Single Event

Presenter: Melanie Battaglia is the founding partner of Battaglia Law. She represents individuals in family law, education and guardianship matters. Melanie’s family law practice encompasses all aspects of family law, including parenting issues, child and spousal support, domestic contracts and property issues, including complex tax and business law issues and shareholder’s remedies. Prior to founding Battaglia Law, Melanie was a partner at PooranLaw, specializing in supporting families with disabilities in family law and education law matters. Earlier in her career, Melanie maintained a civil and family litigation practice at prominent Bay Street firms in downtown Toronto, and family law boutique firms. She has acted for family, estate and real estate lawyers in professional negligence matters.

Melanie also represents young adults living with a disability in their parents’ family law matters and children and youth with disabilities in education law matters, with a particular focus on accommodations, discipline and safety issues at school. Melanie relies on her extensive volunteer work with the autism community and through the special education advisory committee of her local school board to successfully advocate for the children and youth that she represents.

Melanie has been recognized by Best Lawyers in Canada for her expertise in family law and you can find Melanie on ReferToHer – experienced female lawyers to whom you can confidently refer work. Melanie is routinely consulted by other family law lawyers on disability related issues in family law, including child support for adult “children” living with a disability and for specific information on education and therapy supports for children living with autism. She was recently successful at the Ontario Court of Appeal [J.F.R. v. K.L.L., 2024 ONCA 520 (CanLII)] in a seminal decision affirming the rights of adults living with disabilities who remain under parental charge to procedural fairness and natural justice, including the common law presumption of capacity, in family law litigation between their parents.

Melanie has published in the areas of family law and social justice matters, and is a past contributor to The Lawyer’s Daily, a division of LexisNexis Canada. An avid runner and varsity athlete, including completing the Chicago and Boston marathons, Melanie has received awards for excellence in combining academic and athletic achievement

Abstract: The webinar will provide information and practical considerations for family law lawyers when acting for clients with a disability and/or with children living with disabilities when assisting with developing parenting agreements and negotiating child support, including support for children over the age of majority unable to withdraw from parental charge due to their disabilities.

Deadline to register: Wednesday May 7th at noon.

Meeting link and materials will be sent a day prior to the event.

Presenters: Dr. Kelly Weegar is an Ottawa-based psychologist providing assessment and treatment services in private practice to children, adolescents, and their caregivers. Dr. Weegar earned M.A./Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Ottawa, with clinical training in a wide range of hospital, school, and community-based settings. Her research training focused on educating others about trauma and its potential effects on children’s well-being and functioning, especially teachers and other staff in school settings. Early in her career, Dr. Weegar became troubled by how often she was encountering missed or misdiagnosed autistic children and youth. This developed into a keen interest and ambition to improve autism screening and assessment, as well as access to neurodivergent-affirming care more broadly, both in her own practice and in the community. Her current practice focuses assessment and support for a wide range of cognitive, academic and social-emotional challenges, with specialities in autism and ADHD, as well as trauma and grief. Beyond her clinical work, Dr. Weegar is a part-time professor at the University of Ottawa. She also provides clinical supervision and consultation to other licensed community mental health providers and those in training.

Dr. Julia Ryan is a registered clinical and school psychologist serving children, adolescents, and adults in the Ottawa region and throughout Ontario. She completed a combined M.A./Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at the University of Ottawa and a Postdoctoral Fellowship at Carleton University, with a research focus on social-emotional and academic functioning in the ADHD population. She has extensive clinical and research training from various school, hospital, and community settings. In 2022, Dr. Ryan opened her own practice to apply her combined school and clinical training to fill gaps in the community, particularly in providing neurodivergent-affirming care. As the clinical director of the practice, she supervises and consults with clinicians, manages clinic operations, and develops guidelines to ensure high-quality, inclusive mental health care. Her ongoing role at the Ottawa Carleton District School Board allows her to continue supervising clinicians at various training levels to support student well-being and the growth of school psychology. Diagnosed with autism and ADHD herself, Dr. Ryan is committed to promoting access to neurodivergent-affirming care for the autistic and neurodivergent population across Ontario with increased emphasis on the first-hand experiences of these populations. She offers a variety of professional development opportunities to mental health providers and other professionals working with the public.

Abstract: Over the past few decades, the prevalence of autism has risen from 1 in 150 to 1 in 36. This is partially due to our increased understanding of autistics who present with more subtle traits. Recent research also suggests there are still significant numbers of undiagnosed autistics, and that increased understanding of autism and neurodivergent-affirming care can be lifechanging for autistic individuals (and their families), whether diagnosed or not.

This workshop is geared toward professionals seeking to enhance their understanding of autism and neurodivergent-affirming care in order to better support autistic children and their families through the complexities of divorce/separation.

Overview of Autism: Brain Differences & Affirming Practices

The session will review autistic brain differences and various ways they can present across the lifespan, including in individuals with less obvious autistic traits. Through case studies and expert insights, attendees will be guided through:
• Practical overview of the diagnostic criteria for autism
• How autistic children, youth and parents may experience some of the complexities of separation/divorce (before, during and after)

Deadline to register: Tuesday March 25th at noon.

Meeting link and materials will be sent a day prior to the event.

This program has been accredited for 1 hour in professionalism credits.

Presenters:
Sarah Clarke, Clarke Child & Family Law (Counsel to Georgina Island First Nation)
Brett Moodie, Crown Attorney, Brant (Inquest Counsel)
Justin Safayeni, Stockwoods LLP (Counsel to Devon’s grandmother, Pamela Freeman)

Abstract: Devon Freeman was a 16 year old member of the Chippewas of Georgina Island First Nation. He was in the care of a children’s aid society and residing at a group home when he went missing in October 2017. Six months later, his remains were discovered in the woods behind the group home. Devon died by suicide.

In the fall of 2022, a coroner’s inquest was held to examine the circumstances surrounding Devon’s death and to explore ways to prevent future deaths in similar circumstances. After hearing evidence from many witnesses over the course of 4 weeks, the inquest jury made 75 recommendations. Two years have now elapsed since the close of the inquest, presenting an opportunity to reflect on what was revealed through the inquest process and the path forward.

The story of Devon’s life and death holds important lessons for all of us who serve Indigenous children and families, whether we are lawyers, judges, or social service professionals. This webinar will focus on practical steps that we can take in response to those lessons, including steps to foster a child’s sense of belonging, to build and strengthen family relationships, to connect a child with their culture, to improve communication among service providers, and to ensure meaningful consultation with First Nations. Progress towards the implementation of the inquest recommendations will also be discussed, along with strategies to advocate for system change to better the lives of Indigenous children and youth.

Deadline to register: November 25 at noon

Meeting link and any materials will be distributed the day prior to the event.

This program has been accredited by the Law Society of Ontario for 1 hour and 30 minutes of EDI professionalism content.