Claudiane Coutu Arbour

Claudiane Coutu Arbour is a psychoeducator and a doctoral student in psychoeducation at the Université de Montréal. She has over 15 years of experience as a direct support professional (DSP), working with individuals who identify as neurodivergent, including autistic individuals, people with intellectual disabilities, and those in situations of severe behavioural challenges (SBC). She currently works in the Autism Spectrum Disorder program at Santé Québec and also maintains a private practice.

Her doctoral research focuses on the well-being of direct support professionals in settings that support individuals in situations of SBC. She is particularly interested in the dynamics between organizational resources and the needs of DSPs in specialized environments. Her work is grounded in an ecosystemic perspective, with a focus on prevention and practice improvement.

Claudiane is also involved in several committees, including the Direct Support Fellowship Program at CCCE, where she represents the realities of Francophone and Québec-based workers. As a trainer and speaker, she is committed to recognizing and valuing knowledge emerging from practice.