Shelley Moore

BEd, MEd, Inclusion Consultant, Richmond School District; PhD Candidate, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC

Has Inclusive Education become Contaminated?

Shelley Moore’s research interests integrate theory and practice of inclusive education, special education, curriculum and teacher professional development. She is particularly interested in how students with developmental and intellectual disabilities can be included meaningfully while also contributing to the learning of their peers. Shelley has presented her work at various conferences throughout North America including CEC, IRA, CSSE and NCTE. She completed her undergraduate degree in Special Education at the University of Alberta, her masters at Simon Fraser University, and is currently a PhD student at the University of British Columbia.

Yona Lunsky

PhD, CPsych, Director, H-CARDD; Clinician Scientist, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health; Professor, Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON

Improving Primary and Emergency Health Care for People with Developmental Disabilities: How Do You Make It Happen?

Yona Lunsky (PhD, C. Psych) is a clinical scientist in Adult Neurodevelopmental Services at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) in Toronto, Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Toronto, as well as an Adjunct Scientist at the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences (ICES). She directs the Health Care Access Research and Developmental Disabilities Program (H-CARDD) and has extensive experience conducting clinical and health systems in the field of developmental disabilities. She has a strong interest in mental health care policy and practice issues related to this population, and in developing innovative approaches to assist families and staff in their caregiving role.

Dave Hingsburger

MEd, Director of Clinical and Educational Services, Vita Community Living Services, Toronto, ON

Citizenship, Selfhood and Pride

Dave Hingsburger has worked for over 40 years with people with intellectual disabilities. In that time he has held a variety of positions but has always provided direct support in one form or another to people with disabilities. He has published widely, spoken internationally and his advocacy work was recognized when, in 2009, he was inducted into the Canadian Disability Hall of Fame.

James Hill

PhD. RPsych, Registered Psychologist, Developmental Disability Mental Health Team, Island Health, Vancouver Island; Adjunct Professor, Department of Psychology, University of Victoria, Victoria BC

Understanding and Navigating Psychosocial and Environmental Factors in Collaborative Behavioural Management

Dr. Hill is a clinical psychologist who has worked with people who have a developmental disability complicated by mental health issues in community, hospital, and correctional settings. He is currently working part-time with the Developmental Disability Mental Health Team, a Community Mental Health Team in Island Health where his work focuses on assessment and consultation with people facing difficulties associated with developmental delay and mental Health. Common referral issues involve challenging behaviours, adjustment issues, changes in adaptive functioning, and aging-related concerns. Dr. Hill lives in Victoria BC where he also works as a trainer, consultant, and in private practice.

Elena Lopez

MD, MSc,FRCPC, FCCMG, Clinical Geneticist, Sunny Hill Health Centre for Children, Vancouver, BC

Common Things are Common. Medical Conditions Underlying Behavioural Changes in Individuals with Developmental Disabilities

Elena Lopez is clinical geneticist and developmental pediatrician working at Sunny Hill Health Centre and the BC Children’s Hospital. Her main interest is in the evaluation both etiological and functional of children and adults with developmental delay, intellectual disability and autism. She works at the Complex Behaviour and Developmental Program and the Autism Program at Sunny Hill Health Centre as well as the Provincial Medical Genetics Program; she also works as a consultant in the Provincial Assessment Center for Community Living BC.

Sheila Farrell

RN, BSN, MScN, Clinical Practice Educator, Health Services for Community Living, Central Okanagan, Interior Health, Kelowna, BC

Enhancing Health Care Through Communication: Using Support Tools for Working With Health Care Professionals

Sheila is a Registered Nurse from Kelowna BC and her Masters work focused on nursing leadership and education. She has worked in various areas in community care and geriatric services and she is currently working as a Clinical Practice Educator for the Health Services for Community Living program in the Central Okanagan. Sheila also serves as the Vice-Chair of the Board of Directors for the College of Registered Nurses of BC. Her areas of interest include system and process navigation, client centered care, and collaborative service delivery.

Vikram Palanisamy

MD, MRC Psych, DCP, Clinical Fellow, Adolescent Psychiatry, Wellcroft Centre, Liverpool, UK

Relationship Between Mental Health Problems and Challenging Behaviour in People with Intellectual Disabilities

Dr. Vikram Palanisamy completed M.D Psychiatry from India with a Gold Medal in 1992. He later completed his specialist training in the field of Intellectual Disability from UK in 2010 and has since then worked as a Consultant Psychiatrist in Intellectual Disability. He was the Clinical Director for the Intellectual Disability service in his Trust for 2 years. During this period, he was the medical lead for the group which developed the Challenging Behaviour management pathway. He led on implementation of this care pathway in the community. He also was the trust’s lead for the National Winterbourne Medication programme aimed at reducing inappropriate use of psychotropic medication in adults with intellectual disability.

