Indigenous Approaches to Autism in Education

Indigenous Approaches to Autism in Education is a collaboration between Re•Storying Autism, Manitoba Métis Federation, and Brandon Friendship Centre. Together, we are autistic and allistic individuals, family members, educators, practitioners, artists, students and researchers. The overall aim of the Re•storying Autism in Education project is to make representations of autism beyond deficit and western biomedical ones; to push beyond special educational approaches that aim to ‘fix’ autism and to intervene in policy and practice. We use the term ‘autistic people’ rather than ‘people with autism’ because we believe autistic identity is valid and valuable. 

The films in this gallery were developed in April 2022 as part of a larger project to.

HABITAT (2016, Dir. G. P., Toronto, Ontario, 2:31 minutes)

Gabriela Pineda-Aguirre is an autistic activist of colour in Toronto, Ontario working for disability justice.

PANEL I: AUTISTIC PERSPECTIVES

UNTITLED (2020, Dir. Kaie Thompson, Brandon, Ontario, 3:06 minutes)

Kaie Thompson is an autistic multimedia artist in Brandon, Manitoba interested in transforming education and autism.

UNTITLED (2016, Dir. Raya Shields, Toronto, Ontario, 2:20 minutes)

Raya Shields is an autistic child and youth worker in Toronto, Ontario transforming deficit narratives about autism in practice. Raya also has an MA in Critical Disability Studies from York University.

FEARS & DREAMS (2020, Dir. Christopher Gerry, Brandon, Manitoba, 2:25 minutes)

Chris Gerry is an autistic father and teacher from Brandon, Manitoba challenging myths about autism.

UNQUIET HANDS (2019, Dir. Kat Singer, Toronto, Ontario, 4:46 minutes)

Kat Singer is a multimedia artist and mental health professional shifting stereotypes about autism.

PANEL II: EDUCATOR & FAMILY PERSPECTIVES

SO THAT’S WHO I AM (2019, Dir. Nick Hodge, Toronto, Ontario, 3:36 minutes)

Nick Hodge is a Professor of Inclusive Practice in The Autism Centre, Sheffield Institute of Education, Sheffield Hallam University (SHU), UK.

MOMENTS OF UNLEARNING (2019, Dir. Angelina Vaccaro, Toronto, Ontario, 3:54 minutes).

Angelina Vaccaro  is a social worker and PhD Candidate at York University in Toronto. Her research focuses on exploring the relationship between geographies of institutionalization and Autism in rural and suburban Ontario.

“DOING” INCLUSION” (2016, Dir. Brittany Van Beilen, Toronto, Ontario, 2 minutes)

Brittany Van Beilen is a graduate student in Social Justice Education at OISE in Toronto and practitioner who is rethinking autism and inclusion.

CONNECTION (2020, Dir. Crystal Umpherville, Brandon, Manitoba, 4:30 minutes)

Crystal Umpherville is a Cree resource teacher from Manitoba who centers an Indigenous perspective on disability and autism valuing relationships and all of our uniqueness.

PAPERWORK (2016, Dir. Meg Gibson, Toronto, Ontario, 2:29 minutes)

Meg Gibson is a social work professor at the University of Waterloo and Toronto mother an an autistic daughter. She is doing work on queer parenting, neurodiversity and inclusive practice.

WHY (2016, Dir. Frances Woods, Toronto, Ontario, 5:36 minutes)

Frances Woods’ film is inspired by the poem ‘Why’, by Bob Flanigan.