Episode 59: A Conversation with Dr. Peter Rosenbaum and Elizabeth Chambers About the F‑Words for Child Development

In this episode, ASCY’s Sue Lepore is joined by Dr. Peter Rosenbaum, internationally respected pediatrician, researcher, educator, and co‑founder of the CanChild Centre for Childhood‑Onset Disability Research at McMaster University. For over five decades, Dr. Rosenbaum has been a leading voice in childhood disability research, shaping innovative ways of understanding children’s development. His most influential contribution, the F‑words in Childhood Disability, has become a globally used strengths‑based framework, translated into more than 35 languages and downloaded over 100,000 times. In 2025, he was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada for his lifetime of contributions.

Joining him is Elizabeth Chambers, a certified teacher, caregiver, and strong advocate for family‑centred, strengths‑based practice. Elizabeth brings both professional expertise and meaningful lived experience supporting aging parents and a medically complex child. Her insights add depth, compassion, and real‑world connection to this conversation.

Together, Dr. Rosenbaum and Elizabeth explore the six F‑words, function, family, fitness, fun, friends, and future, and how these concepts help us see and support “the whole child.” Through stories, examples, and reflection, they discuss how the F‑words shift our focus from deficits to strengths, from limitations to possibilities, and from “fixing” children to truly partnering with them and their families. They highlight the importance of inclusive environments, family partnerships, and supporting children in ways that honour their interests, relationships, and unique ways of being.

About Dr. Peter Rosenbaum
Dr. Rosenbaum joined McMaster’s Department of Paediatrics in 1973 and co‑founded CanChild in 1989. His career has focused on child functioning, family wellbeing, service delivery, the language used in childhood disability, and communicating complex ideas in accessible ways. His and CanChild’s work on the F‑words continues to influence research, practice, and family engagement around the world.

About Elizabeth Chambers
Elizabeth is a teacher, caregiver, and advocate based in the Niagara Region. As part of the “club sandwich” generation, she supports both her children and aging parents, including caring for her mother with Alzheimer’s and her medically complex son. Her work spans research, advocacy, consulting, and international collaboration. She serves as a Parent Partner and Co‑Principal Investigator on several projects, is part of the ENVISAGE leadership team, and is an associate member of CanChild. She also writes at https://www.lightkeeperlife.com/ 

Resources Mentioned in This Episode

• CanChild F‑Words Hub
  https://canchild.ca/research-in-practice/f-words-in-childhood-disability/
• Original F‑Words Article (2011)
  https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.1365-2214.2011.01338.x
• Perspectives Video & Related Resources
  https://canchild.ca/research-in-practice/approaches-to-disability/
• Free F‑Words Online Training Program
  https://canchild-fwords.ca/