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Embracing neurodiversity in education: promoting the inclusion of autistic students in education through podcasts
Get PDFThe purpose of this portfolio is to share how students with an autism diagnosis can
benefit when their teachers, principals, guidance counselors, and peers learn about
neurodiversity. In my project, I asked the following questions to explore ways educators can
create an inclusive school community for Autistic students.
1. What are the experiences of Autistic youth in secondary schools? (Exploring behavior,
anxiety, sensory differences, gender, and special interests).
2. How does promoting the neurodiversity mindset among students and educators
promote the inclusion of Autistic students in secondary schools? I also sought to explore
strategies that support inclusion in the classroom and school community.
The findings provide insight into the strategies and approaches that educators and parents can use
to foster social development, inclusion, and acceptance of students with an autism diagnosis.
In my literature review, I noted many Autistic authors and share their insights as well as ideas for
incorporating strategies for inclusion and also explored how the neurodiversity perspective
benefits all students (Armstrong, 2012; Garcia, 2021; Honeybourne, 2018; Kapp et al., 2019;
Loud Hands, 2012; Majoko & Majoko, 2016; Nerengerg, 2020; Price, 2022; Silberman, 2015;
Walker, 2021).
The objective of this portfolio was to develop a space where I could share and amplify
Autistic people’s work, share strategies to better support Autistic people for inclusion, and
explore the concept of neurodiversity in education in the form of podcasts. I also had the idea
that these podcasts could potentially carry on after this portfolio work. In the end, I hope to
share my work with colleagues, friends, and family to encourage inclusion of Autistic people in
terms of what Autistic people are saying about inclusion
Parental decision-making in the face of climate change
Get PDFThis thesis titled “Parental Decision-Making in the Face of Climate Change” explores the
impacts of climate change on individuals considering parenthood and the complexities involved
in navigating becoming a parent during the current climate crisis. The thesis includes a
comprehensive literature review, methodology, and findings, focusing on how climate change
affects mental health, the social interactions involved, and decision-making regarding
parenthood. The literature review identifies solastalgia, ecological grief, and ecological anxiety
as concepts used to understand and describe the environmental change and degradation caused
by climate change on mental health. The research involves a qualitative study; a social
constructivist research framework has been applied to understand the participants' perspectives
on climate change and parental decision-making. [...
Student perspectives on preparation to be just and socially responsible providers: a Northwestern Ontario qualitative case study
Get PDFThere is increasing recognition of the need to create just and socially responsible healthcare
providers (HCP). Such recognition is evidenced by health professions training programs’
accreditation standards and expected competencies, as well as calls to action from the World
Health Organization (WHO) (WHO, 2021, p. 25; WHO, 2022, p. 21), United Nations
Sustainable Development Goals (2015) and, specifically in Canada, the calls to action from the
Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (including: 23iii, and 24 which deal with health
professions education, and 44 relating to the actualizing of the United Nations Declaration on
the Rights of Indigenous Peoples). Such calls to action are the result of health gaps between
populations and instances of racism reported throughout the healthcare system. For example, in
recent years discrimination and racism within the healthcare system has resulted in very evident
consequences such as the premature death of Joyce Echaquan in 2020 (Nerestant, 2021). This
study looked at the effectiveness of post-secondary curriculum and initiatives in preparing health
professions students to work in a safe and equitable manner with diverse populations in response
to these calls to action. [...
Matching mobile crisis models to communities: an example from Northwestern Ontario
Get PDFDue to the potential safety risks and nature of crisis response systems in Canada, police are often
the first to encounter individuals when they are experiencing a mental health crisis. However,
other professionals with different skill sets may be needed to optimize crisis response. As such,
police and mental health service agencies have partnered to create mobile crisis response teams
(MCRTs) consisting of police and mental health professionals who partner in crisis call response.
While past evaluations of MCRTs have shown promising results (e.g., hospital diversions; costeffectiveness), these programs are frequently researched in larger urban contexts. How MCRTs
function in smaller jurisdictions, with fewer complementary resources, is unknown. Using an
extended Donabedian model as a guiding framework, I conducted interviews with frontline and
leadership staff, ride-along site visits, and reviewed program and agency documents to illustrate
how the MCRT model operates in the context of the mid-size, geographically isolated, city of
Thunder Bay, Ontario. [...
