Biography

Nicholas Herd is committed to advocating for, and with, people with disabilities. He has worked tirelessly to help the voices of those most excluded to be heard and honoured in civil society. Nick is a skilled collaborator and relationship builder. He is also a man with Down Syndrome.

As the Creative Advocacy Coordinator for L’Arche Canada, he was instrumental in the organization’s movement from leading for, to leading with persons with intellectual disabilities. He thrives when contributing his experience and demonstrates daily that when a person with an intellectual disability is fully engaged in a community development process, they change the process and make it better and more accessible for everyone.

In 2024, Nicholas became the first person with a disability invited by the UN to Blog Live for UN News during COSP 17, the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. His blog posts and interviews with participants broadcast on UN News underscored his dedication to the movement towards a more inclusive world.

In 2022 he served as the Creative Director to what is likely the first animated music video to feature a protagonist with Down Syndrome. As a major film buff and fan of animation, Nicholas had never seen anyone from his neurominority group animated on screen. “Until now.” He said. “For me, It’s phenomenal to feel that feeling, to see the world as I would describe it!” For the short film he lent his artistry, vision, and passion.

Nicholas is also a founding member of L’Arche Toronto’s Sol-Express performing arts troupe. The troupe mounted the play “Rare” by famous playwright Judith Thomson in the Toronto Fringe Festival, where it won Best of Fringe in 2012.

Nicholas is a role model for people of all abilities trying to live authentically and courageously.

SALN is a Network made of self-advocates from leading organizations in the Lower Mainland, Vancouver Island and Northern BC. The majority of SALN members are part of local and provincial self-advocacy and advisory groups. SALN is aware and interested in the BC self-advocate movement.

SALN aims to bring together self-advocate leaders to support and learn from each other, and to work on projects that bring about positive change for people with disabilities and communities. SALN members with their leadership experience are expected to mentor others to help build self-advocate leaders in the disability movement within SALN and their own organizations.

Cathy Daniels is a Paediatric Nurse Practitioner in the Division of Paediatric Medicine – Complex Care Program at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids). She splits her time between this role and as NP Professional Practice Lead for the hospital. Cathy completed her undergraduate nursing degree at the University of Toronto, graduate nursing degree at D’Youville College in Buffalo, and the Post Master’s Nurse Practitioner Program at the University of Toronto. Cathy has worked at Sick Kids for more than 30 years! Cathy started her advanced nursing practice career when she joined the urology team in 2004, carved out a unique and autonomous role and went on to develop an NP led clinic. Then, working with the complex respiratory care team, she specialized in the assessment and management of children requiring respiratory technology such as home mechanical ventilation, children with neuromuscular disease and premature babies requiring home oxygen therapy.

Cathy moved to Complex Care in 2016, where she specializes in the assessment and management of children with medical technology, complexity and fragility. The focus of her work is to support children and their families by helping to coordinate their care, provide anticipatory guidance, facilitate communication between multiple sub-specialists and community providers and supports, and to provide comprehensive, holistic care.

Dorothy Edem, MHA, OT. Reg (NS) is a licensed occupational therapist with over 27 years of experience in the mental health field, encompassing both clinical and leadership roles. In addition, she has a master’s degree in health services administration and has spent the past 20 years in leadership positions.

Currently, Dorothy serves as a Director of Mental Health and Addictions in Central Zone, Nova Scotia Health. Her work involves creating collaborative partnerships across the health, social services, justice, and non-profit sectors to enhance support for individuals living with severe mental illness, developmental disabilities, as well as those involved with the legal system.

