In
Memoriam – Remembering Dr. Tanis Doe
by
Barbara Anello
It
is with deep sadness that I report the
passing of Dr. Tanis Doe, advocate and
educator. Tanis passed away in her home in
Victoria, British Columbia late on August 4,
2004 due to a pulmonary embolism. Doe is
survived by her daughter, Ann Marie, and a
loving community of friends, colleagues,
mentees, lovers, dance partners, and family
in every sense of the word.
As
a Métis (Ojibway/French Canadian) Deaf
woman with other disabilities who was active
in disability, queer, and feminist movements
internationally, she was widely respected as
a disability rights advocate and as an
educator. Doe began her teaching career in
Jamaica in her late teens. It was at that
time she adopted her daughter, Ann Marie.
Doe was a professor of social work and
disability studies at the University of
Victoria, and in recent years also taught at
Royal Roads College, Ryerson University, and
the University of Washington. In 2003, she
was a Fullbright Scholar in Bioethics at the
University of Washington.
In
addition to her teaching accomplishments,
she has been the principal researcher in
many projects, including projects at the
Canadian Association of Independent Living
Centres, California Foundation for
Independent Living Centers, Disabled
Women’s Alliance, University of
Washington, and the World Institute of
Disability. Doe was an innovative and
influential researcher. She brought together
diverse Deaf, disability, and people-of-colour
communities in research; conducted
pioneering research with Dick Sobsey on
violence against people with disabilities;
and developed national and international
peer-training models for Deaf and disabled
people. Her writing, training, and research
in areas such as gender equity, assistive
technology, education, employment,
parenting, bioethics, violence and sexual
abuse, independent living, community
organizing, and disability rights have
created a legacy of work that will inform
our community for generations. She was a
prolific writer both under her given name
and the pen name “Vicky D’aoust.” In
addition, Doe was a lover of ballroom
dancing, and competed in competitions and
exhibitions around the world.
A
memorial webpage with a guestbook has been
set up by DAWN at http://dawn.thot.net/tanis/.
A memorial online chat will take place
within the next month. Please visit the
webpage for details and to make memorial
contributions. In the meantime, drink a
Snapple and plant a sunflower to remember
and honor Tanis.
For
inquiries, please contact Carrie Lucas at clucas@disabilitypride.com.
Barbara
Anello is Acting Chair of DisAbled Women’s
Newtork (DAWN) Ontario. She can be reached
at anello@vianet.ca or through http://dawn.thot.net.