A spatial analysis of the relationship between forest demographic dynamics and diversity under climate change
Get PDFForest dynamics arise from three demographic processes simultaneously, namely recruitment,
mortality and growth, all of which are expected to accelerate for the boreal forest under future
climate change. Tree species diversity, however, is hypothesized to mitigate the impacts of
climate change on the rates of these demographic processes. At the same time, understanding the
generation and maintenance of tree species diversity is a historical challenge and requires
examining multiple demographic dynamics simultaneously. The purpose of this dissertation is to
investigate the complex relationship between tree demographics and diversity under the
influence of climate change through spatial analysis of 173 permanent sample plots in the boreal
forest of Manitoba, Canada, at the individual-tree level. A mapped dataset of individual stems
that were repeatedly measured from 1986 to 2010 forms the basis of three studies. [...
A high throughput screening and characterization of laccase-producing bacterium Serratia quinivorans AORB19 that exhibits lignin degradation traits, dye decolorization efficiency, and enhanced laccase production in biomass
Get PDFLaccase (EC 1.10.3.2) assumes a vital role in the degradation of lignin by utilizing oxygen as an oxidant
and catalyzing bond cleavage in both phenolic and nonphenolic lignin model compounds. However, their
industrial application is limited due to reduced enzymatic activity and lower tolerance to extreme
conditions in most laccases isolated from microorganisms. To address these challenges, bioprospecting
for strains harboring novel laccases with enhanced activity and versatile properties is paramount. Natural
biodegradation processes offer promises for lignin degradation, and rapid screening methods aid in
isolating microorganisms secreting extracellular lignin-degrading enzymes, including laccases. In our
study, we developed a novel high-throughput screening process to isolate a promising lignin-degrading
bacterium from decomposed wood samples. Whole-genome analysis and LC-UV (Liquid
Chromatography-Ultraviolet Detection) analysis was employed to identify the species and assess its
lignin-degrading traits. This bacterium exhibited significant extracellular laccase production and was
biochemically characterized. Moreover, the potential of this bacterium in bioremediation, specifically in
the decolorization of two major dyes, was probed. Additionally, the laccase secretion capabilities of the
bacterial strain were assessed by utilizing low-cost industrial wastes from the Canadian agro-industries. [...
Experimental investigation of exposed column base plate connections subjected to combined axial and bi-directional lateral loading
Get PDFColumn base plate (CBP) connections are critical components in the overall design of a steel
structure. CBP connections are responsible for transferring the forces exerted on base columns
through a base plate and grout pad into the concrete foundation utilizing anchor rods. Exposedtype column bases are widely used in low-rise building construction all over the world, and
considerable research efforts have been made to identify the parameters that affect their strength
and serviceability. Current design codes and guidelines do not address the design of these
exposed base plate connections under combined axial load and bi-axial bending. Although, the
columns are designed and checked under combined axial load and bi-axial bending, when it
comes to the base plate connection, only the axial load and major axis bending are considered.
Practicing engineers often adopt complex finite element method or design them in two directions
separately, which often results in overly conservative design. A more direct approach to
designing CBP connections subjected to combined axial and lateral loading conditions would
help ensure column base connections perform as intended under extreme loading. The
inadequate design of a CBP connection will cause the failure of the connection before the
column can reach its peak design values. This configuration is known as a "Strong Column /
Weak Connection". This failure is initiated by the inelastic deformation of one or more of the
following components: anchor rods, concrete, grout, weld, or base plate. The design of all these
components will have a combined effect on the CBP connection's stiffness, strength, and
deformation capacity. [...
Dynamic stability of an axially loaded elastically restrained column
No full textThe dynamic stability of axially loaded columns is a key problem in structural analysis, and in
earthquake engineering particularly. Experience has shown that columns occasionally buckle
when subject to dynamic axial loads that are only a small fraction of the load-carrying capacity predicted by static methods. While the mechanism behind these failures has been
identified, theoretical studies have focused almost exclusively on pin-pin (and, to a lesser
extent, fixed-fixed) connections. In practice, however, most columns have fixities between
these two extremes and are described as having semi-rigid or elastically restrained supports.
