Strengthening Accessibility & Inclusion within Professional Programs

Strengthening Accessibility & Inclusion within Professional Programs is an annual, free virtual conference hosted by the U of T accessibility offices (St. George Campus, University of Toronto Mississauga, University of Toronto Scarborough) and the Office of the Vice-Provost Students.

The University of Toronto is a founding member of the Canada Accessibility Network (CAN), a national collaboration to advance accessibility for persons with disabilities through research, design and innovation, education and training, policy, employment, and community engagement. The UTM, UTSC and St. George Campus Accessibility Offices of the University of Toronto are proud to host this conference, and have it serve as part of our contribution to the critical efforts of this network.

This conference explores the enhancement of equity, accessibility and inclusion within professional programs, specifically in practicums and experiential learning settings.

This year’s conference will take place on June 13 – 14, 2023 from 9 a.m. – 3:15 p.m.

Keynote speakers include Christopher Moreland, M.D., MPH, FACP, SFHM, from the University of Texas Dell Medical School and Lauren Meiss, M.D., Clinical Genetics and Maternal Fetal Medicine Fellow at Johns Hopkins Medicine.

Both highly regarded professionals will discuss the benefits of diverse workforces while actively working to challenge our assumptions and reimagine who we consider to be a professional in the field. Speakers will also discuss the importance of community and representation when it comes to physicians with Disabilities in the healthcare field.

A great colleague to our office, Sari Springer, LL.B, will once again be offering a special session at the conference to share several in-depth case reviews on accessibility in professional faculty settings.

In addition to our keynote speakers, the conference will include presentations by staff at Accessibility Services on Student Experience Survey results, and key practicum accommodation processes within professional programs including workflow. This year we will also host a Young Professionals Panel, moderated by Dr. Antonio Pignatiello, M.D. FRCP (C).

Go to PROGRAM REGISTRATION below to register.

Conference agenda

2023 agenda
Tuesday, June 13, 2023

9 a.m. – 9:10 a.m. Welcome & Access Check

Speaker: Sezgi Ozel

An access check is a way of opening up the space for participants to let us know if there are any accommodations needed because something about the space is a barrier to their participation. An access check will open each morning and afternoon of this conference and will include information about various accessibility features and how to access them. Each check will invite participants to message hosts regarding any further accessibility needs.

9:10 – 9:20 a.m. Indigenous Opening with Verne Ross: Traditional Knowledge Keeper

Speaker: Verne Ross

Verne Ross, from Cote First Nation, a Sealteaux Nation belonging to Treaty 4 in Saskatchewan, will open the conference with storytelling as well as a brief prayer, so that we may begin the conference in a good way. He has always worked with traditional healers and language interpreters. Verne is not an Elder, however, he works with Elders’ guidance and is one of the Traditional Knowledge keepers.

9:20 – 9:30 a.m. Remarks from Executive Director, Student Life Programs & Services and Introduction to Keynote Speaker, Dr. Christopher Moreland

Speaker: Dr. Heather Kelly

9:30 – 11 a.m. Day One Keynote Speaker: Dr. Christopher Moreland

Host: Sarah Goodfield

Disability inclusion in our healthcare workforce is critical to achieving workforce equity and resolving healthcare disparities. The research landscape on people with disabilities has expanded rapidly over the last several years. In this session, Dr. Christopher Moreland will review and synthesize this data while exploring paths toward more equitable healthcare and medical education systems.

11 – 11:15 a.m. Break

11:15 – 12:30 p.m. Young Professionals Panel

Facilitator: Dr. Antonio Pignatiello
Panelists: Simon Margolis, Akhil Chawla, Alex Lu
Host: Maryam Masood

An unscripted personal discussion on the current landscape of accessibility and inclusion in professional programs and practice – challenges and opportunities.

12:30 – 1:30 p.m. Lunch

1:30 – 3 p.m. Critical Legal Cases in Professional Faculty Accommodations: The Duty to Accommodate

Speaker: Sari Springer
Host: Krysta Halliwell

Sari will review the basic legal concepts inherent in the duty to accommodate. She will then move on to the challenges and intricacies of meeting that duty in professional settings, in terms of form and process, addressing confidentiality issues and the requirement of dual participation. Sari will also address the inevitable challenge of balancing the duty to accommodate with the requirements of the program and the professional body with oversight. Her presentation will then review the leading and most recent reported case law across the country in the area with a view to focusing on “teachable” moments from those cases.

3 – 3:15 p.m. Day One Closing
Speaker: Adina Burden, Assistant Director of Accessibility Services St. George, University of Toronto

Wednesday, June 14, 2023

9 – 9:20 a.m. Welcome, Access Check & Land Acknowledgement

Speaker: Maryam Masood

An access check is a way of opening up the space for participants to let us know if there are any accommodations needed because something about the space is a barrier to their participation. An access check will open each morning and afternoon of this conference and will include information about various accessibility features and how to access them. Each check will invite participants to message hosts regarding any further accessibility needs.

