With sincere gratitude I acknowledge that I am a Dutch settler and am privileged to belong among, be in relationship with, and engage in meaningful occupations on the unceded, ancestral, and continually occupied territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish), Tsleil-Waututh (Slay-wa-tuth), and W̱SÁNEĆ (Saanich) Peoples.
At age 16, based on my experience in the disability community, I articulated what I wanted to do with my career:
“I want to come alongside other Disabled people to gain the skills and confidence to live the lives they desire.”
At first, I thought this was a job I would have to invent, but thankfully someone introduced me to Occupational Therapy which seemed to be just the right fit.
Through some serendipitous situations, I walked the path of getting my undergraduate education in anti-oppressive social work. The elders, students, and faculty from whom I learned in this process helped shape my perspective as I moved into the Master of Occupational Therapy program.
In 2014 I was finishing up my Master of Occupational Therapy when Dr. Tal Jarus (hyperlinked) asked if I want to do a PhD with her. My thought was, “I’ll have to google what that means.” Being a first-generation university student and having previously pursued professional degrees, I did not have a strong interpersonal reference point for understanding academia. This became both a challenge and a strength - I entered with a fresh perspective, unencumbered by some of the expectations and socialization some might find restrictive. For example, I expected that the priority of a PhD is to promote justice for the community with which the research is done, that researchers should humbly learn from participants, and that academics should be kind to one another. An academic career trajectory, getting data as quickly and efficiently as possible, or impressing academics higher in the hierarchy were absent from my agenda.
Working alongside people gaining the skills and confidence to thrive is one of the great privileges of practicing occupational therapy. I said “yes” to Tal’s invitation to pursue a PhD because I observed that sometimes people cannot thrive due to social and institutional barriers. I believed that doing a PhD would provide opportunities for involvement in creating change and promoting justice at social and institutional levels.
During the first few years of my PhD, I worked as an occupational therapist with people who had been injured in motor vehicle accidents and with veterans in pursuit of their occupational goals. In January 2020 I was very fortunate to accept a position working with UBC’s Centre for Accessibility and UBC’s health programs to support access for students and medical residents with disabilities and chronic physical or mental health conditions. Working with these learners, the team at the Centre for Accessibility, and partners across UBC’s health programs was one of the highlights of my journey.
My teaching and scholarship are not the only meaningful occupations in my life. I find great joy in preparing food for a small gathering, a meeting with colleagues, or an even in my spiritual community. And if you wonder where I am at any moment, there is a good chance I am walking/rolling with a friend – walking is my favourite mode of being.