Maple Ballroom

This roundtable discussion addresses the lived experiences of racialized community members who are either care providers, who personally identify as having a disability, or who have a child with a disability. Topics include but are not limited to: i) gaps in service delivery; ii) real-life accounts of challenges in the healthcare, education, and social services sectors that presenters have faced; iii) narratives of refugee and newcomer clientele and their experiences within the Canadian healthcare and education systems; iv) how to build trust with racialized community members impacted by disability; v) incorporating cultural responsiveness into care plans.

This discussion hopes to inform on best practices to make service delivery more inclusive and safer for community members nationwide, specifically those with children and youth with disabilities from racialized communities. Presenters aim to showcase how we can all become more culturally responsive, inclusive and accessible by shedding light on the perspectives of community members and leaders when it comes to issues of disability and inclusion.

3 Key Takeaways
1. Racialized families with children and youth with disabilities, including immigrant and refugee families, face numerous intersectional challenges and barriers when trying to access services and supports, and navigate healthcare, education and social services sectors.
2. Understanding intersecting oppressions is paramount in facilitating policy change at both the client and organizational level, and proposing solutions and strategies to overcome barriers clients might face.
3. In order to serve diverse populations in Canada, we must adopt culturally responsive and relevant practices.

Sukaina Dada, Executive Director, SMILE Canada Support Services
Nida Khan, Director of Research and Education, SMILE Canada Support Services
Khadija Zafar, Education and Outreach Coordinator, SMILE Canada Support Services
Marya Bangash, Education and Outreach Coordinator, SMILE Canada Support Services