Speaker Biographies
Keynote Address
[Image Description]: Victoria smiles at the camera while wearing a black graduation gown and red striped sash.
Victoria Parlatore
Victoria Parlatore (she/her) is a fourth-year PhD Candidate in Higher Education at the University of Toronto, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE). Her current research explores the self-reported needs of students with disabilities and the extent to which post-secondary institutions are meeting identified needs through current policies, practices, and supports, bringing disabled students together to reimagine access, on our terms. Victoria identifies as dynamically disabled, experiencing a combination of chronic mental and physical health disabilities such as generalized anxiety, panic disorder, major depressive disorder, severe mixed sleep apnea, chronic pain from thoracic spine immobility, and esotropia strabismus. In addition to her academics Victoria works as a Graduate Peer Mentor for Accessibility Services, research consultant, and has served on several advisory committees dedicated to improving accessibility and student experience. In her personal life Victoria enjoys spending time with family and friends or meeting new people, especially while exploring new places and eating delicious foods, activities in nature such as hiking and snowboarding, creative writing, volunteering with Rotary International, and a good cup of tea.
Panel #1: Barriers and Accessible Futures in Learning Environments
[Image Description]: Elizabeth smiles at the camera in front of an evergreen back drop. She is wearing a floral patterned blue dress shirt and has long brown hair.
Elizabeth Ball
Elizabeth holds a BScH from Queen's University and an MSc in Medical Science from McMaster University. She is currently a Part-Time Instructor and Research Engineer at McMaster University, as well as the co-founder of a bioinformatics consultancy. Her professional journey across industry, government, and academia reflects a deep passion for research and discovery.
Her personal experiences have fueled her commitment to accessibility and inclusion, driving her active participation in McMaster University's Student and Alumni Accessibility Committee. Elizabeth is passionate about uniting diverse voices to develop innovative solutions, emphasizing the importance of actively facilitating these practices in educational settings and beyond.
[Image Description]: Marcus smiles at the camera, wearing a white t-shirt and tinted glasses.
Marcus Chan
Marcus Chan (he/him) is a fourth-year Knowledge Integration student at the University of Waterloo, with minors in English and Cognitive Science and specializations in Collaborative Design and Science, Technology, and Society. As a student facilitator for the Student Disability Community Network, Marcus creates and hosts welcoming spaces for students with disabilities to connect and thrive. He is currently writing an autism-centric novel, offering a grounded and contemporary portrayal of autism, and his fourth-year thesis focuses on designing and facilitating workshops that cultivate growth mindset and resilience in students, guided by principles of Universal Design for Learning.
[Image Description]: Stephen smiles at the camera with a grey background. He has dark brown wavy hair and is wearing a gold and black graduation gown.
Stephen Temesy
Stephen Temesy (he/him) holds a BSc in Biology from the University of Windsor and a MSc in Microbiology/Immunology from Western University. He currently works as a Research Assistant at Western University, researching the role of sugars in disease. His research has been presented at over a dozen conferences and is being reviewed for publication in Public Library of Science (PLoS) and Oxford Academic medical journals.
Stephen is a community leader with diverse experience in accessibility, medical research, and leadership. Stephen works closely with Canadian Blood Services to promote the need for blood, serving as the President of the Fanshawe Blood Club and the Vice-President of Recruitment for Western University’s Blood Club. As both a student and Alumni, Stephen is a member of the University of Windsor’s Accessibility Coordinating Committee, helping ensure accessibility needs are met campus wide.
Panel #2: From Clubs to Co-op: Reimagining Accessibility Beyond the Classroom
[Image Description]: Elizabeth Mohler smiles at the camera.
Elizabeth C. Mohler
Elizabeth Mohler (ABD) is a doctoral candidate at Western University in the department of Health and Rehabilitation Science, Occupational Science Field; she holds a 4-year SSHRC fellowship. Her work discourses and practices within Direct Funding shape how disabled persons access services, and in what ways service users resist and negotiate these discourses.
Elizabeth holds a BA from Wilfrid Laurier Brantford in Contemporary Studies and an MSC from Western University in Occupational Science. Elizabeth runs a consulting business (EM Disability Consulting) where she helps companies develop accessibility plans under the Accessible Canada Act and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act.
Elizabeth currently is the vice-president for the Society of Graduate Students at Western University. Elizabeth brings a human approach to activism, and her work in this space includes sitting on the Canadian Institute of Health Research External Advisory Committee on Accessibility and Systemic Ableism; co-authoring a book on accessibility in the sciences; and, presenting for large and small groups on accessibility and inclusion within higher education.
When not focusing on work and studies, you can find Elizabeth training for her next triathlon or out on the trails on her tandem bike.
[Image Description]: Ally smiles at the camera with her hand on her hip while she stands in front of blooming magnolia trees.
Ally Woodman
Ally Woodman (she/her) is a Registered Nurse and a part time master's student at McMaster University. She is currently completing her degree in Pediatric Psychosocial Care. She received her Baccalaureate of Nursing from the University of New Brunswick in Saint John in 2020 and has since been working as a pediatric registered nurse. Ally is hard of hearing and has been fortunate to make great connections through volunteering with different accessibility communities and boards such as McMasters STACC Committee and the Canadian Hard of Hearing Association Young Adult's Network. She loves to read, craft, go on hikes and play with her crazy cat Flynn.
[Image Description]: Celia smiles at the camera in a selfie. She has curly black hair and the sun can be seen glowing behind her.
Celia Arnason-Dwyer
Celia (she/her) is a full-time 24-year-old student at Ontario Tech University in Ontario, Canada, currently working towards her undergraduate degree in Forensic Psychology. She struggles with anxiety and depression, as well as some other diagnoses, so her path towards schooling has always been unique. Her story is one of adversity, self-discovery, and the rollercoaster of life! She also works alongside the ASE Community Foundation and runs her own business, Earth Sista Gems, which was created through my love of geology and nature.
Moderated Fishbowl: Systemic Barriers, Inclusive Innovation, and Your Stories
[Image Description]: Samantha smiles at the camera. She has blonde curly hair and is wearing large glasses and a black blouse.
Samantha Fowler
Samantha (she/her) is a science communication specialist and PhD student currently living with chronic pain, generalized anxiety disorder, and bulimia nervosa. She navigated being a student with disabilities at the University of Waterloo, graduating Valedictorian with a BSc in 2019, as well as Laurentian University, graduating with a MScCom in 2020. She currently works at the University of Waterloo as the Disability Inclusion Coordinator and is a lead for the STEM With Disabilities project. Samantha is a PhD student in the Department of English Language and Literature at the University of Waterloo studying critical disability studies.
[Image Description]: Emma sits on a bench next to her black Labrador service dog, Marlowe. Marlowe sports a blue service vest and is licking Emma’s face. Emma wears a back brace.
Emma Collington
Emma Collington (she/her) is a PhD candidate in molecular genetics at the University of Waterloo. She studies mitochondrial metabolism in anaerobic eukaryotes, with a particular interest in parasitic helminths. Emma has a genetic connective tissue disease caused by mutations in collagen and fibrillin, which results in her joints, organs, and blood vessels being too elastic. When not studying or sleeping, Emma is involved in her local disability community, and volunteers with the program that trained her own service dog, Marlowe.