In our lab, we work collaboratively with a diverse range of partners, including social workers, data analysts, MRI technicians, educators, health professionals, as well as families and individuals with lived and living experience. ACCERT brings together this wide range of expertise to examine key areas of child and youth development, including developmental pathways over time, with a specific focus on specialized populations such as individuals with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD). Our work also focuses on identifying interventions and supports that can promote positive outcomes for youth put at risk, as well as understanding the structural and systemic factors that contribute to marginalization.

At the ACCERT lab, we approach field research in innovative ways, going beyond traditional methods to gain deeper insights. By embedding ourselves within organizational structures we aim to create collaborative spaces for participants to express themselves more freely. This approach enhances articulation and provides rich, descriptive data. At the ACCERT lab, we strive to serve our community and make a meaningful difference through unique research opportunities that uncover valuable insights and promote positive change.  

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) is a lifelong neurodevelopmental disability caused by prenatal exposure to alcohol that results in changes to the developing brain at neurochemical and structural levels. Scientific evidence shows that there is no threshold for safe low-level drinking during pregnancy or when planning to become pregnant. 

Prenatal alcohol exposure may contribute to challenges in social communication, attention, motor and sensory skills, emotional regulation, and memory. Many individuals with FASD also experience mental health difficulties and other challenges, such as school difficulty, addictions, trouble with the law, and difficulties maintaining employment. Individuals with FASD have many strengths, including their ability to connect with others, perseverance, optimism, and openness to receiving supports. The ACCERT lab is focused on identifying and highlighting ways in which these strengths can influence practice and inspire system changes that will promote positive outcomes for individuals with FASD across various settings. 

Some individuals or communities are excluded or pushed to society's margins as a result of the design of our social and political systems. The term structural marginalization has been used to shift the focus away from the person or individual as ‘marginalized’ and emphasize the way in which institutions and systems unevenly distribute power and resources away from certain populations. 

Youths who have encountered early-life trauma, adversity, or marginalization may not have access to the same opportunities as their peers. Consequently, these differences in developmental experiences can lead to challenges in achieving success in daily activities. Furthermore, many youth with systems involvement have lost faith in the systems that are supposed to help them as they have experienced loss, disappointment, and adversity and have developed a strong sense of self-reliance as a means of survival.

There is not a singular experience of marginalization, even among those that share marginalized identities. Oppression such as racism, sexism, homophobia, ableism, and classism further intersect with individual experience and personal identity. Only focusing on the presence of marginalized identities can cause harm, as applying  “high risk” labels can impose further marginalization. If we want to draw on strengths and gain an authentic picture of their experience, we cannot lose the person in the system.
        DIVERTs a transdisciplinary mental health training platform that is working with ACCERT members to help us conduct research with structurally marginalized youth. DIVERT's goal is to leverage technology to create more equitable and accessible mental health care research and practice in Canada.