*Note* This scheduling program was not designed by folks who do a lot with APA Style and unfortunately it defaults to listing authors in alphabetical order. We cannot fix this for this online schedule, but the author orders are posted in the order submitted in the printed program available via pdf here.
This workshop will expose attendees to the process of developing a disability ally program at a post-secondary university and will include topics addressed, collaboration, initial data and lessons learned. We will also discuss the process of purposefully developing an “ally” program and not an “advocacy” program, as well as thoughts about the inclusion of culturally immersive experiences within programming and the stand we have decided to take on disability simulation. Although touted for being a disability-friendly institution, disability was consistently ignored or treated differently in conversations regarding the spectrum of inclusivity and cultural awareness on our campus. When others on campus were engaging in conversations around disability, it was piecemeal, fragmented and generally unsupported. We found this in the literature as even in Sue, et al.,’s descriptions of microaggressions, ability is not on the table (an oversight which they are currently amending). As information that ability microaggressions were increasing towards our students despite our efforts, we felt as though developing a disability ally program and developing an official statement on disability simulation was absolutely imperative in improving our students’ mental health by changing the environment they are a part of. In addition, we engaged in many discussions across the country where if disability programs existed, they were advocacy programs from outside of the community that appeared to fizzle when student interest waned. We developed this program based on current best practices in culturally competent programming, fusing cultural awareness, intersectionality, and social-emotional connection and would like to share the disability ally program we have piloted to assist other feminist practitioners in helping to restore justice in environments that have been harmful to us and our students. We would like to encourage others to include ability in every conversation about diversity, equity, and inclusion in order to help repair this longstanding oversight. Sue, D.W., Capodilupo, C.M., Torino, G.C., Bucceri, J.M., Holder, A.M.B., Nadal, K.L., & Esquilin, M. (2007). Racial microaggressions in everyday life: Implications for Clinical Practice. American Psychologist, 62(4), 271-286. doi:10.1037/0003-066X.62.4.271
The purpose of this workshop is to provide an overview of the use of peacekeeping circles as a unique supervision and training approach for therapists-in-training. The workshop will describe the peacekeeping circle process, its history, and its roots in the Restorative Justice model. Then, we will overview the model adopted by Northwestern University’s Mental Health Human Rights Clinic (MHHRC) as an example of peacekeeping circles in supervision and training. The MHHRC primarily serves clients who are immigrants, political refugees, and asylum seekers and who have survived traumatic histories by providing psychological evaluations and culturally sensitive counseling. Peacekeeping circles are utilized in supervision and training as a mechanism to build trainees’ awareness, skills, and confidence in order to increase comfort and competence in providing services to the clients. In this workshop, we will describe the structure and process used in the weekly healing circles as a mechanism by which trainees are able to explore their clinical work and experiences with clients. We will also overview current adaptations in different settings and the benefits and limitations of using peacekeeping circles as a clinical supervision and training model. Its target audience includes clinical supervisors, clinical trainees, educators, and individuals interested in the application of restorative justice based practices in counseling. The content will be presented via an interactive workshop with didactic and experiential components.