9:20 – 9:30 a.m. Introduction to Day Two Keynote Speaker, Dr. Lauren Meiss

Speaker: Sandy Welsh

9:30 – 11 a.m. Day Two Keynote Speaker: Dr. Lauren Meiss

Host: Suzanne Horn

Throughout this autobiographical session, Dr. Lauren Meiss will reflect on how her personal experiences of living with a cystic fibrosis empower her to be a uniquely perceptive physician, from the moment her parents were delivered the diagnosis through her current work in perinatal palliative care as a Clinical Genetics and Maternal Fetal Medicine fellow. This journey weaves through numerous surgeries, confrontation with mortality in elementary school, studying her own disease in the laboratory in the US and Sweden, and will be sprinkled with laughs and joy along the way. This session will highlight the importance of inclusion of individuals with diverse backgrounds in professional environments by translating her lifetime of private battles to their positive impact on patients and families. Dr. Meiss will also share insights from leading advocacy groups for training physicians with chronic conditions and disabilities to feature their vastly important contributions to the medical field.

11 – 11:15 a.m. Break

11:15 – 12:30 p.m. A Collaborative Approach to Deciding on and Implementing Effective Accommodations in Professional Faculties

Speakers and hosts: Dr. Pearl Levey and Annicka Stabenow

This presentation will focus on ways to optimize the efficiency of the accommodation process through good communication and collaboration, establishment of procedures, and the fostering of relationships among stakeholders. Discussion will focus on ensuring that essential competencies are met, while still individualizing and establishing best practices in providing accommodations in clinical settings.

12:30 – 1:30 p.m. Lunch

1:30 – 2:30 p.m. Survey Data

Speaker and host: Reginald Oey

In this session, Accessibility Services at the University of Toronto, St. George will be reviewing results of the Student Experience Survey from 2021-2022. This survey dives deeper into the students registered with Accessibility Services and moves beyond students' interactions with our office. Through data on experiential learning and co-curricular learning experiences in the past year, Reggie will share findings that may help shape how we are considering the current student experience.

2:30 – 3 p.m. Connecting and Debriefing

Speakers and hosts: Dr. Katie Rowland and Hannah Jackson

In this session, Learning Strategists Dr. Katie Rowland and Hannah Jackson will lead attendees through a debriefing session. This session will encourage folks to reflect on ideas, concepts and topics explored during the conference and offer a space for connection in small breakout rooms. Discussion questions will be provided.

3 – 3:15 p.m. Indigenous Closing and Reflection with Verne Ross: Traditional Knowledge Keeper and Closing with Michael Nicholson

Speakers and hosts: Verne Ross and Michael Nicholson

Verne Ross, who will be performing the opening and prayer at the start of the conference, will return to close the conference in a good way. He will provide a reflection and message to attendees to send them on their way. Michael Nicholson, Director of Accessibility Services St. George, University of Toronto will share closing thoughts.
2022 agenda archive
Wednesday, June 15

8:30 – 8:40 a.m. Access Check

Speaker: Natalie Roach

An access check is a way of opening up the space for participants to let us know if there are any accommodations needed, because something about the space is a barrier to their participation. An access check will open each session of this conference and will include information about various accessibility features and how to access them. Each check will invite participants to message hosts regarding any further accessibility needs.

8:40 – 9:00 a.m. Indigenous Opening with Verne Ross: Traditional Knowledge Keeper

Speaker: Verne Ross

Verne Ross, from Cote First Nation, a Sealteaux Nation belonging to Treaty 4 in Saskatchewan, will open the conference with storytelling as well as a brief prayer, so that we may begin the conference in a good way. He has always worked with traditional healers and language interpreters. Verne is not an Elder, however, he works with Elders’ guidance and is one of the Traditional Knowledge keepers.

9:00 – 9:05 a.m. Introduction to Dr. Okanlami

Speaker: Dr. Pearl Levey

9:05 – 10:00 a.m. Keynote 1: Dr. Feranmi Okanlami

Hosted by Natalie Roach

10:00 – 10:15 a.m. Break

10:15 – 11:30 a.m. Navigating Intersecting Identities

Facilitated by Reshma Dhrodia & Jheanelle Anderson

Panelists: Olivia E. Wallace, Lauren LeBlanc & Fatima Hassan

Hosted by Leah Potash

A student panel discussion on navigating professional programs and practice as a BIPOC student with a lived experience of disability.

11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Lunch

12:30 – 1:45 p.m. Accommodation, Academic Remediation, Learning Skills and Stepping Out/Back into Academic Programs

Speakers: Irene Sullivan & Jaimie Coleman

Hosted by Reginald Oey

A discussion and case studies on navigating various interventions and supports when working with students with disabilities in professional programs.

