August 12, 2024
Bre Brown, Coordinator of Community Connections, and Lindsay McCombe, Manager of the St.Amant Research Centre, took part in a panel at the 2024 Community Based Research Summer Institute event earlier this summer. They were eager to share their experiences and insights, which are captured in the following journal entries.
From the journal of Bre Brown
Dear Journal,
Geez, I need to fix my face…this is why people are always saying this to me. I don’t know that anyone else will think this is as funny as I do. Dagen sent photos from the panel discussion that Lindsay McCombe and I recently participated in. I look completely miserable or bored or some other unidentifiable feeling. It’s funny really. I’m laughing, but a little disappointed because the experience was quite the opposite. Meaningful conversations about inclusion, equity, accessibility and community participation, how could I not be jazzed? Throw in an ethical twist and we were on our way. There were so many lightbulbs and connections made.
I wasn’t sure what to expect when I accepted the invitation from the University of Winnipeg’s Community Based Research Training Centre Summer Institute, but Lindsay’s ardent advocacy and data crunching brain and new friend Jonathan’s zeal for accessibility, made it so easy to bounce ideas and experiences around the room that the students really seemed to relate to.
Lindsay easily debunked any idea that inclusive research was difficult by breaking down the framework used to exceed ethical standards. That led us to meaningful conversations about what it really means to leave out an entire group of people in a community from community based research beyond the gaps in data, unpacking some socially isolating stereotypes, including shifting the perception of support. The students seemed really into it and I think we could have talked all day about accessibility being the only way to make access to opportunities and resources equitable and inclusion possible.
Our conversations spilled into lunch and I left feeling energized. Maybe it was the feeling of hope, collaborating with a totally new group of people to make a positive change. It only takes one idea, right? “Nothing About Us, Without Us.”
ttyl,
Bre
From the journal of Lindsay McCombe
Dear Journal,
I am writing to reflect on a recent accomplishment that I shared with my passionate colleague and friend, Bre Brown. Many of us can probably relate to getting caught up in the hustle and bustle of day-to-day duties at work and so much so that it becomes easy to overlook successes worth celebrating. But, this unique experience warrants pause and acknowledgement.
Earlier this Summer, Bre and I were invited to participate in a panel discussion at the University of Winnipeg’s Community-Based Research Training Centre Summer Institute on the topic of inclusive research with people with disabilities. Although disability-related research is what I am immersed in daily, for the students involved with the Summer Institute not only is this a novel concept, but according to the program coordinators there are preconceived notions that inclusive research is “too hard” from an ethical lens. Thus, I was ecstatic to debunk this myth by sharing my 12+ years of experience in this area and unpack the framework we use at St.Amant Research Centre (I promise that I really was elated to share my knowledge and participate in such a meaningful discussion despite the seriousness captured on my face in the included pictures). Our Research Team has been conducting inclusive research with people with lived experience of disabilities since the 90’s while also exceeding ethical standards, which I think is pretty strong evidence that we CAN extend the value and commitment of “Nothing About Us, Without Us” to research as well.
Reflecting afterwards on my drive back home, my thoughts included: there was a good amount of engagement from the students during the question and answer portion of the session, I am satisfied with the contributions I made, and wow that was an honour to have participated alongside two other allies whom share a passion for dismantling ableism. Then, to my surprise we received a follow-up email from the Summer Institute’s Program Assistant letting us know that 70% of the students identified our discussion as one of the standout sessions from the two day event in their post-institute feedback evaluations. As a data-lover, that statistic is pretty impressive, but what’s truly remarkable is that we were able to represent St.Amant and the work that we do to move inclusion forward and reach a completely new group of community members in an impactful way… and that is a success worth celebrating.
Sincerely,
Lindsay
