Call for Artists: Exams Under Anesthesia (EUA) Graphics
Equity and Neurodiversity in the Operating Room
Dr. Anamaria Richardson, Dr. Biz Nijdam, UBC Comics Studies Cluster
This project seeks nine cartoonists to create nine short (8-12 page) comics based on interviews with the parents of neurodiverse children on their experience in the BC healthcare system. These interviews aimed to understand the process and experience of EUA (Exams Under Anesthesia) at BC Children’s Hospital for children and youth with complex behavioural needs.
Children with complex behaviour needs, such as those with autism, intellectual impairment, limited verbal capacity, and genetic syndromes, experience significant challenges in routine investigations (dental exams, blood work, investigations, and assessments). This can include aggression, self-injury, bolting, disrobing, and vocalizing and can be quite traumatic for all involved – child, parents/caregivers and clinicians. These behaviours limit their ability to engage with our medical systems. EUA is a process where sedation is utilized to facilitate these challenging but necessary medical interventions.
While these issues have been the subject of many traditional methods of interpretation in medical research, discussions on the experience of these children and families expressed in the form of academic papers are not accessible to non-academic audiences. Moreover, current approaches are based on written language, which is often incapable of capturing the complex, personal, and subjective experiences of these families and children.
This project aims to address these noticeable gaps by exploring, exposing, and centering the experience of these children and families through comic art.
Compensation:
Each artist will receive $1200 for their contribution to this project, which includes participation in a one-day workshop at BC Children’s Hospital, ongoing conversations with parents and project organizers, and one 8-12-page comic.
Timeline:
- August 15: Deadline for applications.
- August 31: Artists will be notified of their selection.
- September 1: Artists will receive the selected interview and additional research material.
- September 21: One-Day Workshop with medical professionals and interviewees at BC Children’s Hospital
- October 15: Thumbnails for graphic narratives will be due.
- December 31: Drafts of graphic narratives will be due.
- January 31: Editorial comments and requested revisions will be provided.
- February 29: Final versions of the graphic narratives are due.
- April 2024: Exhibition at BC Children’s Hospital
Application Instructions:
Application materials should include the following in one PDF document:
• Letter of Interest (maximum 1 page)
• 3 examples of comic art (maximum 10 pages)
• OPTIONAL Creative Statement or Thumbnails (for one of the three themes)
For more information, please contact Dr. Anamaria Richardson, Pediatrician, at anamaria.richardson@cw.bc.ca and Dr. Biz Nijdam, UBC Comics Studies Cluster, at biz.nijdam@ubc.ca.