The late Black feminist scholar, bell hooks, suggested that the margin can be a place of radical possibility, where marginalized people nourish their capacity for collective resistance. On the margin, it is possible to generate a counter-language. In this paper, we chronicle, describe and reflect upon how bell hooks' ideas inspired the creation of a national 2-day conference titled, ‘Listening to the Margins’. This conference was focused on understanding the intersectional experiences of childhood disability and race with a view to better supporting racialized disabled children, youth, and their families. This conference was needed because intersectional experiences of childhood disability and race have been silenced in childhood disability studies, critical race studies, and various other resistance-oriented systems of thought. Racialized children with disabilities and their families are often unsupported as they navigate Euro-centric healthcare systems. Reflecting on lessons learned from our conference, we suggest several strategies for advancing meaningful research programs with racialized disabled children. Strategies include centering the art of listening, amplifying the margin, engaging the arts to promote empathy, embracing psychosocial support in work on ableism and racism, developing clinical tools and practices that are grounded in lived patient experiences, and advancing decolonizing research that recognizes the role research has historically played in perpetuating colonial violence. In totality, this article unpacks how sitting on the margins, as bell hooks suggested, has allowed us to occupy a place of discomfort and creativity necessary to disrupt dominant discourses. In so doing, we have made space for the hidden narratives of racialized disabled children and their families.

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<p> Self-disclosure is a psychosocial process in which children carefully decide who, what, and how they tell others about their illness. Unfortunately, there is very little known about how children disclose their cancer diagnosis to their peers. For this reason, this study utilized a qualitative secondary analysis approach to investigate whether and how children disclose their illness to peers at camp. A thematic analysis was undertaken to analyze 21 interviews completed by children who experienced cancer and were from two summer residential camps in Ontario. This resulted in four themes including talking about cancer, thinking about cancer, attitude towards illness, and social environment and relationships. The findings affirm that illness disclosure is extremely complex and has several contributing factors. Further research in the area of disclosure among children with cancer is encouraged, as it can assist in the development of support and interventions for children engaging in numerous types of disclosure.  </p>

<p> Self-disclosure is a psychosocial process in which children carefully decide who, what, and how they tell others about their illness. Unfortunately, there is very little known about how children disclose their cancer diagnosis to their peers. For this reason, this study utilized a qualitative secondary analysis approach to investigate whether and how children disclose their illness to peers at camp. A thematic analysis was undertaken to analyze 21 interviews completed by children who experienced cancer and were from two summer residential camps in Ontario. This resulted in four themes including talking about cancer, thinking about cancer, attitude towards illness, and social environment and relationships. The findings affirm that illness disclosure is extremely complex and has several contributing factors. Further research in the area of disclosure among children with cancer is encouraged, as it can assist in the development of support and interventions for children engaging in numerous types of disclosure.  </p>

Objective Illness disclosure refers to when individuals with chronic illnesses make decisions to tell others about their disease. There is a lack of research on the complexity of disclosure among children and youth with chronic illnesses. We conducted a review of the literature to understand the process of disclosure among children and youth with chronic illnesses in the context of peer-based relationships. Methods A narrative review was completed using three databases. The search yielded 11 articles that utilized various research designs. Results Most of the literature was qualitative in nature. Most children and youth engaged in non-disclosure and concealment which is born out of fears of discrimination. Fewer children and youth engaged in unplanned disclosure, passive disclosure, partial disclosure, and open disclosure. Children and youth carefully consider who they are disclosing to and perceptions about other peoples’ responses strongly impact disclosure. Children and youth disclose verbally, behaviorally, and in written form. Disclosure is associated with both positive and negative effects, such as confidence, self-advocacy, and distress. Discussion Health providers and researchers should critically support disclosure and empower children and youth with the resources they need to be agents in their own disclosure decisions.