Connecting matters

Being on the spectrum, or caring for someone on the spectrum can be isolating. That's why it's very important to Daniel and I to reach out to the community. We've been to many kinds of groups, speaking events, workshops and activities. Listed below are just a sample of how we've worked to change the understanding of autism in the community.

Fleming College Educational Advocacy Program, Peterborough, ON – Guest Lecturer
Nov 27, 2018

Fleming College Educational Advocacy Program, Peterborough, ON – Guest Lecturer
Nov 27, 2018

• Guest lecture for Educational Advocate students: Supporting Students with ASD in the Classroom

 
Toronto Geneva Symposium 2018, Toronto, ON – Keynote Speaker & Session Co-Facilitator
Oct 24 - 25, 2018

• October 24: Delivered opening keynote address – What We’re Missing: Confronting the Costs of the Failures in Autism Supports
• October 25: Co-facilitated concurrent session – I Didn’t Say There’s Anything Wrong With Me, I Said I’m Autistic: A Discussion of the Communication Challenges in Verbal Autistic People

 
CASDA Conference 2018, Ottawa, ON – Panelist 
Apr 6, 2018

• Participated in two panels as part of an autism summit, in front of an audience of changemakers working toward a national autism strategy:
  • Panel 1, moderated by Dr. Jonathan Weiss, Chair in Autism Spectrum Disorders Treatment and Care Research at York University: Discussed the systemic problems that cause dire mental health challenges for people with autism, along with potential solutions.  Spoke alongside Dr. Yona Lunsky, Director of Azrieli Centre for Adult Neurodevelopmental Disabilities and Mental Health
  • Panel 2: Addressed the impact of self-advocacy on the mental and physical health of autistic people, and the importance of self-care in sustaining energy and achieving goals

 
Toronto Mental Health Peer Support Group – Moderator
Sept 25, 2018 - present

• Moderator of a large social media-based mental health support group
• Responsibilities include moderating posts, communicating with page followers experiencing difficult moments, and connecting them to services when appropriate

 
University of Toronto Disability Course Development Project, Toronto, ON – Committee Member
Jul 24, 2018 - present

• Contribute to curriculum development for new Social Work course at University of Toronto dedicated to teaching students how to best interact with and advocate for clients with physical, developmental, or intellectual disabilities
• Other committee members include York University Assistant Professor of the University of Toronto’s Factor-Inwentash School of Social Work Dr. Keith Adamson, Director of Surrey Place Barry Isaacs, and multiple representatives of Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital

 

CAMH Web-Based Mindfulness Research Project for Adults with Autism, Toronto, ON – Consultant
Jan 31, 2018 - present

• Recognizing the lack of resources for mental health issues for adults with autism, serve as consultant to CAMH in development of online mindfulness program and workbook tailored to addressing mental health challenges in the autism community
• One group just for adults on the spectrum, another for them together with their parents
• Contributions include advising on delivering the material in consideration of  social communication challenges inherent in verbal autistic individuals
• Collaborate with program developers Dr. Yona Lunsky and Sue Hutton:
  • Dr. Lunsky: Director of Azrieli Centre for Adult Neurodevelopmental Disabilities and Mental Health; Professor and Developmental Disabilities Lead in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Toronto; Director of Health Care Access Research and Developmental Disabilities (H-CARDD) Program
  • Sue Hutton: Social Worker; ARCH Disability Law Centre Respecting Rights Coordinator; Community Living Toronto Self-Advocates Council Coordinator

 
York Autism Spectrum Disorder Partnership – Committee Member
2018 - present

• Participating in York Autism Spectrum Disorder Partnership Committee, contributing personal insight into the committee’s many efforts for the autism community in York Region

 
Centers for Disease Control Autism Awareness Event, Atlanta, Ga. – Keynote Speaker
Apr 20, 2017

• Keynote address for 10th annual autism awareness event at CDC in Atlanta, Georgia
• Provided a 30 minute speech to professionals, researchers, individuals,  and family members outlining the  need for change within our education system in order to stem the daunting rates of mental health challenges and suicide  among autistic individuals.

