Notes from the Field

Sakhi Sanghvi completed her winter 2024 Co-op Work Term with the Live Work Well Research Centre. This was her experience.   

April is World Autism Month, which is intended to promote connectedness with and inclusion of autistic people. It was previously known as "Autism Awareness Month," and some organizations still refer to it that way. However, autistic-led organizations and communities have long called for a shift toward "Autism Acceptance" or "Autism Appreciation" to reflect their understanding of autism as a lived experience, not an illness or condition.

February 21st observes International Mother Language Day to promote linguistic and cultural diversity and multilingualism. UNESCO initially recognized this day to acknowledge the importance of those who gave their lives for the Bengali Language Movement in 1952. It has since become a beacon for other cultures who risk having their traditional languages taken from them.

January 24th marks International Day of Education, representing education as a human right, a public good, and a public responsibility. The theme for 2024 is "learning under lasting peace" to bring awareness to education's crucial role in countering hate speech. Without inclusive access to academia, many children, youth, and adults will struggle to achieve quality education and opportunities.

The University of Guelph is celebrating Indigenous Recognition Week from January 15-19, 2024! In support of this event, we are sharing our interview with Evelyn Huntjens about Indigenous Disability Awareness Month (IDAM), which takes place annually in November, and her work in supporting disability services to Indigenous peoples. 

December 18 is International Migrants Day, a day set aside to reflect on the prominent contributions of migrants worldwide. Migrants are essential drivers of development in both their native and destination countries, whether workers, students, or families. It is crucial to reflect on these contributions and create a welcoming and inclusive atmosphere for migrants. To learn more about the barriers to and experiences of those migrating to Canada, we conducted an interview with Shruti Nadkarni.  

December 3^rd was International Day of Persons with Disabilities. This is an important time for all of us, to celebrate the many remarkable contributions and achievements of persons with disabilities in our community. It’s also an opportunity for us to re-commit to identifying and addressing barriers to success for those in our lives facing challenges. This year’s theme is “United in action to rescue and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals for, with, and by persons with disabilities.” It’s a meaningful reminder, of the importance of learning from folks with lived experiences and using those lessons, to build an accessibility lens for a strong future for everyone.

Moira Forster completed her summer 2023 Co-op Work Term with the Live Work Well Research Centre. This was her experience. 

As a third-year undergraduate majoring in Psychology, I sought out co-op positions for Summer 2023 that would immerse me in research-intensive environments. I was thrilled when I received an offer to join the Live Work Well Research Centre (LWWRC) as their Communications Co-Op student. My primary role was to assist in planning the Reimagining Livelihoods Forum, an event rooted in the Centre's partnership focused on disabilities and livelihoods. 

Abigail Mitchell (she/her) is a PhD student in Sociology at the University of Guelph and holds an MA in Criminology and Criminal Justice Policy from U of G.  Originally from Mississauga, ON, Abigail is a proud bisexual woman who serves on the U of G Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Advisory Committee for Students and the Research Ethics Board. Her research focuses on domestic homicide, sexual femicide, and internet-facilitated child sexual abuse. 

Mike Ashkewe is an independent media producer residing in Guelph. As a sixties-scoop survivor, Mike advocates for indigenous and disability-related issues and shares his insights on a wide range of topics through freelance writing, podcasting, and more. He is also the executive producer of This Week in Geek and is a freelance reporter for the Guelph Mercury Tribune.