Building workplace capacity to include persons with disabilities

Don Gallant is highly experienced in advancing and promoting social well-being and inclusion, especially for persons with disabilities and their families. Gallant has worked extensively with agencies in the private and public sectors at the provincial, national and international levels.

Emile Tompa is a health and labour economist. Tompa has led various knowledge-to-practice initiatives, focusing much time on creating collaborations between academics, community members and other stakeholders, including policymakers at the federal and provincial/territorial levels, disability community organizations, and disability support program administrators.

Francis Fung is a leader in vocational rehabilitation and employment services. Fung has operated in the private and non-profit sectors, overseeing various pre-employment services for low income residents, new immigrants, individuals who have experienced homelessness, and people with a wide range of disabilities.

Rebecca Gewurtz is an occupational therapist focused on work disability policy, income insecurity, and employment among persons living with disabilities, particularly mental illness and other episodic disabilities. Gewurtz has been involved in large partnership projects involving diverse community stakeholders and has experience conducting participatory action research and co-designing solutions to complex workplace problems.

Sinead McCarthy is a collaborative and purpose-driven leader, who is inspiring, forward-thinking and organized to deliver on the ongoing and evolving YES mission and strategic plan, financial objectives and program goals. McCarthy has 30 years of experience working in the disability employment sector and has a passion for helping youth.

Arif Jetha is a mixed-methodologist who works closely with policymakers to translate research into practice. Jetha has led partnered, interdisciplinary research teams to undertake research on the importance of work environments and employer practices in supporting labour-market entry and career advancement of young persons with disabilities.

Dan Samosh is an applied researcher who uses a multi-method approach that incorporates both qualitative and quantitative methods. Samosh’s work is focused on the career success and workplace inclusion of persons with disabilities, with an emphasis on practical implications for individuals, organizations, and policymakers.

Mahadeo Sukhai is the world’s first congenitally blind geneticist and a leading expert on accessibility of graduate and postdoctoral research training in science, technology, engineering, mathematics and healthcare disciplines. Sukhai has extensive experience leading research focused on social determinants of health and inclusion of persons living with sight loss.

Jordana Maisel works at the intersection of research, teaching, and practice. Maisel has led research in the areas of public transportation, street infrastructure, post-occupancy evaluations, and accessible housing policy to advance and implement inclusive design, enabling and empowering individuals who are typically underrepresented in design practice.

Jutta Treviranus is a trailblazing researcher who founded an innovative inclusive design graduate program at OCAD University. Treviranus also established IDRC in 1993 as the nexus of a growing global community that proactively works to ensure that our digitally transformed and globally connected society is designed inclusively.

Angelika Seeschaaf-Veres is a designer, educator, researcher, and critical future foresight strategist. Seeschaaf-Veres has experience using design as a catalyst in research and teaching to imagine speculative scenarios at the intersection of people, emerging technologies and culture in a climate-disrupted future.