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What Do We Do Now? - Qualitative Research on Immigrant Women’s Access to Skills Training Provided by the Public Service in Canada
Get PDFWomen worldwide choose to immigrate to Canada inspired by other immigrants' experiences and immigration news. There are many reasons why women choose to emigrate; most are following a promise of socio-economic improvement, but for some, that promise is not easily realized. There is a need to understand what barriers keep newcomer women from socio-economic insertion once they have settled in Canada. This research aims to explore the services provided by the public sector in Canada to immigrant women, to support their skills development for successful socio-economic integration. The study investigates persistent barriers experienced by immigrant women in the settlement process that remain despite engaging with the available public aid. The research follows a framework analysis method which facilitates discovery and highlight themes from qualitative data on available research on immigration, socio-economic insertion, and skill development topics in Canada. Overall, this research aims to build awareness of immigrant women’s needs and their access to public resources intended to facilitate their effective socio-economic integration. The framework analysis on existing research allows for a mapping of themes found in articles related to gender, immigration, socio-economic insertion, and skill development, documenting systemic barriers impeding the settlement of immigrant women. The analysis of the data outlines the concept of the survival job (a job with the sole intention of providing quick income to subsist), while exposing the limited options public service programs have for high-skilled women and mothers. The research also uncovers ways in which family responsibilities felt upon arrival have a significant impact on both socio-economic integration and mental health. This research is important in that it provides findings relevant to policy makers, by identifying and analyzing gender-specific barriers present during the immigration process. This study will contribute to the body of knowledge on Canadian immigration and the role of Canadian public services, like public libraries and community centres, in providing sufficient and efficient settlement support to immigrants
Enhancing South Asian Folktales through Mixed Reality: Exploring Accessibility, Contextualization, and Discovery
No full textThe rich cultural heritage of South Asian folktales gets shared across generations through various storytelling styles and channels, such as oral traditions, books, cartoons, comics, and blogs. However, with the rapid evolution of new media, there is a growing need to adapt these traditional stories to modern formats to ensure their continued accessibility, contextualization, and discovery. This project aims to explore the potential of Mixed Reality (MR) in enhancing the experience of South Asian folktales by creating immersive and engaging story environments that connect to their geographical roots. Using Research Through Design (RTD) methodology, I iteratively developed and evaluated prototype setups to identify critical design decisions that shape the user experience. The findings from this study will provide insights into the design of MR applications for storytelling and contribute to the preservation and dissemination of South Asian folklore in the digital age
Arp 220: A Post-starburst Galaxy with Little Current Star Formation outside of Its Nuclear Disks
Get PDFA Sibling’s Sense of Self
Get PDFBackground: It is commonly viewed that siblings of those with disabilities are positioned as caregivers and tasked to support their sibling with a disability. Family members of those with disabilities are particularly viewed as impacted heavily by the burden of care placed on them. However, truth be told, there are many influential and positive attributes that are acquired by one’s upbringing and living with a family member who has a disability. Typically overlooked by researchers in the field, there are dismissed perceptions of family members that should be accounted for. Further, individuals who have grown up alongside of members of their family with a disability have unique perceptions that influence their self-perceptions and ways of living. This study found that an individual with a sibling with a disability has experienced in childhood up to current time circumstantial practices relative to their family position which influence the way they currently carry and perceive themselves. Further indicated in this study is the importance of family relationships, dynamics and stability in support of the care to the sibling with a disability. Particular qualities and characteristics are highlighted in this study to showcase the intricate yet complex lives of individuals with siblings who have disabilities. Proven is the need for augmented initiatives and enhanced supports to address gaps and needs among individual family members who are related to someone with a disability.
Specific Aim: The objective of this study was to gain a deeper understanding of how individuals perceive themselves based on their experiences growing up with a family member who identifies as having a disability. The aim was to investigate the perceived experiences of these individuals and their reflections on their personal identities and sense of perception.
Method: A total of 10 individuals over the age of 18 who have siblings with disabilities from across Ontario, Canada completed virtual or in-person interviews.
Findings: To reflect participants' upbringing, current experiences, and anticipated future roles within their families, themes naturally surfaced and were identified as means to represent consistent data responses. In general, the findings revealed a range of experiences that impact their sense of self and family responsibilities. Many unique and positive perceptions of self were conveyed by participants in reference to their lived experiences.
Discussion: This study fills gaps in disability studies by highlighting the positive outcomes of sibling relationships and the unique lived experiences of individuals who have siblings with disabilities. It emphasizes the importance of recognizing an individuals’ experiences and stories relative to having a sibling with a disability.
Keywords: Disability, Sibling, Sibship, Family, Relationships, Experiences
The Fear of Being Seen and Unseen
Get PDFThe Fear of Being Seen and Unseen is a performance of struggling to speak; to speak of “things” that cause silence. This installation consists of: sounds, carvings, images and shadows that “conceal” and explore my understanding of shame. The presence of animals through: gaze, sound and form are used as a method to speak with greater ease and comfort and they serve to hide and reveal what I hope to discuss one day; thoughts that I wish to examine within a more private setting. This is a pursuit to create an unattainable space; where I am able to freely speak and be
Organizing in Systems: Using Systems Thinking in Social Movement Organizing
Get PDFProtest movements calling for justice and policy change within our current systems of governance, economics, politics, and social life have been regular news generators for decades – but so many of the interventions exist merely at a symptomatic level, rarely a systemic one. The standard protest tactics are no longer enough to produce the kinds of radical change that are required to save life on this planet, even if they are what grabs media headlines and public attention.
