{"id":2,"date":"2021-09-16T18:01:09","date_gmt":"2021-09-16T18:01:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/onlineacademiccommunity.uvic.ca\/tappingintotech\/?page_id=2"},"modified":"2024-01-10T17:36:01","modified_gmt":"2024-01-10T17:36:01","slug":"community-partners","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/onlineacademiccommunity.uvic.ca\/tappingintotech\/community-partners\/","title":{"rendered":"About Us"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/a>Community-University Partnership<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

Who is doing this research?<\/h4>\n

The project co-leads for gaining funding for this research are Dr. Alison Gerlach in the School of Child and Youth Care at the University of Victoria and Jason Gordon, Provincial Advocate with the BC Association of Child Development and Intervention. This research design and process are driven by a \u2018Tapping into Tech Community Council.\u2019<\/p>\n

<\/a>Community Council<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

The Tapping into Tech Community Council\u00a0provides guidance and support to the project to ensure that community voices inform the research process and implementation of the findings. Council members include rural and northern parents, youth and ECD service providers who serve as community researchers, provincial, grassroots child disability advocacy groups and, university researchers.<\/p>\n

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<\/a>Project Co-leads<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n
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Dr. Alison Gerlach<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/td>\n
Alison Gerlach<\/strong>, MSc (OT), PhD, is an Assistant Professor and White-settler in the School of Child and Youth Care at the University of Victoria and co-lead of the Tapping into Tech project. Alison\u2019s program of research aims to inform how early childhood and intervention services and systems can be inclusive of and responsive to families whose daily lives include experiences of structural marginalization and discrimination. She is currently collaborating on multiple projects including with the BC RCY Office on a research brief – \u2018Orienting an Early Years System of Care towards Equity<\/a>\u2019, co-leading a 2-year provincial participatory action research project \u2018Community Voices on Tapping into Tech\u2019, partnering on a Jordan\u2019s Principle Project in Manitoba<\/a> and a trauma- and violence-informed childcare program in Victoria BC<\/a>.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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Jason Gordon<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/td>\n
Jason Gordon<\/strong>, MHS, BScPT, Executive Director, BC Association for BC Association of Child Development & Intervention<\/a>. Jason has worked in community based early intervention services for more than 20 years, the past 11 as the Provincial Advisor for the BC Association for Child Development and Intervention (BCACDI). BCACDI is a provincial network of 32 community agencies that support children and youth with developmental disabilities. His Provincial Advisor role primarily consists of establishing relationships with Government and providing a sector perspective to policy and impacts on service delivery. He has also engaged with researchers on a variety of projects to facilitate connections with community stakeholders across the province. Mr. Gordon has a passion for equitable and accessible early intervention service delivery to children, youth and families.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

<\/a><\/span><\/strong>Community Council Members<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
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Dixie Hunt-Scott<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/td>\n
Dixie Hunt-Scott<\/strong>\u00a0is a member of the Kwakiutl First Nation.\u00a0 \u00a0She has Kwagu\u02bc\u0142, Ma\u2019amtigila, Tlingit, and Scottish ancestral roots.\u00a0 Dixie is also married into the Taku River Tlingit First Nation.<\/p>\n

Dixie is the Provincial Advisor for Aboriginal Infant Development <\/a>Programs (AIDP) in B.C.\u00a0 This is a new position that she started in April 2023.\u00a0\u00a0 Twenty-five years ago, she began working with AIDP in her home community of T\u0315sax\u0331is, on Northern Vancouver Island, as a consultant.\u00a0 She went on to work as an Infant Development Consultant (IDC) and as an Aboriginal Early Years Consultant in the Comox Valley. While working as an IDC, Dixie was also the Vancouver Island AIDP Regional Advisor for 12 years.<\/p>\n

Dixie has a remote office in the Comox Valley where she has the privilege and honour to live and work in the unceded traditional territories of the Pentlatch, E’iksan and K’\u00f3moks First Nations.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

