Research, Teaching & Publications

• Intellectual and Developmental Disability (IDD): Covering conceptualisations of disability, ethics and moral philosophy, advocacy, human rights, clinical practice, and treatment interventions such as EMDR and sexual offender work. These lectures emphasise the importance of understanding disability from multiple perspectives, including the medical, social, and Ubuntu models, and incorporating feminist disability studies to highlight the intersectionality of disabilities.

• Transgender Healthcare: Addressing the mental health care provider’s role, issues around cisgenderism and transnormativity, and the challenges of providing gender-affirming care. These lectures cover foundational concepts such as minority stress theory, the social construction of gender, and the specific healthcare needs of transgender and non-binary individuals.

Master’s Thesis: Sexual Offenders

My master’s research explored health professionals’ perspectives on the treatment of sexual offenders. This study aimed to understand the views of practitioners regarding the treatment approaches for sexual offenders, conducted over the course of a year. The small-scale research provided insights into the challenges and considerations involved in the therapeutic treatment of this population.

Publications

• Access to Justice: People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities – Published by Stellenbosch University for their gender-based violence campaign in 2021 during 15 Days of Activism Against Women and Children.
• Rethinking Disability: The Need to Rethink Representation – Published in the African Journal of Disability.
• Gender-Affirming Healthcare Guidelines – Contributed to the South African HIV Clinicians Society guidelines on informed consent and intellectual disability.
• Sexual Offenders with Intellectual Disabilities (book chapter) in R. Johns & C. Adnams (Eds.),Understanding Intellectual Disability: A Handbook for Families, Staff, Students, and Professionals. Western Cape Forum for Intellectual Disability, Cape Town.

PATHSA Talks: As part of my involvement with PATHSA, I have given a range of talks, including:

• Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing: The Gender Exploratory Model as a Subtle Form of Conversion Practices: Discusses how Gender Exploratory Therapy, presents itself as a neutral, supportive approach to understanding gender identity, when, in reality, it functions much like the conversion practices that have harmed countless trans people.
• Non-Binary Genders: Exploring the diverse experiences of non-binary individuals and the importance of inclusive healthcare practices.
• Gender-Affirming Care and Informed Consent with People with IDD: Discussing the principles of informed consent and how to effectively support individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in accessing gender-affirming care.

These talks are available on the PATHSA YouTube page and aim to provide accessible education on key issues in transgender healthcare.

I serve as a reviewer for the African Journal of Disabilities, where I evaluate submissions to ensure they meet the journal’s standards for quality and relevance. As a reviewer, I provide critical feedback to authors, helping to enhance the clarity, rigour, and impact of their research.

Presentations

Behind Bars, Scars, and Registrars: The Making of Wendy Williams: Co-authored with my client ‘Wendy Williams,’ and presented at a seminar with Valerie Sinason for the International Day of Disability, 2018. This presentation explored the complex intersectionality of race, gender, intellectual disability, and the criminal justice system, highlighting the systemic failures and personal resilience of a woman navigating these challenges.

Crips and Queers: On the Margins of the Margins: Presented at the Deadly Medicine Event Series – Disability & Citizenship panel discussion in 2018. This presentation discussed the intersection of race, gender, sexual orientation, and intellectual disability, focusing on the experiences of marginalised individuals within the queer and disabled communities. It emphasises the need for inclusive and supportive environments that recognise and address these overlapping identities.

Between a Cock and a Hard Place: Healthcare Providers’ Experiences of Providing Gender-Affirming Healthcare in South Africa: I presented at the WPATH symposium in 2022 in Montreal, Canada, discussing healthcare providers’ experiences in providing gender-affirming healthcare in South Africa. My presentation explored the challenges faced by healthcare providers, including the lack of training and resources, and the resulting tension between their desire to support patients and the fear of making mistakes. This work is part of my ongoing PhD research, which aims to improve understanding and practices in transgender healthcare.