Azrieli Accelerator Community Council (AArCC)
AArCC provides perspectives and feedback to Azrieli Accelerator projects and activities based on members' lived and living experience with neurodevelopmental conditions. Through the Advisory Council, the Azrieli Accelerator seeks to build capacity across our research and operations team to do our work in such a way that optimizes its potential of having a positive impact in the lives of people living with neurodevelopmental conditions.
Amanda Black
Amanda Black is a late-diagnosed autistic individual, and her late diagnosis led to an interest in neurodiversity research and diagnostics. She is a recent graduate of the University of Calgary with a Bachelor of Science (Honours) in psychology. During her degree, she conducted research surrounding neurodiversity, with a particular focus on autism spectrum disorder.
Greta Heathcote
Greta Heathcote is a doctoral student in the Werklund School of Education researching co-design best practices and Universal Design for Learning with neurodivergent students. Greta and her son Callum work as Family & Youth Research Partners with the Precision Neurodevelopment Lab led by Dr. Sarah MacEachern.
Robyn Land
Robyn Land is an advocate, peer mentor, and mother to two neurodivergent children. Her youngest child was born with a severe congenital heart defect, which has fueled her drive to navigate and support her children’s needs. She serves as the Co-Chair of the Safety Family Advisory Council at Alberta Children’s Hospital and is a Peer Mentor, having completed courses at both Alberta Children’s Hospital and Stollery Hospital. Robyn's expertise lies in supporting and implementing policy into systems and processes at an operational level and she is passionate about building systems that support the entire family unit.
Keltie Marshall
Keltie Marshall is mom of an extra-large, multi-racial adoptive and foster family. She and many of her 10 children live with medical, physical and developmental disabilities. Her education and career experience are primarily in non-profit and volunteer management. In 2020 she co-founded Hold My Hand AB, an advocacy group for disabled children. In 2023, Keltie completed a certificate in Equity, Diversity and Inclusion. Her current volunteer positions include director at the Tourette OCD Alberta Network and the Inclusive Education Committee for Edmonton Public Schools.
Kristina McGuire
Kristina McGuire is a mom to two exceptional children, one with severe medical complexity and both with neurological and developmental differences. She is a retired surgical and pediatric nurse and is now actively involved with the pediatric health community in a non-clinical capacity, working with several patient and family advisory councils, charitable organizations, and peer support networks. Kristina uses her experience as a former patient, a mother, a family caregiver, and a nurse to foster positive change in healthcare. She focuses on patient and family engagement practices, patient-oriented research, and the promotion of using lived experience as an expert knowledge source.