“The Power of Lived Experience: Facing Cleft and Craniofacial Care Forward” ACPA Annual Meeting – 12 April 2024

Earlier this month, I had the privilege of attending my first ACPA (American Cleft Palate Craniofacial Association) conference (annual meeting), held in Denver, Colorado. It was a privilege to be invited to speak on a lived experience panel, following on from the paper "A Keynote Address" published in late 2023. The panel consisted of colleagues from the US, Canada, UK, Europe (and me from NZ), all of whom are doing important work with the cleft/visible difference community, while also living with cleft/visible difference themselves. Thanks to the ACPA, the recording of the panel is now freely available online for all to watch and share.

Apr 26, 2024 0

Cleft Camp 2024 – Meet the Team

We've got a fantastic team supporting the 2024 Cleft Camp - find out more about the Camp Leadership team by checking out their bios below! Find out more about the camp here. Kenny Ardouin - Camp Manager Kia ora, my name is Kenny and I am very excited to be leading the team at camp!... Continue Reading →

Dec 15, 2023 0

New Journal Article: A Keynote Address – A Guide to Supporting Conference Speakers with Lived Experience of Cleft Lip and/or Palate

Following on from our panel discussion at Edinburgh 2022, Danielle McWilliams, Dr Amanda Bates, and myself have been working away behind the scenes, putting together an article for the Cleft Palate Craniofacial Journal about making the most of lived experience representation at conferences and ensuring that people with lived experience are well supported throughout. We... Continue Reading →

Nov 10, 2023 0

Interview on Te Ao Tapatahi, Whaakata Māori (Māori Television), 8 November 2023

View on demand as Kenny is interviewed by Neil Waka on the Te Ao Tapatahi news programme about his experiences growing up with cleft lip and palate, and the University of Canterbury's Cleft Research projects. The interview starts at 03:00 into the news bulletin. Click here to watch video on Māori TV Original source: https://www.maoriplus.co.nz/playback/item/6340703686112

Nov 8, 2023 0

Interview on Radio Waatea, 8 November 2023

Listen in on demand as Kenny has a korero with Radio Waatea's breakfast presenter Dale Husband about the University of Canterbury's Cleft Research to explore the effects of cleft on whānau Māori and cleft support services. Original source: https://waateanews.com/2023/11/08/kenny-ardouin-lecturer-and-phd-candidate-at-the-university-of-canterbury/

Nov 8, 2023 0

Understanding long-term impacts of cleft-related speech differences in New Zealand adults

Poster Presentation - Australasian Cleft Lip and Palate Association Conference - Melbourne, Australia - Friday 27 - Sunday 29 October 2023 MSc Study - A0 PosterDownload For more info on the study, please click here. Poster Text Authors: Kenny Ardouin1, Nicola Stock2, Tika Ormond1, Phoebe Macrae1 1Te Kura Mahi ā-Hirikapo, Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha,... Continue Reading →

Oct 28, 2023 0

Participate in Research: Using Patient Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs) to develop a snapshot of cleft outcomes in New Zealand

As part of our Cleft Research Centre at the University of Canterbury, we are using the CLEFT-Q patient reported outcome measures to develop a snapshot of how people affected by cleft in New Zealand feel about their speech, and overall wellbeing. We are using this information to understand what usually goes well for people with cleft... Continue Reading →

Sep 4, 2023 0

Register now for the 2024 Cleft Youth Camp!

I'm very excited to be working with Cleft New Zealand to deliver a special event for young people and adolescents in our New Zealand cleft community – a youth camp in the Term 1 School Holidays next year! If you, or your child will be aged between 10-18 in April 2024, then you’re eligible to... Continue Reading →

Jul 13, 2023 0

Aotearoa Cleft Awareness Week 2022

Mon 31 Oct - Sun 6 Nov 2022 was Cleft Awareness Week in New Zealand. Each day during Cleft Awareness Week, I shared a post, interview or presentation about cleft lip and palate with you to help share some of the lesser-known aspects of living with cleft! Whatever your background, I hope that you find... Continue Reading →

Oct 31, 2022 0

Summary of Lived Experience Panel: Cleft 2022, Edinburgh

The experiences of living with cleft panel was an opportunity for our panel featuring people with lived experience of cleft to share their observations and knowledge of what it is like to grow up with cleft. The panel discussed candidly some of their personal challenges, and discussed how despite having received good cleft care, cleft... Continue Reading →

Oct 18, 2022 0

What do you want from me? Considerations for Inviting Collaborations and Project Work

I thoroughly enjoy and welcome the opportunity to collaborate on projects with researchers, healthcare providers and NGOs around the world, and I regularly do! If you are interested in utilising my expertise for your research, project, or piece of work, please read this first. This is not a post which gives me any pleasure to... Continue Reading →

Jul 29, 2022 0

International Cleft Congress – 11-15 July 2022, Edinburgh, UK

After more than two years of attending conferences virtually at strange hours of the night, it was very exciting to reconnect with colleagues from around the world in person at the 14th International Cleft Congress held in Edinburgh, Scotland.

Jul 26, 2022 0