As we stand at the edge of systems collapse as a result of ecological degradation and an economic system pushed to extremes, the interconnectivity of injustice and social movement activity is perhaps more apparent than ever before. Without radical and transformational change, we risk life on our planet. Presented in this research are the concepts, case studies, and real-world practices that cross the domains of systems thinking, social movement studies, and design to present a framework for organizing people within social change movements to affect transformational awareness, capacity and contribute to deep systems transformation frameworks
Entre el entonces y el ahora | Between the Then and the Now
Get PDFMy MFA thesis exhibition, entitled Entre el entonces y el ahora (Between the then and the now), and held at SUR Gallery, Toronto, April 12–17, 2023, synthesizes stories of my life journey and processes of making art that emerge from these stories through an interdisciplinary art installation that features two main series of works: Locating a Distance and Borders of Thought. The first series, Locating a Distance consists of mixed media sculptures that explore childhood memories. The second, Borders of Thought, is comprised of two-dimensional components that are related to my migratory experiences. To contextualize these two series, I have included in the exhibition a number of short videos that describe the place I come from, the materials I work with, my processes of making, the syncretic beliefs I grew up with as a Mestizo (Lenca and Catholic), and parts of my migration journey
Shared Intentionality in Hyflex Education: Understanding Engagement, Interaction and Inclusion through Lived Experiences of Diverse Instructors and Students
Get PDFInclusive education usually focuses on including a diverse range of students while neglecting to focus on an equally important stakeholder: instructors with disabilities. Additionally, instructors with disabilities are rarely represented in inclusive education research. This longitudinal participatory study documents diverse instructors’ lived experiences in remote and hyflex education, during, transitioning and “after” the Covid-19 pandemic.
Hyflex education provides the flexibility to choose between virtual or face-to-face experiences or remote and collated interactions. This approach grew during the transition out of the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown to harness positive affordances of different modalities to increase inclusivity and accessibility. Current practices and three models of hyflex execution are documented in this report.
Hyflex interaction comes with challenges communicating, coordinating and collaborating across environments. Codesigned interventions addressing these challenges are presented in this report. The effectiveness of coordination and collaboration can be understood through Tomesello’s concept of shared intentionality, which is when people have joint attention and intention during interactions.
A developed model mapping shared intentionality, through (inter)action and information flow in hyflex environments, is presented. The implications of an abundance or scarcity of information and action within this model is discussed as (the coined term) shared intentionality black holes. Shared intentionality black holes refer to the complete inability to foster shared intentionality, thereby inhibiting effective interaction in hyflex environments
What’s the big ick? Examining how behavioural change can shift perceptions about eating insects
Get PDFThis study explores the current landscape of entomophagy in Canada from gauging Canadians' acceptance of insect consumption to investigating how behavioural change strategies can encourage regular insect consumption. The research comprises a comprehensive literature review to expand our knowledge of global entomophagy practices, consumption barriers, and behavioural change; expert interviews to gain insights into the present state of entomophagy in North America; and an online survey to examine Canadians' consumption patterns.
The outcome of this project is behavioural change strategies that encompass rebranding insects, fostering safe spaces, nurturing aspiration, leveraging media influence, and introducing targeted education. In essence, the study enhances our comprehension of the barriers to entomophagy adoption in Western countries and lays the groundwork for future research and initiatives aimed at promoting insects as a viable supplementary protein source. By promoting sustainable food practices, entomophagy can address global food system challenges such as hunger, food waste, and food insecurity, thereby contributing to a more sustainable future for all
Finding resilience through music for neurodivergent children
Get PDFThis research paper presents a collaborative effort to design a music-making tool that seamlessly blends enjoyment with accessibility, specifically tailored to meet the needs of children with diverse abilities including those who are neurodiverse and have varying musical abilities. The study's primary objective is to provide support to children who encounter challenges in learning traditional musical instruments or who have sensory processing issues and learn their experience of using this tool. Additionally, the research explores the potential role of music therapy in this context, with a focus on how the designed tool can serve as an ideal platform for fostering creativity and self-regulation among children.
Qualitative research methods, namely participatory design and cooperative inquiry, were employed to develop and refine different aspects of the music-making tool iteratively. Active involvement and feedback from the primary participants, comprising children with diverse abilities and a music therapist, played a central role throughout the tool's development process.
The findings indicate that children responded positively to the technology, revealing diverse applications in music education, therapy, and play. Furthermore, this study identified valuable opportunities for immediate improvements in the robot's design to enhance its overall usability and effectiveness in catering to the needs of its users. The collaborative design approach and the integration of music therapy perspectives demonstrate significant potential for advancing inclusive music education, play and therapeutic interventions for children with diverse abilities