Dalla Lana School of Public Health

Join Accessibility Services and Health & Wellness on Friday February 28th from 10 – 11:30am for our annual Black History Month Panel, “From Access to Advocacy: Black Disabled Experiences in the Healthcare System”.

This panel discussion will address critical health disparities experienced by Black disabled individuals. Our expert panelists will delve into the unique challenges faced by this community, highlighting systemic issues and barriers to equitable healthcare. They will also share practical strategies and advocacy tools to navigate these challenges and promote better health outcomes. Staff, faculty and students are invited to attend. This event will be hybrid, you can choose to join in person or watch the livestream.

Panelists Include:

Deshawna Dookie (MSW RSW), a dedicated Social Worker and Psychotherapist, with expertise in somatic practices such as mindfulness, meditation and breathwork techniques as well as EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) to support individuals in navigating their mental health and the mental health system. She is also an experienced Yoga Instructor with over 500 hours of training, specializing in Restorative Yoga and Trauma-Informed Yoga. With a deep understanding of the mind-body connection, Deshawna combines her yoga and therapeutic skills to offer a holistic approach to healing. As a BIPOC Wellness Counsellor at UofT, Deshawna specializes in working with students who face challenges related to invisible disabilities, drawing from her diverse skill set she provides individualized strategies and interventions to help students manage academic stress, maintain healthy social connections, and prioritize their mental well-being during this pivotal stage of life.

Carolyn Tinglin (PhD(ABD) MEd MSc RN), a PhD candidate (ABD) at Simon Fraser University (SFU) studying the relationships between professional development and teaching practice, in racially diverse special education classrooms. Carolyn is a Registered Nurse with a career spanning 24 years, currently working at SFU, with the Cassidy Centre for Justice in Education (CCEJ) as a research assistant, in addition to serving as the executive director and co-founder of the Youth Alliance for Intersectional Justice (YAIJ) a federally incorporated non profit made up of Black and racialized neurodiverse youth.

For those looking to attend online, please see the following link: https://folio.utoronto.ca/students/events/detail/5125915

If you are a community member outside of U of T hoping to attend, please email accessibilityforblackstudents@utoronto.ca