Blog

  • Elevating aviation safety: How psychological screening protects personnel and passengers

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    Flying has long been widely recognized as one of the safest modes of transportation, which is a testament to the aviation sector’s commitment to safety. Every time a passenger, cargo, or military aircraft safely touches down, it is due to the skill, training, technical expertise, and sharp decision-making capabilities of its pilot and crew. That’s why these factors are all carefully considered when evaluating candidates for aviation roles.

    Airlines, regulators, and other key aviation stakeholders are increasingly recognizing the importance that psychological readiness plays in maintaining safe flight operations. Psychological screenings have emerged as important tools for identifying pilots and other aviation workers who can perform consistently and make clear-headed decisions under pressure. These assessments also play an essential role in building aviation teams who feel prepared, supported, and equipped to perform at their best in any given moment in the air.

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  • Dyslexia, Dysgraphia, Dyscalculia (oh my)—a la The Wizard of Oz

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    Educators sometimes feel like Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz, encountering a trio of formidable challenges along the Yellow Brick Road: reading difficulties (dyslexia), writing difficulties (dysgraphia), and math difficulties (dyscalculia). These three learning disabilities are distinct in their core features – dyslexia affects reading and spelling, dysgraphia impacts writing (especially handwriting and spelling), and dyscalculia involves persistent trouble with number sense and math – yet they often travel together in the same student. In other words, it’s not unusual for a child to experience a mix of reading, writing, and math needs all at once.

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  • The wait is over: The WIAT-4, Canadian French Edition is on the way

    by Michael Charron, Bilingual Assessment Consultant

    Long considered a cornerstone of academic assessment, the Wechsler Individual Achievement Test (WIAT) provides a comprehensive, standardized and research-backed framework for evaluating achievement. Now, after more than two decades, a major update is arriving for French-speaking students across Canada, with the introduction of the Wechsler Individual Achievement Test–Fourth Edition, Canadian French (WIAT-4 CDN-F)

    The latest edition reflects modern needs by introducing contemporary Canadian norms and features new subtests and composite scoring for more accurate results. Digital administration enables faster and more efficient testing, thereby increasing access to learners and enhancing efficiency for clinicians. 

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  • Supporting the Spectrum: How to Address Autism and Co-Occurring Conditions

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    In recent decades, an increasing number of children have been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) across the U.S. According to the latest CDC data, the number of 8-year-olds identified with ASD is about 1 in 31. However, as discussed on a recent episode of our podcast, “Healthy Minds, Bright Futures: How to Navigate Mental Health and Build Support,” there is more to that number than meets the eye.

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  • Exploring Connections Between Interoception and the Sensory Profile

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    Woman in a plaid shirt holds a box of plants in a sunlit greenhouse.

    There is no shortage of studies on sensory processing and the interplay between sensory preferences and sensory environments on an individual’s health, well-being, and ability to perform tasks, but the research often fails to reflect lived sensory experiences. The connection between interoception — the perceptions of bodily signals and states — needs to be included in a comprehensive look at a person’s sensory patterns.

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