Blog: Notes from the Field

Interview with Dr. Lynn Gehl: NWAC Shadow Report on the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

Collaborating with the Native Women's Association of Canada, we've produced a Shadow Report for the UN Convention of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. It addresses 17 key issues faced by Indigenous women and 2SLGBTQQIA people with disabilities. We recently interviewed Dr. Lynn Gehl, who worked as an Advisory Committee member on the report, to discuss the issues outlined in the report and more! The Shadow Report is available for reading on the Live Work Well website.

Announcing the Canadian Feminist Disability Coalition

The Live Work Well Research Centre is thrilled to share the following interview with Siobhan Grant, Project Coordinator for the recently announced Canadian Feminist Disability Coalition. To learn more about this exciting project, click here!

Transgender Day of Remembrance: The Urgency of Inclusion

The Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR) started as a vigil in 1999 to honour the memory of Rita Hester, a Black, transgender woman who was brutally murdered in 1998. Started by Gwendolyn Ann Smith, the vigil evolved into an annual day on November 20th, commemorating all transgender people who have lost their lives to anti-transgender hate and violence since Rita’s gruesome murder. While we must remember and honour transgender people who have been violently taken from us, we must not restrict our understanding of anti-transgender hate to the past tense.

UNITE! Activism to End Violence Against Women and Girls

Trigger Warning: The following blog post discusses sensitive issues including gender-based violence. The University of Guelph offers a series of Wellness Resources which can be accessed here.

Stories as a Medium for Change: A Reflection on the Storied Lives Project

Stories have the power to make change; this is a driving idea behind the Storied Lives project, a SSHRC-funded research project hosted by the Live Work Well Research Centre, the Community Engaged Scholarship Institute, and the Guelph-Wellington Task Force for Poverty Elimination, that aims to improve peoples’ understandings of the complex experiences of individuals living with poverty in Ontario and beyond. At the heart of Storied Lives is a series of four podcasts, each telling a composite story. They are fictional narratives, based on a collection of true accounts, that allow people with lived experience to share their knowledge. Each composite story is followed by a short discussion with a community activist with expertise in combatting poverty. Listeners are asked to complete pre- and post-surveys, which aim to improve our understanding of how stories impact perceptions of poverty.

Taking Back Our Futures

You say your future was stolen.

Coming Together in Partnership: EDID-GHDI Partnership Meeting in Ottawa, Canada

After more than two years of living and working amidst the realities of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Engendering Disability-Inclusive Development - Genre, handicap et développement inclusif (EDID-GHDI) partnership team came together in person and online in Ottawa from June 21st to June 23rd for our first Partnership Team Meeting. The meeting was an opportunity for the entire partnership team to share the work they have been doing and to communicate their plans for moving forward in partnership.

We Need Pride Beyond June: The Importance of Belonging on Campus for the LGBTQ2SIA+ Communities

During June, it is common practice for corporations and businesses to bring out the Pride Flag colours and flaunt their support of the LGBTQ2SIA+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Two-Spirit, Intersex, Asexual) communities. Universities and institutions of higher learning are not different in this regard as June becomes centralized on the work being done on university and college campuses to cultivate more inclusive environments for queer and trans students, faculty, staff, and community members. However, despite the sudden raising of Pride flag colours (and less often, Trans flag colours), much work is needed to create a culture of belonging on higher education campuses. An example of this is the common usage of Microsoft Teams on university campuses, despite the fact that the program does not allow anyone to add their pronouns – a practice that is important for demonstrating inclusivity and accuracy by never assuming anyone’s gender identity. At the Anti-Oppressive Rainbow (AOR) Lab in the Live Work Well Research Centre, we strive to create an environment where LGBTQIA2S+ students can feel a sense of belonging for who they are, and conduct research that is directly pertinent to LGBTQ2SIA+ communities to ensure they have a home on campus.

What Does it Mean to be an Ally?

Being an ally does not have one uniform definition.

Paper Deadlines and Pacifiers: The Challenges of Being a Student-Parent

Being a parent is a challenging full-time job with no vacation, sick leave, pay, or benefits, and guaranteed night duties and extra shifts. Combined with the academic challenges of pursuing a university degree, the job becomes even more daunting. Despite all the hardships, the mom guilt, and the exam stress, the experience of being a student-parent is a rewarding one. Having a child has given my life a lot of meaning and purpose. Education is something that enriches my mind while parenthood is a selfless occupation that nourishes my soul.