How Heather Simpson uses her Douglas College education to create a safe and inclusive space for her community
Heather Simpson, Stswecem'c Xget'tem First Nation, chose Douglas College’s Classroom & Community Support program to become a more informed advocate for her eldest son, who had recently been diagnosed with autism.
The program focused on a holistic model called, “Head, Heart, Hands”, which she immediately connected with. The model centres on how the cognitive (head), affective (heart) and psychomotor (hands) domains connect with the ability for critical reflection and self-regulation development. Learning this model not only helped her engage with her studies, but it promoted a supportive and more understanding classroom environment. By the end of the program, Heather felt like a confident advocate for her son and her community. The program also helped her make valuable connections and friendships at the College.
Heather planned to become a behaviour consultant when she started at Douglas, but during her final practicum, her focus shifted to take a more global view. She aspires to serve historically marginalized communities to ensure everyone feels safe and included. She gets to advocate for this in her current position as a senior advisor in the Office of Indigenization at the Justice Institute of British Columbia.
Through her time at Douglas College, Heather learned that an open heart and mind are essential, especially when things don’t go according to plan. Heather believes that it’s important to trust the twists and turns life takes us and allow yourself to undergo the natural process of life.