Dr. Margaret Newbury Jones

Dr. Margaret Newbury Jones has been working in the disability field for her entire career, 30+ years and counting.  She is known for her easy-going manner and facilitating fantastic, interactive workshops with self-advocates, professionals, paraprofessionals and families.  She operates SHADE Consulting and Counselling (www.shadeconsulting.ca) based in Winnipeg.  She provides individual counselling, team consultations, training workshops, and whatever else she can think of.  She works specifically with folks with IDD including those living with FASD, autism, mental illness and those who have experienced trauma.  She also works with families and support teams.  She loves to work with folks with complex needs and their teams; being compassionately curious comes naturally to her.  She worked as a special education teacher in the public system for 15 years and has been providing sexuality education and counselling since then.

Dr. Emma Duerden

 Dr. Emma Duerden is a Canada Research Chair in Neuroscience and Learning Disorders. She is the scientific lead of the Developing Brain research program. She is an Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Education and a Core Member of the Brain & Mind Institute at the University of Western Ontario. She completed her Master's degree in Neuroscience at the Montreal Neurological Institute. Dr. Duerden then trained at University of Montreal for her PhD in Neuroscience.  Her research program focuses on the impact of early adversity on cognitive ability in infants and school-aged children with autism spectrum disorder or who are born very preterm. The goal of her research program is to identify risk factors for early adversity as well as factors that promote resilience to early life stress, healthy brain development and academic achievement in children.

Dori Zener

Dori Zener, MSW RSW has been working with Neurodivergent individuals and their loved ones for over fifteen years. As an Individual, Couple and Family Therapist, Dori uses evidence-based therapy techniques to help individuals across the lifespan achieve their goals and enhance their lives. She is passionate about Neurodiversity and autism acceptance. Dori has developed an innovative approach to counselling called INVEST that is autism-affirming strengths-based and person-centred. She believes in the power of shared lived experiences to foster connection and hope as evidenced by the four autistic-led peer support groups offered in her practice.

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