Panels/Publications/Certificates

Autism Representation in Anime/Manga

Panel presented at Emerson College (2024) and Anime Boston (2023, 2022, 2019, 2018)

Authentic representations of disability, especially autistic individuals, are few and far between in our current media landscape. Very often, autistic fans see themselves reflected in certain characters, even if those characters are not canonically disabled, and develop meaningful connections to the disability community through their participation in fandom, and vice versa.  

This panel explores autistic representation in Japanese anime/manga, autistic-coded traits and headcanons for certain characters. Highlights include With the Light by Keiko Tobe, Aspe-Chan by Kuro Akagi, and My Brain is Different: Stories of ADHD and Other Developmental Disorders by Monzusu, which are explicitly about the experience of being autistic or neurodivergent and/or feature autistic characters.Panelists will also discuss popular headcanons of autistic characters among fans and how those headcanons reflect deeply personal and subjective experiences among the disability community.

Lend Fellowship

2019-2020

Took part in Boston Children’s Hospital and the Institute of Community Inclusion’s LEND (Leadership Education Neurodevelopmental Disabilities) Fellowship Cohort.

I worked closely with professionals in the disability field on improving knowledge and awareness of resources and community health supports for disabled youth. My projects included guides on mentoring nonverbal youth, working with AAC technologies, and the intersection of the queer and trans identities among disabled people.

Inclusive Mentoring for Youth with Disabilities Supplement to the Elements of Effective Practice

2023

Co-written with Genelle Thomas and Kristin Humphrey of Partners for Youth with Disabilities along with Mike Garringer of MENTOR Inc.

This supplement to the Elements of Effective Practice for Mentoring (MENTOR Inc.) introduces disability inclusion to mentoring organizations looking to serve disabled youth in their programming. Sections include how to train mentors, adapting intake materials, and engaging disabled youth in supplementary programming.

Justice at Work (Freedom Lifted), 2024

Mental Health First Aid, 2023

Trauma and Resilience Training (Boston Public Health Commission), 2017