CRIR Student Symposium – June 30, 2026: The rehabilitation of tomorrow starts today.
When: 30 June 2026 08:30 to 30 June 2026 17:00
Where:
The CRIR Student Symposium will be held in person, in French and English | Registration required before June 15, 2026
📍 Location: Gingras‑Lindsay‑de‑Montréal Rehabilitation Institute (IRGLM), 6300 Avenue de Darlington, Montréal, QC, H3S 2J4, CRIR‑IURDPM Research Site – Gingras Pavilion
The 2026 CRIR Student Symposium offers an immersive day highlighting student research, innovation in rehabilitation, as well as interdisciplinary collaboration—both clinical and scientific—within CRIR.
Tuesday June 30, 2026, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
📍 Location – In person: Saputo Amphitheatre and Charles‑U.-Létourneau Auditorium : Gingras‑Lindsay‑de‑Montréal Rehabilitation Institute (IRGLM) 6300 Avenue de Darlington, Montréal, QC, H3S 2J4 | CRIR‑IURDPM Research Site – Gingras Pavilion
🗣️ Language: The symposium will be held in French and English.
📍Registration is now open | Deadline: June 15, 2026 (lunch included).
Members of the CRIR Student Committee are pleased to invite you to the 2026 CRIR Student Symposium, which will take place in person on Tuesday, June 30, 2026, under the theme: The rehabilitation of tomorrow starts today.
All CRIR members are invited to attend and support the next generation of researchers.
- The program will include laboratory tours and demonstrations of emerging rehabilitation technologies, offering participants the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of innovations that support autonomy and inclusion for individuals with functional limitations. By bringing together diverse areas of expertise, the symposium will help strengthen interdisciplinary connections and promote applied, inclusive, and socially relevant research.
- The symposium will thus foster a comprehensive understanding of the complex needs in rehabilitation by encouraging dialogue across fields of practice and research.
Participants will have the opportunity to experience the richness of interprofessional collaboration through oral presentations, scientific posters, and networking activities with researchers and fellow students.
PROGRAM
🔵 8:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.: Participant Check-In | Main entrance, Gingras Pavilion – IRGLM
- Registration confirmation, morning refreshments and treats
🔵 9:00 a.m. to 9:15 a.m.: Welcome Remarks | Saputo Amphitheatre
- Presentation by the members of the student committee.
🔵 9:15 a.m. to 9:45 a.m.: Conference| Saputo Amphitheatre
From Deficits to Functioning: The WHO Approach to Sensory Impairment
Walter Wittich, Ph.D. FAAO CLVT
Full Professor, School of Optometry, Université de Montréal
Adjunct Professor, School of Physical & Occupational Therapy, McGill University
Affiliate Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, Concordia University
Regular Member and Site Director
CRIR–Lethbridge-Layton-Mackay Rehabilitation Center, MAB and Mackay sites, CIUSSS West-Central Montreal and
CRIR– Institut Nazareth et Louis-Braille, CISSS de la Montérégie-Centre
Biography
Walter Wittich, Professor at the School of Optometry at the Université de Montréal in Quebec, Canada, is dedicated to researching the rehabilitation of individuals facing both vision and hearing difficulties. He explores congenital and acquired dual sensory impairment or deafblindness, and how sensory difficulties interact with cognitive abilities. His most recent work focuses on global equity disparities and how they relate to sensory difficulties, as he represents Deafblind International on the World Health Organization’s Disability Health Equity Initiative. He is the inaugural chair of the Deafblind International Research Network, and the 2025 recipient of Perkins’ Anne Sullivan Medal.
CONFERENCE ABSTRACT
Rehabilitation professionals increasingly work with individuals whose health conditions affect not only body functions but also daily activities, participation, and engagement in society. This presentation introduces the World Health Organization’s (WHO) International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) as a framework for understanding disability from a rehabilitation perspective. Using examples from vision impairment, hearing loss, and deafblindness, the session demonstrates how disability emerges through the interaction between health conditions, personal factors, and environmental contexts. Particular attention is given to the development and application of WHO ICF Core Sets, standardized tools that help identify the aspects of functioning most relevant to specific populations. The presentation highlights how these tools support assessment, goal setting, interdisciplinary collaboration, outcome measurement, and service planning. Finally, the session explores how rehabilitation professionals can contribute to global efforts aimed at improving disability inclusion, health equity, and participation across the lifespan. Through clinical examples and international perspectives, participants will gain practical insights into applying the ICF framework to contemporary rehabilitation practice.
9:45 a.m.: BREAK
🔵 9:45 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.: Lab tours and demonstrations of emerging rehabilitation technologies
- IURDPM lab tour – 4th floor, Gingras Pavilion
- IURDPM lab tour – 5th floor, Lindsay Pavilion
- Presentations and demonstrations by researchers from CRIR sites | Saputo Amphitheater:
* Institut universitaire sur la réadaptation en déficience physique de Montréal (IURDPM)
11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.: NETWORKING LUNCH | Saputo Amphitheatre
🔵 Self-guided tour: Exhibition: “Together for an Inclusive Future” | Main entrance, Gingras Pavilion – IRGLM
🔵 12:30 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.: Oral Presentations | Charles‑U.-Létourneau Auditorium
- 7 oral presentations (10 minutes each), including a short Q&A session
- 11 “Elevator pitch” presentations (1 minute each)
2:00 p.m.: BREAK
🔵 2:15 p.m. to 3:45 p.m.: Poster Presentations | Saputo Amphitheatre
During this 90-minute session, you will have the opportunity to learn about the research projects of 27 students.
🔵 3:45 p.m. to 4:45 p.m.: Closing reception for CRIR’s 25th anniversary and awards ceremony for the best student presentations | Saputo Auditorium
- Closing remarks and conclusion of the CRIR’s 25th anniversary: Claudine Auger, Scientific Co-Director of the CRIR
- Awards ceremony for the best student presentations at the conference – Thank you to our sponsors!
- Best POSTER Presentation – Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Rehabilitation in Metropolitan Montreal (CRIR)
- Best ORAL Presentation – Fonds de recherche Québec (FRQ)
- Best CLIN D’OEIL Presentation – Fonds de recherche Québec (FRQ)
- Best ACCESSIBLE Presentation – Vision Sciences Research Network (RRSV)
- Introduction of the new 2026-2027 Student Committee
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✨ ACKNOWLEDGMENTS:
The CRIR Student Symposium 2026 is made possible thanks to the valuable support of our partners.
We would like to express our sincere appreciation to the Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Rehabilitation of Greater Montreal (CRIR), the Vision Science Research Network, the Fonds de recherche du Québec (FRQ), as well as McGill University for their support of this initiative, which promotes knowledge sharing and the engagement of the next generation in research.
We look forward to welcoming you!
Student Representatives for Axes 1 and 2
Axis 1: Shirley Dumassais
Axis 2: Fatimata Ouédraogo
Student Representatives from CRIR Sites
Institut universitaire sur la réadaptation en déficience physique de Montréal (IURDPM):
Sébastien Finlay, Lexie Lançon, and Fatimata Ouédraogo
Institut Nazareth et Louis-Braille (INLB):
Shirley Dumassais
Jewish Rehabilitation Hospital (JRH):
Azba Shaikh and Dolev Yissar
Lethbridge‑Layton‑Mackay Rehabilitation Centre (LLMRC):
Mahmoud Abo Alfa and Mannat Madan
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CRIR | May 7, 2026 – Revised: June 1, 2026
