healthy Athletes Database to Understand the Health of Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities
CIHR and Special Olympics $25,000
2014-07-01
PI Lloyd, M. July 2014-July 2015 A planning and dissemination grant with $10,000 from CIHR and $15,000 from Special Olympics.
Implementing a Multi-Sport Skills Day Camp for Girls age 8-11 with Developmental Disabilities: Impact on Motor Skills, Self-Perception, Physical Activity and the Involvement in Recreational Sports
Special Olympics Canada Research Grant $6001
2013-12-01
PI Lloyd, M. CI Smith, L. December 2013-August 2014
School-based Motor Skill Intervention for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Special Olympics Canada Research Grant $7000
2012-08-01
PI Lloyd, M. CI Bremer, E. August 2012-July 2013
Durham ABA-Based Services and Supports for Children and Youth with ASD
Ontario Ministry of Children and Youth Services $6000000
2011-07-01
Partners: Grandview Children’s Centre, Resources for Exceptional Children and Youth, and Lake Ridge Community Support Services for service delivery and UOIT, Lloyd, M. July 2011-2016, $1.2 million/year for 5 years Aim: To deliver short-term intense Applied Behaviour Analysis therapy to children and youth with ASD, and evaluate program services in four areas: communication, behaviour, daily living skills, and social skills.