First, An Introduction

With such sensitive but critical topics such as diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA), I wanted to start with a disclaimer on my potential biases and lens.

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Everything here reflects my own thoughts and does not represent any organization.
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I am a second-generation immigrant (both parents born abroad but I was born in the United States). I identify as a mixed Asian American woman who uses she/her/hers pronouns. I grew up in the American Southeast but have lived in the Northeast a cumulative 5 years now. I consider myself an ally and advocate for any underrepresented or marginalized group. For example as an able-bodied person, I openly admit I have more to learn in the area of accessibility.
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While I have extensive personal experience with and passion for DEIA topics, I do not have official academic credentialing in the area. However, I am very well read on these topics from choosing special projects, seminar presentations, and research topics related to DEIA work throughout my academic pursuits. I am well-traveled across the United States and the world with high interest in cross-cultural understanding and sharing of ideas.

And that leads me here to my encouragement that we all approach these topics with curiosity. I consider myself a lifelong learner and encourage you to also challenge yourself and avoid forming an opinion too quickly. With our deep seated biases and misconceptions, this work requires a willingness to do some difficult introspection and work on ourselves. And I hope that's why you're still here reading along.

I hope you will find content that challenges you to consider other peoples' realities in the daily monotony of societal expectations that we all experience. My approach is one focused on personal stories and the impact we can have on each other in the small moments. Not just the historical pivotal ones.

The Danger of a Single Story TED Talk - Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Professional Experiences

Due to the irregularity of opportunities to present my thoughts and work through national capacities via conferences or publications, Shedding Light on Child Life will provide increased ownership for myself and centralized availability to the public.

  1. I had the immense privilege and opportunity to share my poster presentation “Importance of Addressing Sociocultural Challenges in Working with Immigrant Families” at the 2024 Association of Child Life Professionals (ACLP) National Conference. This work will be available in some capacity on this website in the near future.
  2. I am a guest feature on a podcast (episode unreleased) regarding my experiences as a POC (Person of Color) child life student and new professional.
  3. I am a scheduled co-presenter for a 90-minute live webinar for the Association of Child Life Professionals (ACLP) in 2025 on “Mental Health Landscape of Asian Immigrant Youth and Families in the United States."

What's to Come

  • Personal stories shared via podcast episodes (transcripts for accessibility available here)
  • Vetted DEIA resources (i.e. books, podcasts, videos, organizations to follow) to encourage your learning and inner work
  • Do's and don'ts on approaching conversations with BIPOC
  • Collaborations and guests on the blog and/or podcast
  • Annotated bibliography for those wanting evidence based, scholarly articles related to DEIA in healthcare, children's advocacy, and adjacent fields
  • Consider subscribing (click any "Subscribe" button or see Paid Subscription Tiers below for most up to date availabilities), to gain access to exclusive content, seminars, and more.
DEIA Resources
Resource hub ranging from multimedia recommendations, articles, and organizations.
Shedding Light on Child LifeAnisha Reza
Majority of proceeds from paid subscriptions will be donated to humanitarian causes worldwide.

However you arrived here, if you are....

  • a professional looking to gain a personalized view on diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace...
  • a learner wanting to get an inside look an Asian American woman's lived experiences...
  • a parent wanting to prepare your child to engage healthily with these topics...
  • a student preparing yourself to work with an ever increasingly diverse population...

....consider subscribing for access to seminars, community, and more.

DEIA Subscription Newsletter. Coming Soon.

This DEIA-focused, monthly newsletter will deliver right to your inbox to encourage your intentional internal work and growth on relevant topics.

DEIA Subscription Tier. Coming Soon.

The DEIA subscription will give you access to seminars, workshops, tailored challenges on doing the inner work, and more. DEIA Subscription Newsletter included. Due to the sensitive nature of this work and content, gain access to a private community to foster safety and vulnerability for both this author and participants. Consider joining to learn from each other and discuss DEIA topics and challenges with this author.

DEIA Child Life Specialist Subscription Tier. Coming Soon.

Gain exclusive content from seminars to workshops on how to positively impact your professional growth and your interventions with children of diverse backgrounds. Access a private community to learn from each other and discuss DEIA topics and challenges with this author..

If you represent an organization or have a group that would benefit from this author's offerings, please email childlifewithanisha@gmail.com to inquire about consulting or guest lecturing availability.

Shedding Light on Child Life is an independent publication launched in November 2024 by Anisha S. Reza, MS, CCLS. All posts and resources are curated from this author's professional opinion and expertise. Any questions, comments, or requests can be directed via email to childlifewithanisha@gmail.com.