1:45 – 2:00 p.m. Break

2:00 – 3:00 p.m. Critical Legal Cases in Professional Faculty Accommodations: A Review

Speaker: Sari Springer

Hosted by Gretel Silvestre

Sari will provide an overview of the basic legal concepts related to accommodation of students with disabilities in professional settings. She will then review recent reported case law dealing addressing these issues, and conclude by sharing her views on recent topics of general concern including:
- The issue of consent regarding sharing medical information with the practicum site
- Whether it is desirable to have the core competencies of a particular program well-documented and publicized in advance of students’ application and registration in the program.
- Student requests to complete their practicums remotely
- Doctor's notes with far-reaching requests
Thursday, June 16

8:45 – 8:55 a.m. Welcome, Day 2 Agenda & Access Check, Land Acknowledgement

Speaker: Adina Burden

8:55 – 9:00 a.m. Introduction to Dr. Charlton

Speaker: Sandy Welsh

9:00 – 10:00 a.m. Keynote 2: Dr. Blake Charlton, MD, FACC, FSCAI

Hosted by Natalie Roach

10:00 – 10:15 a.m. Break

10:15 – 11:00 a.m. Innovators in Accessibility

Speaker: Jason Brommet, Microsoft Canada

Hosted by Vivian Zhang

We all play a critical role in creating a world in which everyone can participate. How do we all create and support a culture of accessibility and inclusion in workplace and business practices?

11:00 – 11:30 a.m. Bridging the Digital Divide

Speaker: Jason Brommet, Microsoft Canada

Hosted by Vivian Zhang

Technology is woven through every element of our life. It can be the greatest of enablers, creating experiences and opportunities for everyone to be more inclusive.

11:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Address from the Honourable Carla Qualtrough

Speaker: Carla Qualtrough, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion

Hosted by Mira Ali

We are delighted that the Honourable Carla Qualtrough, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion, will be providing an address for our conference. Minister Qualtrough is committed to equity and inclusion, and has practiced human rights law at the federal and provincial levels. She chaired the Minister’s Council on Employment and Accessibility in British Columbia, and was an adjudicator with the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Tribunal. Minister Qualtrough has been visually impaired since birth.

12:00 – 1:00 p.m. Lunch

1:00 – 2:15 p.m. Universal/Inclusive Curriculum Design for Professional Faculty Programs

Basic principles, best practices and a case study from the Faculty of Information Studies at the University of Toronto

Speakers: Ben Poynton, Joanna Lau, Malayna Bernstein, Michal Kasparak, Stephanie Rose & Wendy Duff

Hosted by Bismah Khalid

It is one thing to understand UDL principles and quite another to successfully integrate them into existing practices. In the past year, the Faculty of Information has taken up precisely this project: both educating our instructors and staff about UDL principles, as well as helping those principles take root in generative and effective ways in course and service offerings.

In this session, we outline our process and provide ideas for other professional faculties to take up. We will begin by articulating why our Faculty prioritized UDL and accessibility, explain how we created a support infrastructure, detail a range of programs developed – share our challenges and successes - showcase one faculty member who used our programs extensively, and close with a broad discussion of UDL principles for learning. By sharing our Faculty’s why, where, and how, we hope we can help other professional faculties institute their own UDL-based practices, making learning more accessible for all.

2:15 – 2:30 p.m. Break

2:30 – 3:45 p.m. Supporting Inclusive Clinical Education Through the Use of the Practicum Demands Measure ©: Collecting, Analyzing, and Sharing Essential Information for Students, Faculty and Accessibility Counsellors

Speakers: Dr. Behdin Nowrouzi-Kia, PhD, OT Reg. (Ont.), Donna Barker, MSc OT Reg. (Ont.) & Jill Stier M.A., OT Reg. (Ont.)

Department of Occupational Science & Occupational Therapy, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto

Hosted by Maryam Masood

The Practicum Demands Measure © (PDM) is used to record the physical, psychosocial, and cognitive demands on student occupational therapy (OT) during their practicum placements. Data collected through the PDM over a two year period has provided a better understanding of the demands on OT students during their required clinical education courses that occur in a variety of settings and with a variety of populations. This session will provide an overview of the PDM and explain why and how this tool was developed. Research results of PDM data collection will be presented. Case studies will help to illustrate how PDM data can be utilized by students, accessibility services counsellors, and fieldwork faculty to support inclusive clinical education and optimize opportunity for success for students requiring practicum accommodations for disability. Future directions for development, research, and utilization of the PDM will also be discussed, including the opportunity for revision and utilization of the tool for use by other disciplines/academic programs with clinical education requirements.

Friday, June 17

8:45 – 8:55 a.m. Welcome, Day 3 Agenda & Access Check, Land Acknowledgement

Speaker: Annicka Stabenow

8:55 – 9:00 a.m. Introduction to Dr. Kevin Stoddart

Speaker: Jennifer Stewart

9:00 – 10:00 a.m. Keynote 3: Understanding and Meeting the Needs of Autistic Students in Professional Programs

Speaker: Dr. Kevin Stoddart

Hosted by Adina Burden

This session will involve an examination of a collaborative approach between students, their program and Accessibility Services staff in navigating assessments, skill building, remediation and accommodations when working with students with disabilities in professional clinical programs. Considerations for identifying program step-outs and the process for return to program are reviewed through exploration of a case study.

