Beyond Toxic Individualism: Healing Disability and Mental Health in Community

Many disability and mental health systems are built on toxic individualism: the belief that people should regulate, heal, and succeed on their own. This session reframes mental health challenges as predictable outcomes of isolation. Participants will explore how disability, mental health, trauma, and systemic oppression intersect, and why healing must be relational. Attendees will gain practical, community-centered strategies to move beyond compliance-based care toward collective regulation, shared responsibility, and sustainable support. This session is for anyone supporting individuals with developmental disabilities and mental illness who wants tools that reduce burnout, improve outcomes, and restore humanity to care.

NASW CEU’s: 1.5 hours at the LSW, LMSW & LCSW Levels