Government by Gaslight:
The Lakeshore Psychiatric Hospital and Ongoing Barriers to Care in Times of Crisis for Autistic Adults
In this talk Dr. Mitchell recounts the ambivalent history of the Lakeshore Psychiatric Hospital in Toronto from 1890 to 1979 and how concerns about fire safety shaped both its opening and ultimate closure in a process of “governmental gaslighting.” Reflecting on the age of deinstitutionalization and its modern forms, they will also explore barriers to care faced by autistic people today and recount how this relates to their own experiences navigating healthcare and student accommodations as an autistic person experiencing crisis in the years 2009 and 2019.
Presenter:
Dr. Ben Mitchell is a librarian, educator, and researcher with a background in the history of science and medicine. They have been a curator involved in the public history of mental health and neurodivergence and have delivered talks and programming on topics related to neurodiversity and information literacy at numerous conferences and events, including as an invited speaker at the Waterloo Public Library and as part of CAPAL’s Diversity & Equity Committee. They are also the organizer of the Neuro-GLAM-erous Discord server and annual conference for neurodivergent gallery, library, archives, and museum (GLAM) workers.
Cost: Free
Registration Link: https://forms.gle/ThkMgJxps3HWcR1BA
This is part of the Maskwacis Cultural College Microlearning Series and is open to the public.
Contact Manisha Khetarpal by email mkhetarpal@mccedu.ca or call toll free: 1 866 585 3925