Our Values
At the St. John Lab, innovations in adapted exercise science are driven by our core values of inclusivity, autonomy, and improvement.
Inclusivity
The St. John Lab has a people-first approach to research. Our interdisciplinary methods incorporate diverse academic perspectives to put together an informed view of health. We prioritize the inclusion of neurodiverse voices in the design of systems that will ensure their continued success.
The Power of Inclusive Research
What happens when we approach health research from an inclusive mindset?
There are many aspects of health that come together to shape a person's experience: Like the physical, mental, social, and psychological. But, these aspects aren't equally covered by individual areas of research. By collaborating with others, we can bridge gaps between different sources of knowledge to build a big-picture understanding of a person's health.
Research Themes
What is AES?
Adapted Exercise Science is the field exploring how exercise can be modified to accommodate diverse needs, and made more accessible. Modifications might deviate from the traditional way of playing sports, or performing exercises, but keep the core essence of these activities.
Autonomy
We strive to maintain the autonomy of people who exercise with accommodations. The questions in AES we explore pertain to individuals' control over their health, and knowledge of healthy physical practices. Our goal is to empower people with neurodevelopmental disabilities about making decisions related to their health.
Our Mission
At the St. John Lab, our mission is to advance the physical literacy of individuals with neurodevelopmental disabilities through participatory research methods.
Our Vision
We envision a world where all people have equal opportunity to grow, thrive, and flourish.
Our Impact
We are committed to mobilizing findings to everyone. For maximum impact, we produce resources in accessible, easy-read formats.
Improvement
Research in Adapted Exercise Science (AES) can always do more to make physical activity a universally enriching, fulfilling experience. On top of studying novel concepts in AES, our lab also revisits previously explored topics, with the goal of making improvements to existing resources.
Discover More!
Get to know Dr. St. John and her team.
See how these values are incorporated into research projects in the lab.
Contact us to find out how you can learn and be a part of our research.
Land Acknowledgement
The Adapted Exercise Science Lab respectfully acknowledges that we reside on the historical and current traditional territories of the peoples of the Treaty 7 region in Southern Alberta, including land of the Blackfoot Confederacy (comprised of the Siksika, the Piikani, and Kainai First Nations), the Tsuut’ina First Nation, and the Stoney Nakoda (including Chiniki, Bearspaw, and Goodstoney First Nations). The City of Calgary is also home to the Métis Nation of Alberta Districts 5 and 6. Calgary is situated on land where the Bow River meets the Elbow River, a site traditionally known as Moh’kins’tsis to the Blackfoot, Wîchîspa to the Stoney Nakoda, and Guts’ists’i to the Tsuut’ina. Members of the Adapted Exercise Science Lab are committed to learning about, reflecting on, and supporting Indigenous People’s rights for self-determination.