10:00 – 10:15 a.m. Break

10:15 – 11:45 a.m. Adaptive Technology in Professional Placement Settings

A review of best practices and case studies in assessing need and best utilizing adaptive technology to support students with disabilities in professional placement settings

Speakers: Ann Thomas, Lake Porter & Michelle Morgani

Hosted by Sezgi Ozel

This session will review best practices around assessing technology needs for students in professional practicums. This session will review case studies and practical questions for utilizing best practice around adaptive technology to support students with disabilities in professional placement settings

11:45 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. Student Snapshot: My Lived Experience Navigating Adaptive Technology and Post-Secondary Education as a Student with a Disability

Speaker: Jessica Chaikof

Hosted by Morghan Brett

In this session, PhD candidate Jessica Chaikof will share her experience navigating her undergraduate and graduate degrees as a student living with a disability. To be explored are how adaptive technology and self-advocacy play a part in her experience, and how she is preparing for her upcoming doctorate degree. This session will be a conversation between Jessica and Morghan Brett, Program Transition Coordinator and social justice scholar.

12:15 p.m. – 12:45 p.m. Lunch

12:45 – 1:45 p.m. Clinical Sites, Academic Programs and Accessibility Offices: Roles, Responsibilities and Best Practices in Working Together

Speakers: Dr. Pearl Levey & Dr. Tony Pignatiello

Hosted by Jasmine Montagnese

1:45 – 2:00 p.m. Remarks from Executive Director, Student Life Programs & Services

Speaker: Heather Kelly

2:00 – 2:15 p.m. Break

2:15 – 3:15 p.m. Fostering Inclusion for Physicians with Disabilities

Speakers: Dr. Michael Quon Dr. Camille Munro

Hosted by Natalie Roach

Dr. Camille Munro and Dr. Michael Quon will present the important progress in disability inclusion they are leading at The Ottawa Hospital (TOH), one of Canada’s largest learning and research hospitals. They will share a lived experience that highlights the challenges faced by physicians practicing with disabilities. Through work with the Canadian Association for Physicians with Disabilities, it was apparent that these difficult barriers were shared amongst most physicians with disabilities. A complete national void in established policy for physicians with disabilities motivated advocacy for their work with the Medicine Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Working Group at TOH. They will review their position statement for physicians with disabilities, the first of its kind at any Canadian hospital institution. Published in the Canadian Journal of Physician Leadership in October 2021, it has since been shared extensively in publication by The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario Dialogue magazine, a national HealthCareCAN policy brief, and by every Provincial Medical Association in Canada. Most recently, they presented their work at Stanford University’s Building a Culture of Health Equity Summit. Please join them for this thought-provoking presentation, calling for much needed culture-change in medicine.

Credit to Dr. Kathleen Gartke, Senior Medical Officer, who has also led this work but won’t be presenting at the conference.

3:15 – 3:25 p.m. Indigenous Closing and Reflection with Verne Ross: Traditional Knowledge Keeper

Speaker: Verne Ross

Verne Ross, who will be performing the opening and prayer at the start of the conference, will return to close the conference in a good way. He will provide a reflection and message to attendees to send them on their way.

3:15 – 3:30 p.m. Organizing Committee Send-Off

Speaker: Michael Nicholson

Past conference recordings

Past conference facilitators

2022 facilitators
Ann Thomas
Ann Thomas has a background in psychology and rehabilitation teaching and has been working as an Adaptive Technologist in post-secondary education for over 20 years. She is currently an Adaptive Technologist in Accessibility Services at the University of Toronto.

Behdin Nowrouzi-Kia
Behdin Nowrouzi-Kia, OT Reg. (Ont.), PhD, FRSA, is an occupational therapist and assistant professor in the Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, University of Toronto. Dr. Nowrouzi-Kia and holds the Emily Geldsaler Grant Early Career Professor in Workplace Mental Health and is an Affiliate Scientist, Krembil Research Institute, Toronto Western Hospital – University Health Network. His research focuses on workplace mental health through a bio/psycho/social framework.

Ben Poynton
Ben was drawn to his work by an interest in the philosophical underpinnings of human rights and how they support social justice. He promotes compliance to the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, seeking ultimately to lead the University beyond compliance. Ben helps the University community understand legal obligations, how accessibility is broadly defined, and how we can create a universally designed institution that values disability and the changes in perspective it brings. Ben holds Master of Laws from the University of Warwick in International Development Law & Human Rights.

Donna Barker
Donna is an Associate Professor, Teaching Stream, in the Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy at the University of Toronto and was the department’s Director of Clinical Education for 15 years. Previous to her 2006 appointment at the university, Donna worked for twenty years in the health care system as a clinician and occupational therapy practice leader. Donna’s research interests include: student accommodations in clinical education, innovation in clinical education and clinical education within private practice.

Dr. Blake Charlton
Severe dyslexia kept Blake Charlton from learning to read until age 13, when he began sneaking novels into special ed study hall. With a lot of help, he went on to graduate summa cum laude from Yale College. After an interlude as a high school English teacher, football coach and special ed tutor, he started writing novels and short stories, mostly sci-fi and fantasy, for young people with disabilities. Meanwhile, he attended Stanford Medical School and then University of California San Francisco, where he trained as an interventional cardiologist. He now practices in Anchorage, Alaska.

