Celebrating Disability & Neurodiversity
Amplifying stories that celebrate disability and neurodiversity in the UBC Applied Science community.
To celebrate Disability and Neurodiversity, we’re launching the Disability Profile series, spotlighting UBC faculty, staff, and students with disabilities.
Meet the People
Agnes d’Entremont: Destigmatizing disability, one spoon at a time
Meet Dr. Agnes d’Entremont, Associate Dean of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in UBC's Faculty of Applied Science, as she opens up about her experience living with a chronic pain disorder, the tools that help her navigate daily life, and the importance of creating a more inclusive environment at UBC for people with disabilities. Through her work and personal journey, Dr. d’Entremont is helping to break down stigma and push for more meaningful disability representation on campus. Learn more about Agnes' story on her profile!
Alex Irvine: Reframing Disability from Identity to Acceptance and Inclusion
Alex is a fourth-year undergraduate student in Chemical and Biological Engineering at UBC. Outside of her studies, Alex enjoys knitting, baking, and musical theatre. While Alex’s disabilities influence her daily life and shape her perception, they do not define her. She is passionate about equity and justice, and is dedicated to creating a more inclusive environment for people with disabilities. Read more about Alex's story on her profile.
Anonymous Staff Profile: The Burden of Stigma on Managing Intersecting Disabilities
In this profile, an Applied Science staff member shares their experience managing multiple intersecting disabilities and how stigma hinders their ability to speak about it openly. They share that stigma is a large deterrent to them disclosing their disability and how they contextualize it within their work and personal life using the "spoon" theory. Read more about their story on their profile!
Ben Britton: Creating Space for Neurodivergence at UBC
Dr. Ben Britton is a Professor in the Department of Materials Engineering. Ben teaches about advanced manufacturing processes and manufacturing for clean energy. Amongst his wider roles at UBC, he is also the Associate Head (Graduates) in Materials Engineering and an active a UBC Senator. Previously, he held academic roles at Imperial College London and remains a Visiting Reader there. Beyond research & teaching he advocates for equity in STEM, particularly for 2SLGBTQ+ communities. He also makes time to ski, hang with his dog, hike and run. Learn more about Ben on his profile!
Farah Sadek: "My Disability Doesn’t Need to Provide Value to the World"
Farah Sadek is a Chemical and Biological Engineering student at UBC who is due to graduate in 2026. She volunteers with the Disabilities United Collective, where she has led a mentorship program for students with disabilities and advocated for improved accessibility on campus. Outside of academics, she is an aspiring guitarist and proud owner of two leopard geckos! Read more about Farah's story on her profile!
We have created this webpage to serve as a resource for events, initiatives, and educational material. If you would like to have anything added to this webpage or to provide feedback, then please contact us at edii@apsc.ubc.ca.