My name is Judith, and I have dedicated over three decades of my life to the practice of Independent Facilitation. I served as Executive Director of Families for a Secure Future for 22 years. It was a multi-regional independent facilitation organization supporting people with disabilities, along with their families and loved ones, on a transformative journey of change.

Being an Independent Facilitator is not just a profession for me; it’s a mission to uncover the latent potential within each person I encounter. Over the years, I have assisted individuals in embracing adult roles and actively reshaping their futures, one courageous step at a time. This often involves the artful cultivation and maintenance of support circles, fostering deep community connections and collaborative decision-making.

My passion for this work is deeply rooted in personal experience as a sibling of a brother with cerebral palsy. I am driven to act as a catalyst in shifting how people perceive themselves. With almost four decades of extensive writing and speaking, coupled with my role as an adult educator with LifePath Training, I have made a significant impact in the field of disability.

My provocative style and inspirational ideas have been instrumental in transforming the lives of many, instilling courage and clarity. I firmly believe in the power of authentic and conscious listening and speaking as a catalyst for more deeply understanding the narrative nature of our lives.

As a prolific author, my works cover diverse topics such as leisure, relationships, independent facilitation, and community building. Ongoing projects, including books on hiring and retaining outstanding people, the power of support circles, conscious listening and speaking, the importance of death rituals, and meditations on everyday mercies, reflect the breadth of my curiosity and experience.

Beyond my academic achievements, I have immersed myself in Mindfulness Practice, Narrative and Trauma-informed practices, and Theatre of the Oppressed. For the past two decades, I’ve also served as a practising Deathcare Practioner, founding the Dragonfly Collective for Deathcaring in Ontario.

My impact extends beyond my roles as an Executive Director and Independent Facilitator. I have been a Leisure Consultant for the G. Allan Roeher Institute, a Senior Advisor to People First of Ontario, and have engaged in extensive training in the power of social roles under the mentorship of Wolf Wolfensberger.

With a Master’s degree in Environmental Studies focused on social policy and an undergraduate degree in Leisure Studies and Business, my journey embodies a rich tapestry of knowledge. My legacy is one of transformative influence, compassion, and a relentless pursuit of meaningful change in the lives of those I touch.