Woodview Mental Health and Autism Services presents a virtual panel discussion featuring Guest Speakers that bring a perspective on how experiences of race, ethnicity & immigration impact care.

We welcome front line workers, clinicians, community partners, the people we serve, and the public to join us for what is sure to be a timely and rich conversation for Mental Health Week!

Guest Speakers:

Simone Donaldson is a Clinical Social Worker and Psychotherapist, and principal consultant and founder of Agapé Lens Consulting and Therapy. She has devoted 15 years to serving racialized communities and mental health. Simone has been featured in Elle Magazine and the 2022 Toronto Black Film Festival. She has also contributed to Africentric Social Work, a new Canadian textbook that explores the experiences of Black communities in Canada and provides best practices for providing support.

Simone consults with organizations on equity and wellness concerns. Simone provides psychotherapy, where she sees Black individuals, 12 years of age and up, individually through a warm, honest and mindfully present approach.

Simone’s purpose is to support her clients to see sustainable change, while guiding them towards authenticity, so they may heal, thrive, and live out their purpose.

Neeran Kuni is the Director of Urgent Response Services & Adult Supports at the SAAAC Autism Centre. Neeran brings over two decades of experience in the areas of behavioural science, crisis prevention, program development, and project management. He has held leadership positions at the JVS Vocational Services, Addus and Ongwanada Hospital, and most recently at the SAAAC Autism Centre.

In 2021, Neeran also founded Ubuntu FX with the intention of leveraging his experience to support individuals and communities who have been historically marginalized with a special focus on individuals with exceptionalities from the BIPOC community.

Mike Simon is a Program Manager with the YMCA Immigrant Services in Brantford, Brant, Haldimand and Norfolk. Mike is one of two children born to immigrant parents and he is passionate about supporting community and helping others. With 30+ years working in Human Services and 18 of those working with new immigrants.

Mike started out working with young offenders transitioning from prison to community and has a diploma in Police Services. He went on to completing Counselling and Immigration Consulting certification. Mike is working toward an undergraduate’s degree in Anthropology. Mike enjoys travelling, playing recreational soccer and spending time with his wife and two daughters.

Dr. Mohammad Zubairi is a Developmental Pediatrician at Ron Joyce Children’s Health Centre and Associate Professor at McMaster University. He is Medical Director for the McMaster Children’s Hospital Autism Program, and Program Director for the Core Pediatrics Residency Program. He also serves as the Chair of the Physicians of Ontario Neurodevelopmental Advocacy (PONDA) Network, and is a board of director with Empowered Kids Ontario.

His academic work has focused on understanding where and how culture is evoked in clinical practice, and how to best to teach health professionals about this. He is additionally studying knowledge and service gaps in the delivery of care for autistic children and youth presenting to emergency departments.

This event is Sponsored by: