We must collectively identify and change our actions that oppress others. My field of speech-language pathology has not consistently applied existing information about the needs and preferences of disabled and neurodivergent people. I make it my mission to amplify disabled voices and to share what I have learned with other researchers and clinicians.
Disability and neurodivergence intersect with other aspects of identity in ways that put multiply-marginalized people at greater risk. I am committed to engaging with intersectionality in my research, my teaching, and my personal development.
Social justice contributions so far:
Served on the steering committee of my University’s undergraduate LGBTQIA+ student organization for 7 semesters.
Successfully advocated for the University to amend its non-discrimination policy to include gender identity and expression.
Co-founded a student-led working group committed to anti-racist action in our Department and College. Our current project: establishing a repository of peer-reviewed literature relevant to the communication needs of BIPOC individuals.
Acted as PhD student representative to two faculty working groups related to issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Ongoing research related to the discourse of autistic people whose gender identities are marginalized.
Goals to make better contributions to social justice:
Learn better ways to build collaborative research relationships with communities of color.
Develop my skills to implement community-based participatory research.
Replicate my existing studies with members of varied diagnostic and cultural groups, including people who use augmentative/alternative communication (AAC).
Improve representation of people from marginalized groups, especially disabled people from varied backgrounds, in the classes I teach and student groups I mentor.
Collaborate with autistic researchers and self-advocates in all stages of research design, execution, and dissemination.
Establish a lab that recruits, retains, and fosters autistic and neurodivergent student researchers.
2022
Neurodiversity 101 for SLPs.
with Emma P. Shipley, M.S., CCC-SLP (she/her)
Speech and Language Center, Towson University
Queer alphabet soup: An introduction to the LGBTQIA+ community.
Department of Rehabilitation and Movement Sciences, Rutgers University
Supporting gender diversity for research and clinical practice.
with Victoria L. B. Grieve, PharmD (she/her)
Department of Psychology, The University of Alabama
Aligning our language with the neurodivergent and disabled communities.
Minnesota Speech-Language-Hearing Association
2021
Our responsibilities as autism researchers.
Cognition, Brain, and Autism Lab, University of Alabama
Gender diversity and inclusivity for CSD professionals.
with Victoria L. B. Grieve, PharmD (she/her)
National Student Speech-Language-Hearing Association, Penn State
Gender diversity in the classroom and on the spectrum.
Developmental Contemporary Issues, Department of Psychology, University of Alabama
Aligning our terminology with the neurodivergent and disabled communities.
Department of Speech-Language-Hearing Sciences, University of Minnesota
Supporting gender diversity in the CSD classroom.
Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Penn State
2020
A discussion about terminology in the AAC field.
With Emily Laubscher, M.S., CCC-SLP (she/her)
RERC on AAC, The Pennsylvania State University.
2019
Gender diversity and autism spectrum disorder.
Cognition and Language Learning Lab, Penn State
SMART in CSD (Students Mobilizing the Anti-Racism Transformation in Communication Sciences and Disorders)
United States:
Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN)
Autistic Women and Nonbinary Network (AWN)
Alabama:
Alabama Disabilities Advocacy Program
Maryland:
Hussman Center for Adults with Autism
Pennsylvania:
Pittsburgh Center for Autistic Advocacy
If you are involved with another organization and want to connect, please contact me!