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Quick Profile: Heidi Janz

Heidi Janz has just completed her Ph.D. in English at the University of Alberta. She specialized in:

  •  Disability Studies
  •  The portrayal of illness and disability in eighteenth- and nineteenth-century literature
  •  Media representations of persons with disabilities
  •  Creative writing, focusing on fiction and drama for young adults.

Heidi is shown at her graduation from U of A
(click to enlarge)

In her “other life,” Heidi is a writer/playwright. So far, she has had two plays produced, both about dealing with the experiences of physically disabled young people:

  • Crips Against the Law of Gravity (produced in 1994): about the trials and triumphs of growing up in a so-called “special” school
  • Returned to Sender (produced in 1997 & 2001): inspired by the Latimer “compassionate” homicide case and deals with issues surrounding perceptions of people with severe disabilities.

Heidi believes that AT and AAC have allowed her to reach her full potential for two reasons:

  •  Constantly improving assistive technology
  •  The many experienced rehab professionals who helped her develop personalized strategies for her unique needs

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