Dr. Camille Munro
Dr. Camille Munro is an Assistant Professor and Clinician-Teacher with the Division of Palliative Medicine at the University of Ottawa. Dr.Munro received her medical degree from Dalhousie in 1991, did a rotating internship at Royal Columbian Hospital, University of British Columbia, and then moved to Ottawa. After practicing part-time in Family Medicine for 16 years while raising her children, Dr. Munro’s interest in Palliative Care led her return to an academic setting. Dr. Munro’s current interest is to pursue excellence in patient care and improve the clinical delivery of palliative care.

Dr. Feranmi Okanlami
Dr. Oluwaferanmi Okanlami is the Director of Student Accessibility & Accommodation Services at the University of Michigan (UM). He is also an Assistant Professor of Family Medicine, Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation and Urology at Michigan Medicine, and an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at UCLA. He has received multiple awards and sits on several national boards and committees. He earned his MD before matching into Orthopedic Surgery at Yale, where in his 3rd year, a spinal cord injury paralyzed him from the chest down. He navigates the world as a proud wheelchair user.

Fatima Hassan
Fatima Hassan is in her third year of the Mechanical Engineering program at the University of Toronto. From Toronto, Fatima is interested in engineering and teaching. She has done some work with the Engineering Outreach Office and has been part of the Engineering Society. She also loves photography and music.

Heather Kelly
Dr. Heather Kelly is the Executive Director, Student Life Programs & Services in the Division of Student Life at University of Toronto, St. George campus and is responsible for a comprehensive program of programs, services and resources for students. She is committed to supporting all students, particularly underrepresented and equity-deserving students, in finding their purpose through the integration of curricular and co-curricular experiences that encourage meaningful goals and interests. She holds a Doctorate in Education from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education at U of T.

Hon. Carla Qualtrough
The Hon. Carla Qualtrough was first elected as the MP for Delta in 2015. She has served as Minister of Employment, Workforce Development & Disability Inclusion since 2019. Minister Qualtrough has previously served as Minister of Accessibility, Minister of Public Services & Procurement, and Minister of Sport & Persons with Disabilities. A successful lawyer, dedicated volunteer and Paralympic swimmer, Minister Qualtrough is a strong advocate for Delta, with a commitment to addressing inequality and championing diversity. Read her full bio.

Irene Sullivan
Irene is the Neurological Team Lead at Accessibility Services (U of T) and has over 27 years of experience in neuropsychological assessment of neurological disabilities including learning disabilities, ADHD, brain injury, ASD, MS and HIV. Irene ran a head injury clinic for a Toronto trauma hospital and was the clinical manager of a multidisciplinary neurological disorders assessment clinic. Irene is active in community advocacy work for individuals with brain injury and ASD, and was a member of the panel that developed the Ontario Neurotrauma Guidelines for Concussion Management for Adults.

Jaimie Coleman
Jaimie is an Assistant Profession, Teaching Stream in the Department of Physical Therapy, University of Toronto. She is Academic Lead of the cardiorespiratory course, Academic Coordinator of Clinical Education and Graduate Coordinator for the MScPT students. Jaimie completed a Bachelor of Physical Education and Health and a Master of Science in Physical Therapy both at U of T. She has also completed a Master of Health Management at McMaster University and holds the Certified Health Executive (CHE) designation.

Jason Brommet
Jason (Jay) is the Lead of the Modern Work and Security business at Microsoft Canada. His team is responsible for enabling organizations to amplify the ingenuity of their people, while protecting their data and assets. Jay’s work frequently involves detailing the future of the workplace, including culture development, prioritization of people, employee wellbeing and the innovative use of technology. Jay is also an advocate for technology enabling inclusivity and accessibility and leads Microsoft Canada’s Commercial Accessibility Initiative.

Jessica Chaikof
Jessica Chaikof holds an M.A. in Sociology Research & Practice from American University and is starting a PhD in Social Policy this fall. As an undergrad, she advocated for the inclusion of students with disabilities by co-founding WheAccess, the first club on campus to support disabled students and to educate members of the college community. Her research focuses on chronic illness, disability and accessibility in higher education. As an individual living with a disability, Jessica is familiar with obstacles that students with disabilities face in requesting and advocating for their rights.

Jheanelle Anderson
Jheanelle Anderson MSW, RSW is the On Location Accessibility Advisor at University College at U of T. She is a Black disabled social worker and researcher focusing on disability-affirming therapy and equity-based research with marginalized populations, particularly those with intersection of Blackness, disability, and immigration. Her latest work examines gaps in research, policy and service delivery for Black Canadians with disabilities titled “The Intersection of Blackness and Disability”. She has a background in community-engaged research with Black survivors of homicide victims.

