Making Therapy Fun: Tamer Shahin’s Innovative Approach to Engage Kids

How do we make therapy something kids want to do? Tamer Shahin, a researcher and father of a child with a physical disability, is tackling this question in collaboration with KidsAbility and the University of Waterloo’s Human-Computer Interaction Lab. Drawing from his technical skills and lived experience, Tamer is exploring new, fun, and engaging ways for kids with disabilities and their families to do therapy. In this video, Tamer shares his research journey, the challenges families face, and his hopes for the future. Watch now to learn more about the story behind the project and the exciting developments ahead.
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How do we make therapy something kids want to do? 

That’s the question Tamer Shahin is tackling in his latest research, in collaboration with KidsAbility and the University of Waterloo’s Human-Computer Interaction Lab. As both a researcher and the father of a child with a physical disability, Tamer brings a unique combination of technical skills and lived experience to this work. 

Having tried countless strategies and tools to engage his child in therapy, Tamer saw firsthand the challenges families face. “Kids don’t do things they’re not motivated to do,” he says. “A lot of the stuff out there is expensive, complicated, or just doesn’t work long term.” So, he set out to change that. 

Together with therapists and families, Tamer is now exploring new, fun, and engaging ways for kids with disabilities and their families to do therapy. 

In this video, Tamer shares what inspired his research journey, how his collaboration with KidsAbility began, and what he hopes this work can change for families like his. 

Watch now to learn more about the story behind the project. 

Over the next 2 years, KidsAbility will support Tamer’s research to learn more about the experiences of other families and therapists around motivation for home practice  prototype a solution, and test it in the real world with KidsAbility families.  We, at Rocket, are excited to be part of Tamer’s journey!  

To learn more about this research, contact Tamer Shahin at tamer.shahin@uwaterloo.ca

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