Individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) have faced continual barriers to achieving social inclusion within their communities and are often excluded from many avenues of community life. While segregated institutionalized living—and the social exclusion associated with it—has declined, individuals with IDD continue to face barriers to achieving social inclusion linked to restrictions placed upon them that inhibit opportunities to obtain meaningful paid employment. One of the first steps necessary to pursue employment opportunities is a coherent, effective and professional curriculum vitae (CV). For individuals with IDD, preparing and using a traditional text-based CV may be unrealistic. Therefore, the goal of this thesis was to equip a sample of young adults with IDD with a visual photograph-based CV and to help them practice using it in an interview. This thesis used photovoice narrative in order to visually document the strengths and skills that a person with IDD could offer to a potential employer through the communication tool of a visual CV. By engaging participants in producing and using a visual CV, this research project explored options for increasing channels of communication between prospective employees and employers in hopes of encouraging inclusion of people with IDD in Canadian labour markets.

No description available.

Current literature about marginalised youth centres adult knowledges and perpetuates narratives of risk. Additionally, very little is known about young transgender persons within the South African context. Therefore, by making use of Photovoice elements, this narrative project sought to explore the lived experiences of transgender youth while simultaneously creating a space where they could discuss and re-present these experiences. The project aimed to challenge dominant narratives about transgender youth; youth gender and sexuality, and to expand transgender research in South Africa. This project also aimed to contribute to the empowerment of participants by positioning them as experts and centring their knowledges. The study was conducted in partnership with an LGBTIQ+ advocacy NGO and purposive sampling was used to recruit five trans-identifying participants between the ages of 18-26. In-depth interviews were conducted around what it means to be a young transgender person in Cape Town today, and the photographs participants took to represent these experiences. All data were analysed using thematic narrative analysis. The overarching thematic narratives that emerged were: ‘Navigating Identities’ and ‘Living within/out the Cistem’. Within these themes, participants drew on narratives of rigidity/fluidity, exclusion/belonging, and invisibility/hypervisibility respectively. The findings illustrate the complexity of experiences of transgender youth and thus demonstrates that young peoples’ lives are comprised of more than inherent risk. This project also provided an opportunity to critically reflect on Photovoice as a methodology for working with marginalised groups.

No description available.

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / Traditionally, gender has been viewed through an essentialist lens with fixed biology-based traits or polarized gender norms between women and men. As awareness of gender diversity grows, increasingly more people identify as nonbinary – or not exclusively a man or woman. Despite a growing literature on the experiences of binary transgender individuals, little has been explored regarding experiences unique to nonbinary individuals. The research that does include nonbinary individuals focuses primarily on adverse risks and outcomes. As such, a dearth of empirical research exists to understand the unique experiences of nonbinary people and how they relate to wellbeing. A qualitative participatory action study using PhotoVoice was conducted virtually to address the identified gaps in the literature on nonbinary individuals concerning gendered experiences and wellbeing. Prevailing theories of wellbeing informed the study along with minority stress theory and the resilience literature to account for environmental factors of oppression and individual and community resilience. A sample of 17 nonbinary adults in the Midwestern United States was recruited using convenience sampling and participated in online group discussions and individual interviews. The findings were reported in sections corresponding with the three study aims: 1) Explore core dimensions of wellbeing as defined by nonbinary individuals, 2) Identify promotive and corrosive factors of that wellbeing, and 3) Provide recommendations to bolster nonbinary wellbeing. The findings provided a thorough description of how nonbinary individuals perceive their wellbeing concerning their gender and as part of a marginalized population. Thematic analysis identified nine wellbeing themes for how participants conceptualized their wellbeing (e.g., Exploring gender identity and expression, Being connected to community, etc.), seven themes of promotive and corrosive factors of wellbeing (e.g., Positive, accurate, and nuanced representation, Coping skills to manage minority stressors, etc.), and three themes of recommendations (e.g., personal, interpersonal, and professional) with eighteen strategies to bolster wellbeing among nonbinary individuals and communities. The significance of the findings to social work was discussed, including practice application and advocacy. This study contributes to PhotoVoice methodology, wellbeing literature, and trans literature.

No description available.

