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, 2024
Past conference recordings
2023 videos coming soon.
- 2022
- 2021
Day 1: Thursday, June 17, 2021
- Day 1 Opening Remarks
- Keynote: Dr. Peter Poullos - Disability, Diversity and Inclusion
- Clinical Coaching: An Innovative Model for Supporting Students in Clinical Fieldwork Education
- Using Simulation to Teach Practice Skills: Preparing Students for Field with Increased Support and Accommodations
- Terry Gardiner: Accommodations in Professional Programs - A Conversation
- Faculty and Staff Panel
Day 2: Friday, June 18, 2021
- Day 2 Opening Remarks
- Keynote: Dr. Peter Poullos – Technical Standards and Creative Accommodations
- Mike Natter, MD: Combining Passions of Art and Medicine
- Sandy Welsh: Closing Remarks
- The Hidden Curriculum of Accessibility: Learning From Lived Experience and Expertise
- Conference Conclusion and Thank You
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. - 2023 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.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.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.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.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.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.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.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.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.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.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.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.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.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.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.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.
-
Program Eligibility
Faculty, staff and students from any institution who are interested in accessibility and inclusion within professional programs are eligible to attend.