Jill Stier
Jill Stier, MA, BMR (OT), is an Assistant Professor and Graduate Coordinator in the Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy. Jill’s role as the Graduate Coordinator involves the coordination of services and programs affecting student life. Jill chairs the Student Affairs Committee, which is responsible for admissions and awards, recruitment, student advising, academic performance including marks and the appeals process, student bursaries and scholarships. Jill has expertise with accessibility and accommodation strategies for graduate students.

Joanna Lau
Joanna Lau has worked in higher education for over 15 years and is currently an Educational Developer within the Faculty of Information at the University of Toronto. In her role, she is committed to working with instructors and staff to increase UDL and accessibility practices within course design and student services. In addition, Joanna has a passion for design and creativity and currently develops and designs learning resources as the eLearning Developer at The Center for Implementation.

Dr. Kevin Stoddart
Dr. Kevin Stoddart is Founding Director of The Redpath Centre and Adjunct Professor, Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, U of T. He has worked in the fields of autism, developmental disabilities and child and adult mental health. Since the 1990s, his clinical focus has been children, youth and adults with Asperger Syndrome and the co-existing social and mental health problems that affect them. An active clinician, he sees about 150 people and their families yearly. Dr. Stoddart’s research and publications center on the clinical and psychosocial needs of autistic people and their families.

Lake Porter
Lake Porter has been working in the field of adaptive/assistive technology (AT) for over 20 years in both developmental and service roles. Lake comes to AT from an interesting perspective having been trained as a musician and also having a certificate in Information Management with a specialty in Information Architecture. One of Lake’s formative experiences with AT was developing the sounds for Sun Microsystem’s audio interface for the SwingSet framework.

Lauren LeBlanc
Lauren is a current Master of Social Work student at the University of Toronto finishing their first year of the two-year program in the Health and Mental Health stream. Lauren has also been working with Accessibility Services as both a Peer Advisor and Peer Facilitator since September of 2020. Lauren identifies as a student with a disability and is an advocate for accessibility within academic and professional programs.

Malayna Berstein
Malayna directs the Faculty of Information’s Learning Hub. In this role, she coordinates programs that support student and instructor learning and well-being. She earned her Ph.D. and M.A. in the Learning Sciences at Northwestern University, where she studied literacies, resource pedagogies, and teacher identity. She holds a B.A. in English from Wesleyan University in Connecticut, where she studied literature and nonfiction writing. Malayna taught at Northwestern University, the University of Maryland, and West Virginia University, before joining the faculty at the University of Toronto.

Dr. Michael Quon
Dr. Michael Quon is a General Internal Medicine specialist at The Ottawa Hospital (TOH) and Lecturer at the University of Ottawa. He is a determined advocate to improve inclusion of physicians with disabilities after his own experience following a terrible road cycling crash and a traumatic brain injury. As part of his efforts, he is a member of an EDI working group at TOH and the Board of the Canadian Association for Physicians with Disabilities. He will soon be joining EDI advisory groups at the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and Canadian Medical Association.

Michal Kasprzak
Michal Kasprzak is Assistant Director at the Centre for Teaching Support & Innovation (CTSI) for the Teaching Assistants’ Training Program (TATP). He provides pedagogical support to faculty and teaching assistants who want to integrate effective educational approaches into their teaching. His interests include multiple presences in online learning, mental health and accessibility, UDL, and graduate student advancement.

Olivia E. Wallace
Olivia E. Wallace is a visual artist and teacher from Brampton, ON who recently completed the Master of Teaching program at OISE, U of T. She holds an Honours Bachelor of Arts in Arts Management, Studio and Art History and was awarded the Orpheus Prize in Humanities in 2017 (UTSC). Olivia has worked with several arts organizations and galleries, and currently sits on the Programming and Collections Committee at Peel Art Gallery, Museum and Archives. She is passionate about art education and community-based art, and her research has focused on socially-engaged hip hop in multiethnic schools.

Dr. Pearl Levey
Dr. Pearl Levey has worked in the field of learning disabilities for over 40 years and holds a Ph.D. degree in Special Education from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education in Toronto. She has worked as a Disability Advisor at Accessibility Services at U of T since 1990 and in 2017 she has been in the role of Accommodations Specialist for Practicums, Placements and Laboratories. In addition to her work at U of T, Dr. Levey had a private practice in Toronto from 1986 until 2017 where she conducted psycho-educational assessments and provided consultations for both children and adults.

Reshma Dhrodia
Reshma Dhrodia is a social worker and educator whose work focuses on equity/diversity/inclusion, gerontology, and gender-based violence. Since 2016, she has worked in the University of Toronto St. George Campus Accessibility Services office to accommodate students with disabilities. She is the Chair of their EDIA Committee and Team Lead of 11 On Location Accessibility Advisors. In 2021, she received the Jill Matus Excellence in Student Services Award, and Excellence through Innovation award. She is on the Board of Directors for the Urban Alliance on Race Relations and the Leonard Foundation.

