Trainee: Vicki Lopes

Master's Candidate

Start Date: November, 2007

End Date: present

Queen's University

Department: Psychology

Supervisor: Patricia Minnes

Supervisor: Helene Ouellette-Kuntz

Research Project: Factors contributing to the successful transition of preschoolers with and without developmental delay into school

My proposed research study involves investigating the factors that contribute to the successful transition of preschoolers with and without developmental delays into elementary school. The goal of the proposed study is to identify which factors predict higher quality of life and successful outcomes of transition. These factors may include characteristics of the child (i.e., disability, maladaptive behaviour), characteristics of parents (i.e., stress and coping, attitude towards school) and access to resources (i.e., services and supports, early intervention, parent training).

Publications

Clifford, T., Lopes, V., Minnes, P. & Ouellette-Kuntz, H. (2007, in press). Preschoolers Transitioning Into School: Involvement in Social Activities. Journal of Developmental Disabilities.

MacNeil, B.M., & Lopes, V. (2007, submitted). Anxiety in children and adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders.

Lopes, V. (2005, April). Embedded reinforcement: The effect of reinforcer preview. Unpublished undergraduate honours thesis, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON.

Presentations

Lopes, V., Clifford, T., Minnes, P., & Ouellette-Kuntz, H. (2007, November). Social participation in preschoolers with and without developmental delay. Poster presented at the 4th Annual Conference of the South Eastern Ontario Community-University Research Alliance in Intellectual Disabilities, Kingston, ON.

Lopes, V. (2007, June). Embedded Reinforcement: The effect of reinforcer preview on task acquisition. Poster presentation at the Canadian Psychology Association, 68th Annual Convention, Ottawa, ON.

Clifford, T., Lopes, V., Minnes, P., & Ouellette-Kuntz, H. (2007, June). Transition into school: experiences of children with or at risk for intellectual disabilities and their families. Paper presented at the Transition Into School Information Session: A Meeting for Agency and School Board Personnel, Kingston, ON.

Lopes, V. (2004, June). Sensitivity to differences in luminance and contrast in 5–year-olds and adults. Presentation at the Annual Undergraduate Thesis Conference, Ottawa, ON.