Spotlight on Disability Research
July is Disability Pride Month, an opportunity to recognize and celebrate the diverse experiences, strengths, and contributions of people with disabilities and to affirm disability as a valued part of human diversity. To mark the month, we would like to highlight the important work being done by IALH Research Affiliates whose scholarship and knowledge mobilization efforts advance accessibility, inclusion, disability justice, and the health and well-being of people with disabilities. 
The sunflower is a globally recognized symbol used to discreetly indicate that someone has a non-visible disability. Wearing a sunflower pin is a way to advocate for yourself. The Sunflower Project is an international initiative offering resources, a regional store locator, program news, and information on how individuals and businesses can participate in supporting those with non-visible disabilities.
IALH Affiliates and Disability Research:
About the Disability Pride Flag
The Disability Pride Flag was originally created by Ann Magill in 2019 and updated in 2021 to be more accessible. The black background recognizes those lost to ableist violence, while the diagonal stripe signifies breaking through barriers and advancing toward a more inclusive society.
Each colour is symbolic. Red-Physical disabilities; Yellow–Neurodivergence; White–Invisible and undiagnosed disabilities; Blue–Psychiatric disabilities; Green–Sensory disabilities; and Black-Mourning victims of ableist violence. Together, these colours show that disability spans across all borders and communities.
Disability Pride is about visibility, joy, resistance, and belonging—for everyone, everywhere.
The Office of the Chief Accessibility Officer (OCAO) works to support the efforts of the CAO to monitor and report on accessibility outcomes.
Anthony Amato, PhD Candidate
Anthony Amato, MA
PhD Candidate, Health Sciences, UNBC
IALH Associate Affiliate
"With the support of my community advisors and co-supervisors (Drs. Nathan Lachowsky and Kiffer Card), my master's thesis looked at loneliness and discrimination experienced by 2S/GBTQ+ people with disabilities. Overall, we found that loneliness increased, but discrimination due to sexual orientation decreased during COVID-19, among 2S/GBTQ+ people with disabilities across Canada. Of course, differences emerged by equity-seeking communities and across sociodemographic indicators.
As a person living with different and multiple disabilities (e.g., mental health, communication, motor), I wanted to generate knowledge for and by our diverse communities regarding how COVID-19 affected so many of us."
Read Anthony's master's thesis:
An Intersectionality-Informed Analysis of Loneliness and Discrimination Experienced by 2S/GBTQ+ People Living With Disabilities Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Hrishikesh Nair, BSc Student
Hrishikesh Nair, BSc Student
Health Information Science, University of Victoria
IALH Student Affiliate
"I am a co-author for a scoping review published at 36th Medical Informatics Europe Conference (MIE 2026), held in Genoa, Italy, Advances and Trends in Clinical Information Systems: From AI to Machine Learning Applications and Beyond, examines how Clinical Information Systems are evolving through the integration of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning. The review highlights advances in interoperability, usability, patient-centred care, and health equity, emphasizing how intelligent digital health systems can support more inclusive healthcare for diverse patient populations.
I am passionate about advancing digital health technologies that are equitable, safe, and user-centred. I believe that AI-enabled Clinical Information Systems have the potential to improve healthcare delivery, reduce barriers to care, and create more inclusive health systems that better serve all patients."
Reference:
Borycki, E. M., Nair, H. S., & Kushniruk, A. W. (2026). Advances and Trends in Clinical Information Systems: From AI to Machine Learning Applications and Beyond. Studies in health technology and informatics, 336, 725–729. https://doi.org/10.3233/SHTI260266