Supporting Neurodiversity in Post-Secondary Education Series
Session 3: Advancing Neuroinclusivity in Post-Secondary Education: Evidence, Initiatives, and Pathways Forward (Panel)
Feb 11, 2025

Panelists: Dr. Jennifer Fane, Dr. Megan Ames, Dr. Elina Birmingham, Dr. Grace Iarocci, Alison Hale, Kathy Moscrip
Host: Helena Prins
ASL Interpreting team: Bree Quan and Debbie Miyashita

This panel will shed light on the strides being made toward creating more inclusive and supportive post-secondary education environments for neurodivergent students. Through research findings and successful programs, our panelists will highlight the challenges and triumphs of fostering neuroinclusivity. Attendees will gain valuable insights into evidence-based policies, student achievements, and innovative approaches that promote meaningful inclusion and success.  

This session features four brief panel presentations, each followed by a short Q&A. 

Panel Presentations

Making the Invisible Visible  
Dr. Fane will present findings from the first national large-scale study on the neuroinclusivity of Canadian higher education. This presentation will shed light on the unique challenges faced by neurodivergent students and offer insights into evidence-based policies and practices that enhance meaningful inclusion. The research report is titled, “Making the Invisible Visible.”

Peer Mentorship Models  
Dr. Ames’ research examines the support needs, accessibility, and experiences of autistic postsecondary students across Canada. This presentation will summarize findings from a Canadian mapping of postsecondary programming for autistic students, along with the facilitators and barriers of development and implementation of such services. Dr Ames will also explore the Canadian landscape for autism postsecondary supports, and suggest future directions to promote neuroinclusive postsecondary campuses.

SFU Autism Mentorship Initiative  
Drs. Birmingham and larossi will discuss the SFU Autism Mentorship Initiative (AMI), a peer-mentoring program co-founded in 2013 with the centre for accessible learning. Free for autistic students, AMI has positively impacted autistic mentees’ adjustment to SFU and provided professional growth for mentors. The presenters will share their research on AMI, as well as ideas for re-modeling the program to better align neurodiversity-affirming practices, and address fiscal challenges faced by universities nationwide.

Access Programs at Capilano University  
Instructors Alison Hale and Kathy Moscrip will highlight the access programs at Capilano University for neurodiverse students, with a focus on the distinctive aspects of the education and employment program. The discussion will celebrate the achievements of students who have overcome significant barriers to succeed, while also exploring the ongoing challenges in providing essential support that enables students to thrive both academically and professionally.

Attachments: Transcript (PDF, Word), Slides (PDF)

Note: If you notice an error in the closed-captions (or transcript file), please email support@bccampus.ca with details of the error, the time stamp, and your suggested correction, if any.