While migrants and disabled people are often studied separately, this study examines the intersection of these two marginalized categories by investigating the construction of the dis/abled migrant's figure. The aim of this thesis is to understand the discourses at play in visual and textual representations of dis/abled migrants. Examining two forms of depiction, it compares photographs taken by migrants with dis/abilities themselves for a photovoice exhibition in Türkiye, with photographs taken from an official UNHCR document. By means of Constructionist Thematic Analysis, overarching themes of 'uneven power relations' and 'overcoming adversity' were encountered. Notions of family and social connections, childhood innocence, education, change, freedom and constraint could be determined, leading to a prospect of an eventual future change of paradigm going from perpetuated discourses of compassion and agency-lessness to humans being regarded as individuals with unique capacities and experiences.

Numerous women embark on migration journeys, driven by aspirations to secure enhanced opportunities for themselves and their families. However, they often encounter significant impediments due to intersecting systems of oppression related to gender, race, immigration status, and other social dimensions. This study aims to elucidate the experiences of immigrant women during their initial settlement period. Employing Community-Based Participatory Research and Arts-Based Research approaches, the research used the photovoice method, with collages and storytelling, to explore the experiences of twenty immigrant women. Grounded in an intersectional feminist framework, this thesis presents findings based on visual and narrative data gathered from a creative empowerment program at Newcomer Women Services Toronto. Three predominant themes emerged: (1) pre-migration expectations and post-migration realities, (2) welcome and reception of settlement support, and (3) barriers experienced during initial settlement. The study offers a detailed examination of a range of experiences, both positive and adversarial, that immigrant women navigate throughout their migration journey. The research implications include recognizing the holistic needs of newcomers and providing a comprehensive support system to foster a more inclusive and equitable experience. / Thesis / Master of Social Work (MSW)

This research explores the subjective experiences of women with mental health challenges residing in a supportive housing building in Southern Ontario. Drawing on principles of Feminist Participatory Action Research (FPAR), five women were brought together to engage in an arts-based workshop meant to provide the opportunity to reflect on their experiences, express themselves through alternative means, and connect with peers over shared experiences. Over six meetings, participants have been invited to contribute to group discussions by taking and analyzing photos that represent their journey while living in supportive housing. Drawing on a critical feminist and Mad Study scholarship, this project used intersectionality as its theoretical lens. This choice intends to emphasize the interconnected and compounded system of oppression that women experience when their identity intersects across various dimensions such as gender, gender expression, race, mental health status, class, and more. This research is essential because of the pervasiveness of discrimination, disempowerment and oppression of people diagnosed with a ‘serious mental illness’ and how these infiltrate relationships and social systems. However, little empirical data exists to explore the in-depth perspective of these individuals, who lack power and voice in society. In particular, women with a psychiatric diagnosis live at the intersection of multiple oppressive factors. Thus, to counterbalance oppression, it is essential to recognize these women as the experts in their lives. Moreover, women’s active participation in research and their photographs and stories offered a nuanced understanding of issues affecting them. From the photographs (visual data) and the meaning given by participants through their stories (narrative data), issues emerged related to stigmatization, gender-based violence, economic limitations, inadequate support, and various forms of discrimination. Furthermore, participants expressed their insights into desired changes within and beyond the supportive housing program. The relevance of this research is threefold: 1) it gave agency to women living in supportive housing to outline their unique needs and wants; 2) it contributed to the paucity of qualitative research situated at the intersection of gender and ‘mental illness’; 3) through KTE activities, it has the potential to inform housing and helping professionals on ways to improve housing projects, design activities, and foster residents’ engagement for this population group. / Thesis / Master of Social Work (MSW)

Randomly selected Native American families eligible to receive commodity foods were provided cameras to take pictures of visual responses in the areas of: 1) primary food purchases, 2) family use of food, 3) family activities and information access, and 4) future goals of the family. Using a focus-group format, participants chose five pictures that represented the group’s consensual responses. Selected pictures and meaning were analyzed using thematic analysis procedures. Twelve families completed the project. There were four major themes: 1) the importance of family and the Native-American community, 2) health of individual and family including extended family as it pertains to physical, social, emotional and economic stability, 3) spiritual beliefs and its impact on family’s morals and values, and 4) economic constraints of daily living activities. Aspects of the social-marketing campaign should address the entire family including extended family and must be culturally and economically specific to limited-resource families.