Overview
Speaker: Tara Flanagan
Host(s): Giant Steps & TACC
Format: Online recording (48:07)
Recording date and time: February 18, 2026, 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. ET
Language: English
About
This talk explores autistic development across the lifespan through a strengths‑based and inclusive lens. Drawing on current research, it highlights how life events, milestones, and pathways can be understood in ways that promote self‑determination, agency, and meaningful participation in school, family, and community life. Using the concept of “life maps,” the session invites participants to consider how collaborative, person‑centred approaches can support autistic individuals in shaping their own trajectories. Educators, clinicians, and support teams will gain insights into research‑informed practices that honour autonomy, recognize diverse ways of thriving, and build environments that enable individuals to define and pursue their own goals over time.
Speaker
Tara Flanagan, PhD, is an Associate Professor within the Department of Educational and Counselling Psychology (ECP) at McGill University, where she is also Department Chair. Her main research and theoretical interests lie in the areas of social cognition, social inclusion, and social policy for persons with developmental disabilities. She is particularly interested in the transition from school to the community for young adults with disabilities, self-determination, and in the notions of adulthood and quality of life for individuals on the Autism Spectrum.
She has also served as Chair of McGill’s Joint Board-Senate Committee on Equity Subcommittee on Persons with Disabilities. This subcommittee is comprised of a wide array of students, faculty, and staff across McGill University who are invested in recommending university policy and in promoting a more inclusive McGill.
Questions?
Contact: recherche@giantstepsmontreal.com