The Evolution of Resistance

This event is part of the 2026 Celebrate Learning Week, taking place from May 4 – 8, 2026.

In a volatile and unpredictable world, what becomes of those who are historically, persistently, or systematically pushed to the margins of society? Contrary to societal narratives, those who are marginalized have persevered and thrived as a result of learning to adapt audaciously to outside forces, openly opposing the breakdown of their unique cultures, continuously championing their spaces in society, and reaffirming their resilience and dignity in the face of complex challenges.

Today, in unprecedented ways, marginalized populations—including those who are disabled, immigrants, older adults, ethnically diverse, and Queer—are being directly affected by societal norms and institutional frameworks grounded in the belief that some people are inherently superior to others and therefore deserve more rights and privileges.

From deficit-based research to engineered exclusion in societal systems such as education, healthcare, criminal justice, and digital information, awareness of and resistance to the status quo are rising and gathering the winds of change. Around the world, the fight for democracy has become intertwined with the struggle for individual rights, civil rights, human rights, and justice.

In this talk, Dr. TC Waisman traces the evolution of her unintended journey into activism and resistance as a late-diagnosed Autistic, Black, Indigenous Oceania, South Asian, non-binary, multiply disabled person. Dr. Waisman shares stories from her Indigenous Fijian culture and from her childhood in the 1970s and her upbringing in Canada, so that others might see their own journeys of resistance through a decolonized, inclusive, and anti-normative lens.

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