Very few studies have been conducted on this condition, and of the studies performed, none
have included experimental verification. Additionally, calculation of the stability based on
existing methods is very computationally expensive, as they calculate the response of the
column, rather than the stability behavior. As a result, dynamic stability theory is not
yet directly applicable to most design situations. To apply this theory to key problems in
earthquake and structural engineering, a more practical approach to computing the stability
behavior of more complex support conditions is required. This research studies the dynamic
stability of axially loaded columns with elastically restrained supports theoretically, numerically, and experimentally. The equation of motion of an elastically restrained column is
first derived and converted to a Mathieu equation, from which the stability regions can be
obtained using Bolotin’s method. Second, a numerical method is developed to compute the
state transition matrix for a particular excitation, giving the stability condition and response
simultaneously. This numerical method is compared to the analytical results to determine
the relative error associated with both the analytical and numerical solutions. Third, a novel
experimental apparatus capable of simulating an axially loaded column with elastically restrained supports is designed in the laboratory. The experimental apparatus is capable of
providing experimental verification for the matrix-based numerical method and is fully automated to allow the collection of large quantities of data. Due to unforeseen equipment
damage, the experimental data could not be collected, but the automation was sufficiently
advanced at the time of damage to be proven in principle
Are youth differentially impacted by cannabis advertising? An ecological momentary assessment of demographic and psychosis risk factors in a Canadian post-legalization context
Get PDFThe Canadian government’s efforts to prevent cannabis use among youth are warranted, as
early cannabis use greatly increases risk of harm. Although it is illegal, cannabis companies
continue to advertise their products to youth, potentially influencing cannabis expectancies and use
intentions. Some youth groups may be more susceptible to advertising based on demographic risk
factors (urbanicity, gender, ethnicity, age) and psychosis risk. Ecological Momentary Assessment
(EMA) enables youth to track a range of phenomena, in vivo. Using EMA, this research describes:
How cannabis advertising is reaching youth, how such exposures may impact cannabis
expectancies and use intentions, and whether at risk (demographics, psychosis risk) youth groups
are differentially impacted by cannabis advertising exposures. Over a nine-day EMA protocol, 120
youth aged 14-18 completed demographic and psychosis-risk questionnaires, captured cannabis
advertising exposures, and rated their reactions (expectancies and use intentions) to exposure(s) and
during two daily randomly issued (control) prompts. Altogether, most (n = 85; 70.83%; range 1-30)
youth reported being exposed to cannabis advertisements through various channels. Using
multilevel models, this study also found that advertisement exposure increased cannabis use
intentions, while it did not increase cannabis expectancies. Interaction effects for all demographic
predictors and psychosis risk on expectancies and use intentions were also nonsignificant. [...
A new control technology for the development of an air-to-air refueling system
Get PDFAir to Air Refueling (AAR) was first performed over 100 years ago and until now it has
almost exclusively been used in military applications. This is due to the prohibitive cost of
maintaining a tanker fleet to enable refueling operations as well as the amount of training
required by both tanker and receiver pilots to mitigate the risk involved with operating aircraft in
close proximity. There are two methods of performing AAR operations: probe-drogue and flying
boom. This work investigates the feasibility of converting a civilian tanker into a probe-drogue
tanker for use in civilian applications. The aircraft chosen for this work is FuelBoss AT-802 as a
fuel hauler. The first objective of this thesis is to model the AT-802 and explore its potential role
as an AAR tanker.
The second objective of this thesis is to address the issue of risk in AAR by modeling a
hose-drogue and proposing a new control technology to stabilize a drogue in flight. As no drogue
system is available for experimental testing, a flexible smart structure lab workstation will be
used to investigate control strategies for vibration suppression under variable system dynamics.
A Deep Deterministic Policy Gradient (DDPG) algorithm is proposed in conjuncture with
Domain Randomization for reinforcement training of the controller. The effectiveness of the
proposed control technique and learning algorithm is verified by experimental tests, with
comparison to other related control methods such as the built-in PD controller and an intelligent
NF controller. Dynamic conditions of the flexible structure are simulated by placing magnetic
mass blocks at different positions on the beam. Experimental results show that the proposed
DDPG controller outperforms other related control methods in terms of settling time, overshoot,
and mean error, without sacrificing robustness and stability. It can learn a decision-making
policy in environments with large action spaces such as in vibration suppression and has
potential to used for hose-drogue system control