UPCOMING EVENTS
DARE Seminar 3
Advancing equity in education for refugee students with dis/abilities in British Columbia
How can we support students who live at the intersection of refugee protection and disability?
Dr. Inna Stepaniuk and independent researcher Olabanji Onipede critically examine Canadian federal immigration and education policies in British Columbia to determine how refugee students with dis/abilities are positioned and the extent to which their voices and experiences are acknowledged in BC’s K–12 educational system. An interdisciplinary, analytical approach sheds light on this often-overlooked student population within the Canadian context. Grounding their analysis in critical inclusive education scholarship, socio-legal studies, and political philosophy, the researchers share lessons learned and recommendations for advancing equity in education for refugee students with dis/abilities.
Presenter bios
Olabanji Onipede is a Nigerian researcher, human rights advocate, and a graduate from the National University of Ireland and the University of British Columbia. His initial academic and professional pursuits stemmed from community outreach and volunteering in northern Nigeria, focusing on forced migration and socio-economic rights of migrants. Since then, his research interests have included education policy research for marginalized groups—particularly access and equitable education for students with refugee backgrounds.
Dr. Inna Stepaniuk is an assistant professor in the Faculty of Education at Simon Fraser University. Her research into inclusivity and justice seeks to identify and disrupt patterns and relationships of unjust education and build inclusive and equitable systems for students at the margins of social institutions. Previously, she developed transition programs for refugees in Switzerland and educational programs for children and youth labelled with dis/abilities in the United States, England, and Ukraine.
F T