AIDP website:\u00a0https:\/\/www.aidp.bc.ca\/<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\"\"<\/td>\nJackie Watts<\/strong> is a member of the Tseshaht First Nation and the Provincial Advisor for 57 Aboriginal Supported Child Development<\/a> Programs across British Columbia which provides supports for young children with developmental delays and disabilities so that they can be fully included in child care settings and their communities.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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Angela Clancy<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/td>\n
Angela Clancy<\/strong> has been the Executive Director of the Family Support Institute of BC<\/a> for 20 years. In her role at FSIBC she has been able to maximize her long history of experience and education with families who face the ongoing challenges and celebrations that come with having a family member with a disability. Angela has been personally and professionally inspired by growing up with her brother Alan, who requires ongoing supports throughout his life due to disability support needs. Angela has 3 daughters who have all individually taught her lessons about herself and her dedication to family. Angela\u2019s education and life experience have led her to form a strong value system that is based on equal rights, equal opportunities, and community inclusion for all people. Angela has vast experience in trauma informed practice, cultural competency and safety, and mental health challenges and applies these skills to all her work with families.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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Dr. Erika Cedillo<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/td>\n
Dr. Erika Cedillo<\/strong> joined Inclusion BC<\/a> in the summer of 2018 as a Community Inclusion Advocate and became the Director of Public Policy and Programs in May of 2020. Erika is a strong, effective advocate and support for families and brings a collaborative and solutions-based approach to her work with Inclusion BC. This non-profit provincial organization advocates for the rights and opportunities of children and adults with intellectual disabilities and their families; guided by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities (UNCRPD) which recognizes the full citizenship and human rights of people with intellectual disabilities. Working on this PAR project with Erika will be Karla Vershoor, Executive Director of Inclusion BC, and others from the Inclusion BC team.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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Dr. Kim Miller<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/td>\n
Dr. Kim Miller<\/strong>, PhD, PT, is a physiotherapist who works as the Senior Leader, Clinical Education & Special Projects and leads the Child Development and Rehabilitation Evidence Centre at Sunny Hill Health Centre Children, BC Children\u2019s Hospital<\/a>. Her expertise is in education and knowledge translation.\u00a0 Her work supports putting more of what we know from research evidence, practice-based experience and lived experiences into what we do when making healthcare decisions.\u00a0 This includes supports for youth and families to be involved in making informed decisions with their healthcare providers and designing knowledge products together. She\u2019s currently leading the redesign of the Child Development and Rehabilitation website to support these efforts.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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Dr. Kim Bulkeley<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/td>\n
Dr. Kim Bulkeley<\/strong>, University of Sydney<\/a>, NSW Australia. Dr. Bulkeley\u2019s program of research is focused on service models for people with a disability through action research partnerships. Rural and remote locations and areas that experience disadvantage and poor service access are a feature of her work which acknowledges the importance of sustained engagement with government, industry partners, local communities (particularly in rural and remote areas) and with Aboriginal and Torres Strait stakeholders. Her knowledge of appropriate research methods and relationships with Aboriginal communities in western New South Wales are fundamental to the success of her projects. Dr. Bulkeley values the opportunity to work in diverse research teams and has a good track record as a team player with long standing collaborations and collegial networks. Dr. Bulkeley has a well established research track exploring the inclusion of technology in service delivery and design for people with disability in an Australian context. She is motivated to understand how this applies in other jurisdictions to bolster support networks in diverse locations.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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Lisa Marsh<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/td>\n
Lisa Marsh <\/strong>is one of the Hub Resource Coordinators with the Jordan\u2019s Principle Enhanced Service Coordination Hub with the BC Aboriginal Childcare Society<\/a>. She is an Early Childhood Educator with a background in Aboriginal Infant and Supported Child Development. The proud mother to a Cree M\u00e9tis daughter with complex mental health needs, Lisa has had to navigate complex systems of care both personally and professionally, providing her with a great understanding of the barriers children and families face when seeking support and services.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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Alyssa Crees and daughter<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/td>\n
My name is Alyssa Crees<\/strong>, I am a proud Cree, M\u00e9tis woman and mother to a charismatic, spirited and kind little girl and I\u2019m very lucky she chose me as her mom. I am also the M\u00e9tis Wellbeing Coordinator for the Miyoopimatishihk (Wellbeing) Program, with M\u00e9tis Nation British Columbia<\/a>. I have always loved working with people, and I bring a mix of experience in supporting adults with diverse abilities and mental health, and children with complex trauma. I feel very fortunate at this time in my life, to be doing the work for our children, being able to provide support, advocacy, and encouragement for the voices of our future.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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Nikki Scott<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/td>\n
Nikki Scott<\/strong> works, lives and plays in Delta, B.C., the traditional territory of the Tsawwassen People. As the Child Care Coordinator for the BC Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres<\/a>, Nikki brings over 15 years of experience working with and specializing in the early childhood age range. Through her recent work with the Surrey School District\u2019s Aboriginal Education Department, Nikki gained extensive experience in project management and valuable understanding in supporting government agencies, educators, Indigenous children, youth and families, as well as Aboriginal Friendship Centres.
\nHaving Comanche ancestry, she has spent a number of years as an adult learning to reclaim her culture and has aspired to gain a solid understanding of Indigenous perspectives, family values and the knowledge of weaving Indigenous understanding through the work she does.
\nAs a mom to three adult children, Nikki spends most of her spare time hiking with her dogs and husband in the gorgeous Fraser Valley. If she\u2019s not hiking, you will find her in the backyard gardening, reading or chasing chickens!<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\"\"<\/td>\nBritish Columbia Representative for Children and Youth<\/strong><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\"\"<\/td>\nBC Complex Kids Society<\/strong><\/a>
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\u200b<\/p>\n

<\/a>Community Researchers<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

We value listening to, learning from, and working with parents, youth and ECD providers as Community Researchers to actively inform and contribute towards our research activities.<\/p>\n

