Photo Highlights from the 2025 Gentle Teaching International Conference in Aalborg, Denmark.
The Treeo Mixtape: Building Cathedrals from Pebbles – A Journey Through Purpose, Safety, and Trust by Sandy Ram, Matthew White, and Troy Kolish There’s a certain magic that happens when purpose meets vulnerability. And at this year’s Gentle Teaching International Conference, that magic took the stage with Sandy Ram, Matthew White, and Troy Kolish—collectively known […]
“Gentle Teaching and Indigenous culture are essentially one and the same.” – Jessica Pratt-Longman When Jessica Pratt-Longman stands before a room, she doesn’t bring slides or a script. She brings her whole self—raw, honest, and deeply rooted in story. Her voice resonates with grief, healing, resistance, and love. Jessica is from the George Gordon First […]
Redesigning Healthcare with Heart: IDD, Aging and Health On a chilly afternoon during the Gentle Teaching International Conference, something deeply human unfolded—not just a presentation, but a story of life, love, loss, and the urgent need to redesign how we care. Dr. Alicia Thatcher, a physician passionate about inclusive health, and Mandy Boersch, RPN, CDDN, […]
The Secret to Being Yourself, by Michele D. Cameron On a vibrant and emotional day filled with connection and courage, Michele D. Cameron took to the stage and gave us a gift: her story. Her talk, “The Secret to Being Yourself,” was more than a keynote – it was an invitation to reflect, heal and […]
Gentle Teaching As Our Core: Rediscovering the Basics Together At the 2024 Gentle Teaching International Conference, Simone Schipper and Floris van de Kamer invited participants to return, not to something new, but to something essential: the heart of Gentle Teaching. Their session, “Gentle Teaching As Our Core: Our Basics Rediscovered,” was not just a presentation. […]
At the 2024 Gentle Teaching International Conference, an unforgettable session unfolded—one grounded in authenticity, humility, and bold truth-telling. Led by advocate and educator Alex Kimmel and facilitator Deirdre (Dee) Mercer, their session brought to life the power of interdependence, belonging, and neurodiversity, all rooted deeply in the Culture of Gentleness. It was more than a […]
Speakers: Heather Hynd and Brad Schneider Heather & Brad Share Their Journey with Sexuality, Disability and the Power of Education At a self-advocacy panel titled “The Lived Experiences of Sexuality & Disability,” Heather Hynd and Brad Schneider took the stage with courage, humor, and honesty. Representing COR and their broader community in Saskatchewan, these two […]
The Climb to Know More About Dual Diagnosis Speaker: Marge Brown When Marge Brown opened her presentation with a story about climbing fences and exploring an abandoned institution in Puerto Rico alongside Gentle Teaching founder John McGee, the room instantly knew—this wasn’t going to be your typical clinical talk. And it wasn’t. What followed was […]
Sexual health and wellness are vital aspects of everyone’s life, yet for people with disabilities, these topics are often shrouded in stigma and misunderstanding. At Creative Options Regina, we’ve embraced the challenge of creating a safe, supportive, and inclusive space where individuals can learn about relationships, consent, and their rights. Through the Tell It Like […]
When we think about leadership, it’s often accompanied by ideas of authority, decision-making, and results. At Creative Options Regina (COR), however, leadership is reimagined through the lens of a culture of gentleness. This philosophy emphasizes creating environments where everyone—leaders, team members, and individuals we support—feels safe, valued, and connected. In a recent presentation at the […]
When we consider trauma-informed care, we think about healing—not just for those we support, but for the entire community of care. At the Gentle Teaching International Conference, I had the privilege of discussing how trauma-informed practices align with the Gentle Teaching framework. Together, these approaches create environments where safety, connection, and empowerment foster true healing. […]
