Presented by Angie Ip, MHSc, MD, PhD; Mac Landerholm; Sarah McGowan, SLP
This workshop explores the impact of language in healthcare settings around neurodivergence, neurodiversity, and disability. Following a brief lecture, participants will put their new learning to work through reflections on lived experiences shared by neurodivergent individuals and their families, and interactive learning activities. Participants will gain tools to create a more inclusive environment for their teams and the clients and families they work with.
Learning Objectives:
- Identify potentially ableist language used in their practice or organization.
- Use neutral and strength-based language to communicate with their patients and clients.
- Recommend and act on one change within your practice or organization to better support care for neurodivergent people and neurodiverse families.
Mac Landerholm
Mac Landerholm (she/they) is a neurodivergent research assistant facilitating the Community Advisory Board at the Anxiety Stress and Autism Program Lab. She is a UBC graduate with psychology and gender race sexuality and social justice degrees, working towards a masters in occupational therapy. Their areas of focus are introducing families to disability, neuroaffirming support, and community led research. She has worked as an autism support worker and summer camp inclusion supervisor.
Sarah McGowan, MSc, SLP
Sarah McGowan is a speech language pathologist with a specialism in supporting neurodivergent children and youth and their families. Sarah currently works on the outpatient assessment teams at Sunny Hill Health Centre, BC Children’s Hospital. Prior to joining Sunny Hill, Sarah worked in Vancouver Coastal Health’s community SLP team, in private practice and in community SLP teams within the National Health Service in the UK.
Angie Ip, MHSc, MD, PhD
Angie Ip is a family member of neurodivergent persons, a developmental pediatrician at BC Children’s Hospital, and the medical director of the BC Autism Assessment Network. As a researcher and educator, Angie is working to bring family and neurodivergent voices to the forefront to guide research priorities and mobilize system changes that promote the well-being, participation, and inclusion of neurodiverse families.