Parent Community Researchers<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n\n
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Brenda Lenahan and Cole<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/td>\n
Brenda Lenahan<\/strong> (Tahsis) is mom to a young son with complex disabilities which has led to her involvement in advocacy, research, and her home based business selling adaptive outdoor recreation equipment. As a parent advocate for a grass roots group she founded in 2017, called BC Complex Kids<\/a>, she advocates for access to equitable support for kids with complex disabilities and medical complexity.
\nBrenda works as a partner on various research projects and initiatives in hopes that one day the research can inform needed policy changes both provincially and federally. She is also a passionate advocate for accessibility of the built environment and the inclusion of everyone in outdoor recreation spaces.
\nBrenda has an optimistic heart and hopeful vision of an equitable future for her son and all persons with disabilities in Canada. Despite the systemic hurdles she and her son face, she embraces every moment of learning and love that accompanies this life with her son.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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Symbia Barnaby<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/td>\n
Symbia Barnaby<\/strong> (Prince Rupert) is a Community Researcher on the Tapping into Tech project. Symbia is an Indigenous woman of Haida and Mi\u2019kmaq descent living in northern BC. Her traditional Haida name is Guu Gaa Jung and her spirit name is Warrior Woman. She is a single mother of 6 children (5 of whom have disabilities ranging from autism spectrum disorder to ADD and ADHD). She is trained as a Practical Nurse, a birth\/postpartum Doula and a Reiki Level 3 practitioner. She is also a storyteller, film-maker and Wisdom Translator. Symbia has consulted on, developed and run many workshops on anti-racism, disability, inclusive education, intersectionality and health equity through an Indigenous lens. Symbia also volunteers as the lead for the Health Advocacy Team with a national NGP called Moms Against Racism Canada<\/a>.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Youth Community Researchers<\/h4>\n\n\n\n\n
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Kate Gibbs<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/td>\n
Kate Gibbs<\/strong> is a Community Researcher on the Tapping into Tech project. Kate lives in the beautiful and friendly, small community of Invermere, BC. Kate believes strongly in inclusion for all, and will do anything she can to help make that a reality. She believes in strong, quiet and kind advocacy, and that inclusion works when we all come together and lift each other up. Kate is also passionate about working with families of people who have newly diagnosed diverse abilities to help them see the possibilities in their family member’s life.
\nKate has worked with many organizations that advocate for people with diverse abilities. She takes part in Invermere\u2019s local Special Olympic program, and was the first adaptive skier with Panorama Adaptive Snow Sports. She has co-authored a children\u2019s book, worked as a reporter and a torch bearer for the 2010 Vancouver Paralympics, and spoke at the Ottawa Senate Chamber on the National day of the Child, advertising technology that can be used by people with diverse abilities. Kate is passionate about bringing awareness to the gifts that people with diverse abilities bring to our communities and to the world. Now, she is a board member of Inclusion BC, which advocates for people who have cognitive diverse abilities, and is working on developing a diverse ability history project about people who have diverse abilities to present to high school students, in hopes of furthering inclusion in youth groups.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\"\"<\/td>\nSam Bond<\/strong> is a high school student, gamer and advocate living in Terrace BC. He has lived experience of autism, anxiety, and complex medical needs. Sam is actively involved with various community agencies, including Inclusion BC and Community Living BC. As a Youth Community Researcher with the Tapping into Tech, Sam designed our logo and is seeking to gain work experience and contribute to advocacy toward the goal that everyone has a chance at their best life.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

ECD Community Researchers<\/h4>\n\n\n\n\n
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Crystal Kalas<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/td>\n
Crystal Kalas<\/strong> is a Special Services Supervisor with the Fort St John Child Development Centre<\/a> and a Community Researcher on the Tapping into Tech project. Crystal has worked at the Fort St. John CDC for the past 20 years and has held a variety of roles during that time. She values the opportunity she has had to walk alongside the children with special needs and their families, with whom she works through their journey from early diagnosis to adulthood. A perpetual learner, Crystal enjoys taking on new opportunities and expanding her knowledge base.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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Cheryl Work<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/td>\n
Cheryl Work<\/strong>, SLTA, works for the Northwest Child Development Centre<\/a> in Fort St. James, BC (located 1.5 hours northwest of Prince George) and is a Community Researcher on the Tapping into Tech project. She recently graduated from MacEwan University’s Speech Language Therapy Assistant Program and currently works to support the CDC therapy team with speech and language related tasks. Prior to working for the CDC, Cheryl spent 11 years working in community development for early years programming. As a lifetime resident of Fort St. James and a parent of three children, Cheryl is passionate to ensure that our youngest residents enjoy access to required developmental support. The Tapping into Tech project provides further opportunities to help make the changes her region needs to serve our youngest citizens.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

<\/a>Child Development Agency Partners<\/strong><\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n

Two northern child development agencies are partnering on this research by forming Tapping into Tech Working Groups that include one ECD Community Researcher, the Executive Director and other staff members as needed. In the first year, the ECD Community Researchers will help create a community profile of their service delivery areas and undertake an environmental scan of their agencies\u2019 current policies and practices related to the use of information and communication technologies (ICTs). In the second year, ECD agency partners will collaborate on mobilization some of the findings emerging from this research into policies and actions aimed at improving the use of ICTs to reach northern and rural families and children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/td>\nFort St. John Child Development<\/a> Centre<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\"\"<\/td>\nNorthwest Child Development Centre<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n