Liezel Giesbrecht is an experienced nurse with a diverse background in acute care, community health, and specialized consultative roles. Her career reflects a commitment to excellence in patient care, education, and community collaboration, with a particular focus on the unique needs of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

In 2021, Liezel transitioned into her current role as Nurse Consultant at St. Amant, where she serves primarily as the Transition Nurse Consultant. In this role, she has been integral to ensure the safe and seamless transition of individuals from Manitoba Developmental Centre (MDC) into community-based care. Working closely with a multidisciplinary team—including MDC staff, social workers, community support services workers, physicians, neurologists, pharmacists, occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, physiotherapists, dietitians, direct support staff, and families—Liezel ensures continuity of care for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Liezel’s approach to patient care is deeply influenced by her personal experiences. Growing up as the primary caregiver for her older sister, who has an intellectual and developmental disability, she developed a strong passion for advocating for individuals with disabilities. This personal connection drives her commitment to providing compassionate, person-centered care that is equal, equitable, and inclusive. This personal connection to her work continues to shape her dedication to improving the lives of those she serves. Liezel’s passion for service extends beyond her professional role through her volunteer work with the St. Amant Foundation and her three-year tenure as a committee member for Beyond Limits Canada’s Conference on Diversity and Accessibility.

A nurse in the field of intellectual/developmental disabilities (I/DD) and autism for over 30 years, Terry was the first nurse in Quebec to obtain professional accreditation in I/DD (Certified Developmental Disabilities Nurse) from the Developmental Disabilities Nurses Association, an association of which she was also president. She currently works as a nurse practitioner consultant & speaker (in Canada and the United States) and previously, was appointed to the Nursing faculty at McGill University.

Throughout her career, Terry has contributed to a number of publications and communications. In her current work at Valor & Solutions in Ottawa & at the Services Québécois d’Expertise en Troubles Graves de Comportement (SQETGC) in Montreal, she offers individual consultations as well as collaborating on various projects aimed at developing expertise, offering training and coaching services. Eager for knowledge, she continually seeks out opportunities for professional development. Terry is grateful for the invitation to moderate the exchanges in the session today & looks forward to being a part of this great conference!

Dr. Kara MacNeill is a graduate of the Dalhousie University Faculty of Medicine. Since her graduation from residency in Psychiatry in 2007, Kara has worked diligently in rural community settings, doing inpatient care, outpatient visits, nursing home visits, group home visits, and home visits in numerous locations in both Cumberland and Pictou counties. She also teaches and mentors medical students. In addition, Kara also has a BSc (Hons) in biology from Acadia University and a certificate of medical education from the University of Dundee, she teaches Family Medicine residents from the North Nova Family Medicine Program in Cumberland and Pictou Counties and is an Assistant Professor at the Dalhousie University Faculty of Medicine.

Kara’s areas of clinical interest are adults with intellectual disabilities and her excellence in teaching exemplifies her professionalism where she was recognized for this by receiving the Dalhousie University Department of Psychiatry Community Teacher of the Year Award in 2017. Kara has also received the Gold-Headed Cane Award from the NS College of Physicians in 2019.

Dr. Christian graduated from Queen’s University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry and received her Doctorate of Optometry from the Illinois College of Optometry. Following graduation, she completed a residency in binocular vision and paediatric optometry at the University of Waterloo, School of Optometry and Vision Science. Dr. Christian is currently an Associate Clinical Professor and Associate Director for Clinical Program at the University of Waterloo, School of Optometry and Vision Science.

Dr. Christian is a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry, and a Fellow of the College of Optometrists in Vision Development (COVD). She is also the co-national faculty liaison for COVD and is an Executive and Council Member for the College of Optometrists of Ontario. Dr. Christian has published numerous articles and given many presentations and lectures both nationally and internationally in the areas of interprofessional education, paediatric eye care and binocular vision.

Dr. Yolanda Kirkham is an obstetrician gynecologist and Assistant Professor at the University of Toronto. She trained at the University of British Columbia and then in Toronto where she completed her OBGYN residency followed by a fellowship in pediatric and adolescent gynecology. She has written national guidelines and papers on menstrual management and supports teens with development disabilities and menstrual challenges.

In addition to her clinical and surgical practice of caring for women and gender-diverse individuals of all ages, Dr. Kirkham is a frequent contributor to print, TV, and in-person knowledge translation to reduce stigma about neglected and undertreated reproductive health conditions.

