The purpose of the present study was to develop a knowledge translation (KT) activity for educators about the brain in children and adolescents with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The goal was to increase our participants’ knowledge about ADHD and its brain basis. In addition to neuroscience content, the KT activity included the personal story of the lead researcher’s lived experience with ADHD to provide context, and to inform the participants’ perceptions of ADHD. Framed in an action research paradigm, our study undertook three cycles of reflection, planning, action, and observation to develop and improve a knowledge translation activity. The knowledge translation activity was presented to 48 preservice and in-service teachers and members of the public across Canada, with a mixed methods approach to evaluate the outcomes. The findings demonstrated that this knowledge translation activity was effective in enhancing participant knowledge about ADHD. Quantitively, a non-significant trend was observed that participants shifted their perceptions from social and behavioural causes to brain-based causes of ADHD. Qualitatively, the participants indicated making connections between the personal story and neuroscience. Effective KT requires a review of context vocabulary and opportunity for teacher interaction. Teachers are aware of several behavioural management strategies but do not have a clear idea of how or why they work. Teaching neuroscience to teachers allows for a discussion of neurodiversity and a strength-based approach to programming and accommodation. This research could help guide future knowledge translation research into the benefits of combining personal lived experience with neuroscience content. Keywords: knowledge translation, neuroscience, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, lived experience, storytelling, action research, neurodiversity

School psychologists serve the learning needs of students through assessment, intervention, and consultation. The school psychologist can often be the only mental health professional who travels into rural communities. In an effort to adapt to this context of clinical isolation, rural school psychologists develop specialty competencies to serve their clients. This study explores the competencies required among school psychologists practicing in rural regions of Saskatchewan. Eight rural school psychologists participated in a thematic Delphi process to describe the competencies needed in rural school psychology. The participants engaged in three rounds of data collection and collective data analysis and arrived at a strong level of agreement on the final outcomes. The findings describe rural school psychology knowledge (i.e., community knowledge, generalist knowledge, and system knowledge), skills (i.e., relationship skills, core psychologist skills, efficiency skills, and communication skills), attitudes (i.e., flexibility, openness, and compassion), and behaviors (i.e., being responsive, being empowering, being available, and being procedural). The present study results contribute to better defining and understanding the multiple roles and practices of rural school psychologists. Recommendations of the study invite psychologists, clinical supervisors, and psychology training programs to incorporate an emphasis on interpersonal relationships, a generalist approach to psychological services, and consider creative practices of rural practitioners to the initial training and ongoing professional development of school psychologists.

The purpose of this systemic review of empirical research was to investigate available evidence-based interventions for use with students with oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) in general classroom settings. ODD is a specific disorder characterised by angry/irritable mood, argumentative/defiant behavior, and vindictiveness. Often ODD is hidden in the extant literature, as it is categorized under the umbrella term emotional and behavioral disorders (EBD) along with sometimes non-related disorders (attention-disorders, mood disorders, anxious disorders). This review of 26 articles focused on interventions for students whose behaviours were characteristic of ODD in classroom settings. While much of the research regarding the treatment of ODD consists of clinical strategies (e.g., family therapy, exercise programs, and community supports), it is essential that teachers have strategies to support students with ODD in inclusive general education classroom settings. Three main types of interventions emerged from this review: functional behaviour analysis, group contingency, and self-monitoring strategies. A number of other non-categorical strategies are also presented and discussed. Percentages of nonoverlapping data (PND) were calculated to explore the effect of these interventions in improving adaptive behavior, and in decreasing disruptive behavior. The resulting review provides recommendations and strategies for how teachers can support students with ODD in their classrooms.