Sandy Welsh
As Vice-Provost, Students Professor Sandy Welsh works closely with Principals, Deans and academic divisions across the three campuses to enhance the student experience at U of T. She is responsible for University-wide policies and procedures affecting students. Professor Welsh’s current research explores how changes in federal and provincial regulations affect the adoption and implementation of workplace harassment and work-family policies. Previous roles include Provostial Advisor on Graduate Student Funding and Vice-Dean, Graduate Education & Program Reviews at the Faculty of Arts & Science.

Sari Springer
Sari L. Springer has been practicing law for over 30 years; her practice focuses on employment as well as higher education law. Sari has particular proficiency in the human rights arena. She has acted for multiple universities throughout her career, and defended these universities in connection with numerous human rights applications. Sari has been lead counsel on several occasions for groups of universities across Ontario in the context of high stakes, precedent setting systemic discrimination cases, and has succeeded in having all of those cases dismissed.

Stephanie Rose
Throughout her career in higher education, Stephanie created programs and services primarily focused on addressing the needs of students. After a short stint in Accessibility Services, she developed a much greater understanding of UDL principles, accessibility-focused approaches to student engagement, and how a collaborative approach worked most effectively for all parties involved. It is this approach that directed her work in the Faculty of Information. Stephanie recently left U of T for the role of Director of Program Management at the Professional Engineers of Ontario.

Dr. Tony Pignatiello
Dr. Pignatiello is the Associate Dean in the Office of Learner Affairs, Temerty Faculty of Medicine. He is a Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist, Associate Professor with the Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, and the Medical Director of the Provincial Pediatric Telemental Health Services at The Hospital for Sick Children. He has worked in many academic and community-based settings, and has won awards for his teaching, mentorship, and work in virtual mental health care.

Verne Ross
Verne Ross is from Cote First Nation, a Sealteaux Nation belonging to Treaty 4 in Saskatchewan. He has always worked with traditional healers and language interpreters. Verne is not an Elder, however, he works with Elders’ guidance and is one of the Traditional Knowledge keepers. Verne holds a B.A in Indigenous Studies and a Master of Social Work. Currently in a PhD, his research focus is Two-spirited people; he has also taught several courses at the Centre for Indigenous Studies Department (U of T). Verne continues to be a social worker, teacher and mentor for students from all walks of life.

Wendy Duff
Dr. Wendy Duff is a professor and Dean in the Faculty of Information where she teaches courses in the areas of archival access and community archives. Her research and publications have focused on archival access, archives and social justice, and archival users. In her current research she is exploring the emotional impact of archival work.

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Program Facilitators

Dr. Christopher Moreland

Christopher Moreland is an associate professor of internal medicine and academic hospitalist at Dell Medical School at UT Austin. As a nationally recognized clinician educator, his innovation and leadership roles have spanned the continuum from pre-professional and medical student to resident and faculty development, including his current role as associate residency director. His collaborative advocacy and research efforts have resulted in multiple publications and presentations describing our healthcare workforce of professionals with disabilities.

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Dr. Lauren Meiss

Dr. Lauren Meiss is currently a Maternal Fetal Medicine and Clinical Genetics fellow at Johns Hopkins University, where she leads the Johns Hopkins Medicine Alliance for Disability Inclusion and Equity. As one of very few physicians with cystic fibrosis, she feels privileged to encourage those with chronic conditions to pursue careers in medicine and to advocate for the inclusion of trainees with disabilities.

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Dr. Tony Pignatiello

Dr. Pignatiello is the Associate Dean in the Office of Learner Affairs, Temerty Faculty of Medicine. He is a Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist, Associate Professor with the Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, and the Medical Director of the Provincial Pediatric Telemental Health Services at The Hospital for Sick Children. He has worked in many academic and community-based settings, and has won awards for his teaching, mentorship, and work in virtual mental health care.

Learn more about Dr. Tony Pignatiello

Sari Springer

Sari L. Springer has been practicing law for over 30 years; her practice focuses on employment as well as higher education law. Sari has particular proficiency in the human rights arena. She has acted for multiple universities throughout her career, and defended these universities in connection with numerous human rights applications. Sari has been lead counsel on several occasions for groups of universities across Ontario in the context of high stakes, precedent setting systemic discrimination cases, and has succeeded in having all of those cases dismissed.

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Dr. Heather Kelly

Dr. Heather Kelly is the Executive Director, Student Life Programs & Services in the Division of Student Life at University of Toronto, St. George campus and is responsible for a comprehensive program of programs, services and resources for students. She is committed to supporting all students, particularly underrepresented and equity-deserving students, in finding their purpose through the integration of curricular and co-curricular experiences that encourage meaningful goals and interests. She holds a Doctorate in Education from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education at U of T.

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Sandy Welsh

As Vice-Provost, Students Professor Sandy Welsh works closely with Principals, Deans and academic divisions across the three campuses to enhance the student experience at U of T. She is responsible for University-wide policies and procedures affecting students. Professor Welsh’s current research explores how changes in federal and provincial regulations affect the adoption and implementation of workplace harassment and work-family policies. Previous roles include Provostial Advisor on Graduate Student Funding and Vice-Dean, Graduate Education & Program Reviews at the Faculty of Arts & Science.

