PROUD has a lot of exciting news to share since our last blog post in November, 2023.
Phenomenological Analysis of Disability and Employment
Our last blog post focused on our Phenomenological Analysis of Disability and Employment in Belgium, Canada, France, the UK, and the USA, which has since been completed!
As researchers, we want to know how individuals and organizations manage to hire and integrate individuals with physical disabilities successfully. We want to interview physically disabled employees; employers who hire people with physical disabilities; and co-workers who work with disabled colleagues so that we can more fully understand the conditions which foster the integration of qualified adults in the workplace.
The scope of this project covers five different countries: Canada, the U.S., the U.K., France and Belgium. Taking a multi-country approach will allow us to understand the experiences of disabled employees under different policy environments and cultures. The research will compare these experiences and suggest best practices for organizations. Finally, the rich data that we gather from many different participants will allow us to contribute to government policy discussions regarding inclusiveness, equity, and diversity for persons with disabilities in the workforce.
Interviews have been completed in Belgium, Canada, France, and the USA. Chloë Atkins and Isabelle Avakumovic-Pointon are currently finishing interviews in the UK, analyzing the data, and drafting articles based on the research conclusions.
Intersectional Accessibility Mapping Project with Occupational Therapy Students
In the fall of 2024, PROUD collaborated with the University of Toronto’s Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, offering a unique fieldwork placement for MScOT students. Fieldwork placements provide an opportunity for occupational therapy students to integrate theoretical and practical knowledge and develop professional behaviours and clinical skills as a requirement for professional qualification. PROUD’s Aruna Mitra and Atticus Hawk jointly supervised eight students over the seven-week LEAP (Leadership
Emerging/Enhancing, Advocacy, Program Planning and Evaluation) placement. The goal was to identify and map everyday accessibility barriers faced by disabled individuals in the community.
Using an intersectional approach, the students analyzed the physical, sensory, cognitive, social, and identity barriers limiting day to day participation relevant to people who live, work and socialize in Toronto’s Church and Wellesley Queer Village. The students researched accessibility features in specific locations such as restaurants, bars, retail stores, a community centre and LGBTQ2S archives through the lens of specific real life case scenarios. They developed detailed data collection surveys for each location documenting important details
such as entrance features such as the number of steps, alternative accessible entrances, length, width and elevation of ramps, interior layout, location and features of restrooms, and other accessibility features not commonly documented such as noise level, lighting features and AED locations. The students mastered mapping software, such as ArcGIS to develop detailed location maps based on the data collected which can be used as a prototype to demonstrate the level of detail which is useful for people who face a variety of barriers to daily participation. Locations are rarely “fully accessible” unless they are purpose built, so taking this approach PROUD hopes to demonstrate that accessibility is rarely a yes or no issue. For example a location may have an automatic door at the entrance however, does not necessarily mean that the location is fully barrier-free. The students also were exposed to the Toronto Transit Commission’s (TTC) Travel Training Program, where the students developed detailed maps of three of the TTC’s downtown subway stations: Yonge, Wellesley, and College. Students also developed a comprehensive map for the Toronto SafeCity Automated External Defibrillator (AED) Registration Program, documenting the location of all AEDs throughout Toronto.
Our connection with UofT’s Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy will continue to grow as we continue to explore the possibilities of mapping accessibility across Toronto.
Listen to Sally, one of our OT students experience here.
Broadcastability
Season two of Broadcastability is in full swing with eight episodes having been released. Listen to them through the tab on our website, or here.
Publications
In 2024, Co-Executive Director, Chloë G. K. Atkins, co-wrote an article which was published in the Chest Journal entitled, “COUNTERPOINT: Is It Ethically Permissible to Use Frailty Scoring to Determine the Allocation of Medical Resources Under Conditions of Scarcity in the Medical ICU? No.” The link to the article can be found here.
PROUD Research Fellows
In 2024, PROUD awarded five inaugural fellows whose disability-research will be supported by buy PROUD. To learn more about each fellow and their research, navigate to our “2024-2025 Fellow” tab under “About Us,” or check out our social media.
Presentations
In November of 2024 Chloë G. K. Atkins spoke at the McGill Centre for Human Rights and Legal Pluralism talk entitled, “Medical Assistance in Dying and the Rights of Persons with Disabilities: Justice, Autonomy, Equality, and Ethics.” If you missed this talk but are interested in keeping up with upcoming events, follow us on social media!
Additions to Staff
Finally, PROUD welcomed two new staff members in 2024: Keegan James (Development Officer) and Lark Huska (Social Media Administrator). We are excited to see how they will continue to positively contribute to our efforts throughout 2025.
Looking Forward
The PROUD Project is eager to see what 2025 has in store for our research as we continue to inquire into disability and employment, anti-ableism, health equity, and disability rights and justice.
If you are interested in getting in touch or supporting our efforts through a monetary donation, please contact us at [email protected]