Dr. Davis completed a Bachelor of Science through Mount Saint Vincent University in Halifax, Nova Scotia. She then worked at Dalhousie University studying Cystic Fibrosis while obtaining a diploma in Health Services Administration. She went to Medical School in Ottawa and began a Diagnostic Imaging residency through the University of Calgary but later switched into Medical Genetics. Dr. Davis worked at the Royal University Hospital in Saskatchewan until returning to Nova Scotia in 2021. In 2024, she completed a certificate in safety, quality improvement, informatics and leadership through Harvard Medical School. She has a clinical interest in skeletal dysplasia, pediatric genetics and cancer and is currently piloting a prostate cancer mainstreaming project.

Afsaneh is a Parenting Enhancement Program (PEP) Therapist at Surrey Place (Toronto). Afsaneh’s education is in psychology and MSc in Rehabilitation Science with a focus on disability and her research on friendship among adolescents with developmental disabilities has provided her with unique insights into the needs and challenges faced by these individuals. With years of experience in the field, Afsaneh has worked with parents to address their specific needs and ensure that all parents receive the support they need to enhance their parenting skills. She empowers them to actively engage in their children’s developmental journey, fostering a supportive environment at home and ensuring they have the skills and confidence to support their children’s growth.

With a deep passion for supporting parents, Afsaneh is committed to helping parents and their children receive comprehensive care and reach their full potential. She finds joy in seeing the smiles on the faces of the families she supports.

Dr. Laura Pacheco (she/her) is an Assistant Professor in the School of Social Work at Memorial University and an Adjunct Professor at the McGill School of Social Work at McGill University. Laura is on the executive committee of the special interest on Parents and Parenting with an Intellectual Disability at IASSIDD and is the co-covener of the Critical Disability Studies Research Knowledge Exchange at Memorial University. She has lived experience with disability and has over a decade of community, praxis and research experience in the field of parents and parenting with intellectual disabilities. For over a decade, Laura co-ordinated a best-practice and accredited service for parents with intellectual disability in Montreal. Laura’s research interests are around reproductive justice and mothering with a disability, evidence-based and social just approaches to health and social services to parents with intellectual disability with intersecting identities, disability justice and inclusion, structural and intimate partner violence against women with disabilities, aging and neurodiversity, critically reflective practice, and community engagement.

Marjorie Aunos, Ph.D. is a well-known scholar and psychologist in the field of parenting and disability. She became a feminist disability activist through public speaking and alliances of disabled parents and addresses ableism through the initiatives such as events to Amplify the Voices of Parents with disabilities, a Parenting Done Differently Podcast where she interviewed Scholars, parents with disabilities and children of parents with disabilities and a TEDx Talk entitled What we can Learn from Parents with Disabilities that has over 500 000 views. As a Disability Advocate, she speaks to educators and professionals about embracing change, social justice and our need to support our communities to enhance everyone’s resilience. As a psychologist, she applies a solution-focused mindset and concepts from Positive Psychology into the workforce, to enhance team cohesion and psychological safety. Marjorie Aunos has taught at several universities, presents at scientific conferences, and publishes her research in renowned academic journals. She has recently published her book Mom on wheels: The Power of Purpose as a Parent with Paraplegia and regularly shares on her social media accounts about issues around accessibility.

Michelle Goos is a mother and advocate who lives in Victoria with her husband and daughter. She works at Community Living BC (CLBC) as a Strategic Initiative Advisor, where she helps design and test new programs for people that they serve and help.
Michelle has always been an advocate, but she really started focusing her advocacy efforts on issues of disability and parenthood when her daughter was born. Like Michelle, her daughter also has an intellectual disability and was diagnosed in grade 3. She’s now 25 years old and lives on her own in a shared living situation. Also like her mom, she loves a challenge, and is a member of an open-water swim team called the Spirit Orcas that swims in oceans and lakes with no wetsuits, and took on swimming the length of the English Channel in 2020!