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Dr. Pearl Levey

Dr. Pearl Levey has worked in the field of learning disabilities for over 40 years and holds a PhD degree in Special Education from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education in Toronto. She has worked as a Disability Advisor at Accessibility Services at U of T since 1990 and in 2017 she has been in the role of Accommodations Specialist for Practicums, Placements and Laboratories. In addition to her work at U of T, Dr. Levey had a private practice in Toronto from 1986 until 2017 where she conducted psycho-educational assessments and provided consultations for both children and adults.

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Annicka Stabenow

Annicka Stabenow is an Experiential Learning Accommodations Coordinator, at the University of Toronto, Accessibility Services. Annicka holds a Masters of Education in Counselling and Psychotherapy from the University of Toronto and a Bachelor’s Degree from Mount Allison University in Psychology and Sociology. Annicka is a passionate Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Accessibility advocate and works closely with faculty and staff within the University of Toronto to ensure that students with disabilities are included in experiential learning opportunities.

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Hannah Jackson

Hannah Jackson is a trauma-informed, anti-oppressive, and anti-racist Social Worker and psychotherapist working with Accessibility Services, University of Toronto as a Learning Strategist. Hannah holds a Master of Social Work from the University of Toronto, in addition to a Bachelors of Arts (Hons) from York University, majoring in English and Creative Writing. Throughout her time with Accessibility Services, University of Toronto, Hannah has also served as an On Location Accessibility Advisor, Professional Faculties North & Woodsworth College and a Mental Health Counselling Intern.

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Dr. Katie Rowland

Dr. Katie Rowland is an accomplished educator working with Accessibility Services, University of Toronto as a Learning Strategist. Katie holds a PhD in Physiology and a BSc in Pharmacology and Fine Art History, both from the University of Toronto. She has extensive experience in educational settings including working as a private academic coach and tutor, a Learning Strategist at Bayview Glen School, a sessional instructor at Ontario Tech University and the University of Toronto, as well as a Postdoctoral Fellow at The Hospital for Sick Children.

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Reggie Oey

Reggie Oey is the Team Lead for Accessible, Inclusive and Experiential Learning Strategies at the University of Toronto, Accessibility Services. Reggie holds a Bachelor of Arts & Science degree from McGill University and a Master of Education degree from OISE, University of Toronto. He is a skillful Learning Strategist with considerable awareness on Disability and learning impacts. He has held numerous positions at Accessibility Services, offering his insight and support to a range of students at the University of Toronto.

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Akhil Chawla

Akhil is a U of T dental student, consultant, entrepreneur, and podcaster. Before dentistry, Akhil worked as a healthcare management consultant at KPMG. After joining the program, Akhil co-founded Sage Dental Partners, an M&A advisory firm specializing in dental practice acquisitions and sales —Canada's first comprehensive dental buyer representative. Akhil started two successful podcasts. His first, The Majestic Mutt Podcast, conversing with individuals with unique careers and Hi, I’m Dr., that highlights dental industry leaders. Akhil was named an Emerging Leader by The Peak in 2023.

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Simon Margolis

Simon Margolis is a Knowledge Management lawyer at Borden Ladner Gervais LLP. Simon summered and articled with BLG, and was called to the Ontario Bar in 2020. Prior to becoming a Knowledge Management lawyer, Simon maintained a broad commercial litigation practice. Simon is a graduate of the University of Toronto Faculty of Law. Simon obtained his undergraduate degree at the University of Michigan, where he studied history and political science. Prior to law school, Simon worked as a Policy Intern at a neurodiversity organization in Washington, D.C.

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Alex Lu

Alex Lu is a Senior Researcher at Microsoft Research New England, where he leads a research program in developing machine learning and artificial intelligence methods to advance biological discoveries. He previously received his PhD in Computer Science at the University of Toronto. As a Deaf person, Alex is passionate about accessibility and Disability justice, and has previously served as Accessibility Chair for numerous community non-profits including OPIRG-Toronto and the BC Rainbow Alliance of the Deaf, as well as a freelance journalist covering these topics.

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Verne Ross

Verne Ross is from Cote First Nation, a Sealteaux Nation belonging to Treaty 4 in Saskatchewan. He has always worked with traditional healers and language interpreters. Verne is not an Elder, however, he works with Elders’ guidance and is one of the Traditional Knowledge keepers. Verne holds a B.A in Indigenous Studies and a Master of Social Work. Currently in a PhD, his research focus is Two-spirited people; he has also taught several courses at the Centre for Indigenous Studies Department (U of T). Verne continues to be a social worker, teacher and mentor for students from all walks of life.

Learn more about Verne

Christen A

Christen has an undergraduate degree in Physical and Health Education from Queen's University and a master's degree in Physical Therapy from the University of Toronto. During Christen’s master's degree she sustained an injury and sought accommodations to support her through her program. Through her experience, Christen has learned a lot about the importance of accessibility and how accommodations can assist someone when it comes to setting and achieving goals. Christen is now working as a successful physiotherapist in a pediatric setting - a job that she finds very rewarding.

Learn more about Christen
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