CHILD‑BRIGHT EDI‑DI Youth Empowerment Program (2026 Cohort)

Through this program, you’ll explore how Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, Decolonization, and Indigenization (EDI-DI) can transform the way health and disability research is done — especially in the context of brain-based developmental disabilities (like autism, ADHD, cerebral palsy, and more).

• Duration: 4 months (bi‑weekly sessions, 60–90 minutes)
• Format: Fully virtual (Zoom + Google Classroom)
• Cohort: Youth participants from across Canada
• Focus: Reimagining brain‑based developmental disability research through EDI‑DI
• Activities:
• Expert‑led webinars & discussions
• Mentorship circles with researchers & advocates
• Collaborative activities on inclusive/decolonizing approaches
• Guided project development sessions
• Final Project: Creative knowledge mobilization (KM) tool (video, zine, podcast, performance, etc.) presented at a national showcase
• Accessibility: Closed captioning, ASL (on request), trauma‑informed facilitation, flexible resources, social worker support

• Youth aged 16–25 from Canada
• Priority for racialized, Indigenous, gender‑diverse/2SLGBTQIA+, and youth with disabilities
• Commitment to attend bi‑weekly sessions and complete a creative KM project