Brenda Fossett

PhD, BCBA-D, Behaviour Analysis, Autism Department, Social Sciences Division, Capilano University, North Vancouver, BC

Communication Supports for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities: Facilitating Understanding and Expression

Brenda Fossett, Ph.D., BCBA-D is an inspired teacher who is widely admired for her ability to convey complex concepts to those who work with children and adults with special needs, whether they are educational professionals or experts. Dr. Fossett is currently on faculty in the Applied Behavior Analysis-Autism Department at Capilano University. In addition, she regularly teaches courses in the Department of Educational and Counseling Psychology and Special Education at UBC. She is a certified Teacher of the Deaf and a doctoral level Board Certified Behavior Analysis who maintains a small private practice, providing consultative services to children, youth and adults with developmental disabilities.

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Brian Banno

MD, FRCPC, Psychiatrist, Neuropsychiatry Clinic and Child Psychiatry Unit, BC Children’s Hospital, Vancouver, BC

Dr. Brian Banno is a child and adolescent psychiatrist working in the Neuropsychiatry clinic and P1 Child Psychiatry Unit at BC Children’s Hospital.

Robin Friedlander

MD, FRCPC, Head, Neuropsychiatry Clinic, BC Children’s Hospital; Psychiatrist, Vancouver and Fraser Developmental Disabilities Mental Health Services; Clinical Professor, Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC

Robin Friedlander is a Clinical Professor in the Dept. of Psychiatry at UBC and Director of the UBC Developmental Disorders Program. He is Head of the Neuropsychiatry clinic at BC Children’s Hospital and a psychiatrist with Vancouver & Fraser Developmental Disability Mental Health Services (DDMHS).

Dean Elbe

BSc(Pharm), PharmD, BCPP, Clinical Pharmacy Specialist, Child and Adolescent Mental Health, BC Children’s Hospital, Vancouver, BC

Dr. Dean Elbe is a Doctor of Pharmacy and Residency trained and Board Certified Psychiatric Pharmacist and Clinical Pharmacy Specialist in Child & Adolescent Mental Health at BC Children’s Hospital. He is an international speaker on and Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology, the editor of the Psychopharmacology section of the Journal of the Canadian Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, lead editor of the 3rd edition of the Clinical Handbook of Psychotropic Drugs for Children and Adolescents, and co-authored 2 chapters of the book, The Science and Ethics of Antipsychotic Use in Children. He was the project lead for development of the website DrugCocktails.ca, which helps youth and professionals “get the facts” about the risks of mixing prescription medication with substances of abuse.

Barbara Laird

BEd, Parent of an adult daughter with Down Syndrome, and Educational Consultant, Vancouver BC

Sexuality, Health and Hygeine

Barbara Laird BEd is a “retired” teacher, who has a 38 year old son Matthew, and a 31 year old daughter Melanie. Mel has Down Syndrome. Barbara provides professional development, advocacy and consultation for educators, professionals and parents that supports all students with diverse learning needs. She has also presented workshops at conferences, for school boards, parent groups and other agencies and societies across Canada and in the United States, and has written articles that have been published by several non profit societies.
In 2009 she was honored to win the Champion of Inclusive Education Award from the Canadian Living Association and the B.C. Community Living Association for her service, support and advocacy for Inclusive Education in preschool, elementary, secondary school and post secondary institutions. In 2012, Barbara was honored to receive a Queen Elizabeth 11 Diamond Jubilee Medal for her advocacy on behalf of all persons with disabilities, and for her passionate belief in and promotion of Inclusion for all.

Katie Allen

MS, BCBA, Director, East Van Behaviour Analysis Ltd.,Vancouver, BC

ABA: Not Just For Autism

Katie Allen, M.Sc. BCBA, is a master’s level Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) since 2005. Her degree in Applied Behavior Analysis was obtained through Northeastern University, Boston MA. Katie spent three years at NECC a leading day and residential program for children with autism in the United States. She moved to Vancouver to design and implement individualized ABA programs for children with autism and other developmental disabilities. Her focus in training and practice has been working with individuals who exhibit severe challenging behavior including self-injurious behavior, aggression, and property destruction within the contexts of home, school, community and residential treatment.