 
Elephant Space – Communications Advisor
January 13, 2017-November 3, 2017

• Managed communications for startup non-profit dedicated to providing safe spaces for diverse, vulnerable, at-risk St. James Town youth, informing the community about its social opportunities, academic assistance, and mental health services
• Assisted with fundraising and community outreach at Cabbagetown Festival 2017

 
Centennial College - Co-Author of Children’s Book No Parrots in Space!
Oct 28, 2016 (Publication date)

• In honour of 50th anniversary of Centennial College, co-authored educational children’s book promoting the value of inclusion, diversity, and alternate points of view
• Published and available at campus bookstore and TIFF Gift Shop

 
TedxTalk at York University (link to video)
May 28, 2016

• Motivated to effect change in education, health care, and employment systems, delivered a TedxTalk to raise awareness of the inequality, oppression, and lack of acceptance of neurodiversity in our society
• Shared stark facts and lived experience to move an audience from awareness of autism toward the need for true understanding and acceptance

Specialisterne Canada - Communications Director
Jan 2014 - Nov 2014

• Developed marketing concepts aimed at helping young individuals with Autism find work.
• Contributed web design and blog content for ca.specialisterne.com

 
York Autism Advisory Committee - Committee Member
Mar 2014 - May 2015

• Advised on programs and direction for Kerry’s Place Autism Services
• Advocated efficiency and better outcomes for clients with Autism Spectrum Disorder

 
Autism Goggles Social Initiative – Co-Founder
2014 - present

• Social initiative to raise awareness of the inequalities, discrimination, and social alienation experienced by neurodiverse individuals who identify as being on the autism spectrum.  Utilizing social media and providing volunteer and paid speeches and workshops, work to: advocate for individuals, empower their self-awareness, and work toward positive systems change.

 
York ASD Partnership – Communications Coordinator
Aug 6, 2014 - Jan 15, 2015

• Contribute to Communications and Change Committee of collaboration of more than 20 York Region community service providers committed to improving the system of supports for people in York Region with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and their families as an advisor with lived experience
• Coordinated Communications during partnership’s development phase
• Recorded interviews with parents of children with autism frustrated with inadequate systems of support, documenting their overwhelming support of the ASD partnership’s mandate

 
Youth Services Bureau of Ottawa – Full-Day Workshop
Nov 10, 2014

• Five-hour training session for parents of children with autism
• Hosted by Cathy Lonergan, Coordinated Access Ottawa

 
University of Toronto Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, Toronto, ON – Panel Member 
Mar 5, 2013

• Panel presentation to social work students, emphasizing the need to understand all of the traits and features of autism before developing a plan to support the individual in the short-, mid-, and long-term
• Presented at the request of Dr. Kevin Stoddart, PhD., Founding Director of the Redpath Centre, Adjunct Professor at University of Toronto Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, and Lead Researcher for ADULTS COUNT!

 
McMaster Children’s Hospital, Hamilton, ON – Guest Speaker
Apr 30, 2012

• Professional development workshop for Family Support Workers connected to families of children with autism

 
KMT Assistive Learning Workshop at Ontario Science Centre, Toronto, ON – Featured Speaker
Oct 28, 2011

• Discussion on research and merits of providing assistive technology to create an equitable playing field for neurodiverse populations in school, the workplace, and the wider community

York ASD Partnership Launch Event – Guest Speaker
Oct 2, 2011

• Addressed the importance of coordination of community services for people with autism in order to make system navigation more efficient, improve outcomes, and reduce the incidence of mental health challenges

 
Bur Oak Secondary School/ASD Regional Special Education Services, Markham, ON – Guest Speaker
 June 7, 2011

• Workshop for teachers who work with students across the autism spectrum
• Professional development for teachers who work with students across the spectrum

 
Fairwood Public School, Keswick, ON – Community Advocacy in the schools
May 16, 2011

• Developed self-advocacy and awareness presentation  titled, Autism: It’s About You and What You Can Do 
• Directed to middle school students   in an Autism Community Classroom

 
Queens University Faculty of Education – Guest Lecturer
Nov 18, 2008

• Guest lecture addressing 36 traits and features that can impact a child in the school setting, encouraging teacher candidates to embrace neurodiversity and equality as a benchmark when working with students on the spectrum.  Presented for Dr. John Freeman

 
Mentor
Aug 2008 - present

• Provide a positive role model for children and teenagers with autism, helping them to address specific challenges while working to shift their understanding of autism to a more positive place
• Help parents to address systemic barriers that make school and the community challenging for their children by recommending changes to supports that would align with the child’s neurology and learning needs
• Model effective and caring social communication
• Recommend connections to community supports where relevant

 
Southlake Regional Health Centre Annual Clinical Day for Mental Health Care Workers – Speaker
June 8th, 2007

• Taught mental health workers how to communicate with an individual with autism for maximum understanding and compliance, and the diagnostic challenges faced by psychiatrists working with verbal autistic children

Centennial College Child and Youth Worker Program – Guest Lecturer
Feb 20, 2007

• Delivered relevant and tangible autism information  to child and youth worker candidates  to increase  understanding and  effective, respectful  support of  individuals with autism supported  in the school system.