Experiential Learning Student Profile: Nisa Lambrecht

Nisa Lambrecht

Tell us about your practicum experience and the work you did there.

I had a fantastic experience in my practicum placement at CMHA in Victoria, B.C. I took a risk and chose to go out of province to have a holistic experience based on how much the work would take me out of my comfort zone. It especially helped that I could sit at a different desk than the one where I had completed my whole degree, and experience something different from my classes and projects.

I loved being on a supportive team that provided me with as much support as I needed. I felt really honoured to take on the team’s “passion project,” something they wanted to dedicate time to do and not do off the side of their desk. BounceBack is a free mental health skill-building program that is offered through a variety of mediums, and my project looked at how accessible their current digital and physical materials are for people with visual impairments. It included an investigation of their current processes, platforms, materials and limitations. I then looked to external advocacy and people with lived experiences for solutions that could be implemented at CMHA to better their current processes.

I took my findings and created three large deliverables. The first was a backgrounder report that included an evidence review, the scope of existing mandates and rights, current barriers, etc. The second report, “Options & Recommendations,” stemmed from conversations of people with lived experiences, mental health and visual impairment correlations, and short- and long-term recommendations. Finally, the third deliverable was a presentation to the entire CMHA B.C. division on visual accessibility and the practicum project. This specifically addressed the different determinants, such as access to programs, providing awareness and education of different needs, and the need for a population health equity lens. I am honoured to say all of my work at CMHA led to the School of Public Health awarding me the Dean's Gold Medal award in June 2022!

What skills and experiences did you gain?

I really enjoyed working on a topic that I was unfamiliar with because it let me expand my comfort zone. In my previous career as a teacher, I had some experiences working with students with visual impairments and finding alternate solutions to everyday activities, but this project broadened my own understanding of the subject. I also had a great opportunity to work within both the theoretical and practical aspects of understanding the problems that exist and then finding solutions that could be implemented immediately. The “know-do” gap is something that came up often in health promotion classes — addressing the bridge that current research says is best practice and implementing it in real work scenarios. I was appreciative that I could bring in the most up-to-date solutions to CMHA as well as start a larger discussion on cultural and attitude shifts surrounding visual impairment barriers. 

How do you feel this experience helped your career move forward?

My motto throughout the whole project was “Nothing about us, without us.” This is a common advocacy slogan to remind those involved that people with lived experience should be at the forefront of decision-making. This is something I carry with me in my current work as a health promotion facilitator at Alberta Health Services with the Healthy Schools team. Any populations we work with should have an active, encouraged voice at the table. I try to make sure that is the case in any situation I’m in, and my work at CMHA helped solidify the absolute necessity of this truth throughout the rest of my career.

Learn more about Experiential Learning options in the School of Public Health here.