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Saturday, June 3, 2023 11AM - 4PM
Learn about AccessAbility
Carion Fenn Foundation in partnership with
the Abilities Centre is hosting it's 1st Annual Durham Accessibility Conference
at
ABILITIES CENTRE
55 Gordon Street, Whitby, ON L1N-0J2 Canada in recognition of National AccessAbility Week. No Cost. Limited Capacity.
About Durham Accessibility Conference:
Our Conference is FREE to the public with access to accessibility educational information, inclusion support and bringing the community together to better understand accessibility needs, laws (AODA, Human Rights Code, Bill C-81), rights, responsibilities and to promote fair access to services and break down barriers. It takes a community to improve access, that is why it's important that we work together to better understand, implement, and improve access.
Recognized for accredidation by "The College of Vocational Rehabilitation of Canada and The Association of Vocational Rehabilitation of Canada"
ITINERARY
11:00am – 11:10am Greetings (10 Mins)
11:10am – 11:35am Health, Wellness &
Managing Chronic Conditions (25 Mins)
Dr. Michael Gauthier, Chiropractor
Ajax Family Chiropractor
11:35am – 12:00pm Accessible Tourism (25 Mins)
AVROD
12:00pm – 12:25pm Selfcare & Mental Wellbeing (25 Mins)
CMHA Durham
12:25pm – 12:50pm A Personal Approach to Addressing
Accessibility Needs
SOUL
12:50pm – 1:30pm Break (40 Mins)
1:30pm – 1:45pm Transit Accessibility (30 Mins)
Durham Region Transit
1:45pm – 2:15pm Athletes & Accessibility (30 Mins)
Michael Frogly
2:15pm – 2:40pm Community Discussion on AODA &
Human Rights Code (25 Mins)
Carion Fenn Foundation
2:40pm - 2:50pm Hearing Loss & Accessibility (10 Mins)
Ajax Audiology & Hearing Services
2:50pm – 3:10pm Employment & Accessibility (20 Mins)
Donna Mullings
3:10pm – 3:30pm Personal Story - Journey With Access (20 Mins)
Adam Brown, Social Media Influencer &
Retinitis Pigmentosa Advocate
3:30pm – 3:50pm Accessible Technology (20 Mins)
Axcessiom Technologies
3:50pm – 4:00pm Closing (10 Mins)
SPEAKERS
Carion Fenn, Host
Carion Fenn is a TV show host on Rogers TV, hosting Health 180 with Carion Fenn, exploring Healthcare in Durham Region. She is the Founding President of the Carion Fenn Foundation and an award-winning Healthcare advocate including receiving the RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur Awards nomination 2023, Platinum Jubilee Pin for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II's 70th Anniversary in recognition of her outstanding Community Service from the Federal Government of Canada in June 2022, received from Ajax MP Mark Holland. Carion served 2 years as Parent Council Chair & Vice Chair for Durham Catholic Virtual Elementary School working beside the Principal with Parent Council to help students get through the Covid-19 Global Pandemic for Virtual School and lead the structuring of Parent Council. Carion lead Quality Care during the Covid-19 Pandemic as Chair of the Quality Committee for 2 years, she also served an additional 2 years as Vice Chair, with a total of 5 years on the Quality Committee and as a Trustee at Lakeridge Health. She also spent 4 years as Committee Board Co-Chair of The Ajax Pickering Hospital Community Panel for Lakeridge Health while governing the 5 hospitals, Pinewood Centre for addictions, Long Term-Care and Durham Mental Health Services for Durham Region.
Health, Wellness & Managing Chronic Conditions
Dr. Michael Gauthier, Chiropractor
Dr. Gauthier received his Doctor of Chiropractic degree from Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College in Toronto in 1996. Prior to this, he received his Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology (the science of the human body) from the University of Waterloo. In 2001 he was awarded the Mertz excellence award in recognition for his commitment to outstanding patient care and for his pursuit in advancing the awareness and well-being of his community. Dr. Mike, as he is known to his patients, decided to become a chiropractor after personally experiencing the benefits of chiropractic in giving him relief from Migraine headaches which he suffered from as a child. Dr. Mike constantly strives to improve and update his knowledge in the field of Chiropractic and other related health studies. He has always strengthened his understanding of diagnosis and treatment of spine and joint disorders by reading the latest research and attending post graduate seminars. His passion for chiropractic and his genuine love and compassion to help others are two qualities that impress those who know him well. Dr. Mike’s personal mission is to love and serve GOD and to love and serve His people through chiropractic care.
Personal Story - Journey with Access: Adam Brown
Adam Brown is a student from Pickering, Ontario, who studies jazz and gospel music at York University. His visual impairment, Retinitis Pigmentosa, hinders nearly all aspects of his sight, namely his night and peripheral vision. This has made it significantly challenging for him to read, see things at a distance, and maneuver in darkly-lit areas like restaurants. Moreover, RP gradually reduces vision over time, often leading to complete blindness. His condition has not stopped him from pursuing his passions in music production, voice acting, and content creation. He is also a 3rd-degree black belt in taekwondo and has competed in tournaments placing gold, silver, and bronze against fully-sighted athletes. The gene therapy, Luxturna, stops the progression of RP and was recently made available for all Canadians in need. For the past two years, Adam has made use of social media to advocate for the approval of this surgery and others like it. He and his sister, Jenna, were the first two Canadians to receive the gene therapy funded under OHIP and have both seen significant improvements in their vision
Selfcare & Mental Wellbeing
Alethea Marciano, RPN
Canadian Mental Health Association Durham
Each year the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) provides direct service to more than 100,000 Canadians through the combined efforts of more than 10,000 volunteers and employees in locally run organizations in all provinces and territories, and branches in more than 135 communities. The CMHA is dedicated to the promotion of the mental health of all people, and ensuring the provision of the best possible services for people with mental health problems.
Transit Accessibility: Durham Region Transit
Zefe Osime-Fakolade
e are one of Ontario's largest regional transit systems, serving eight unique area municipalities: Ajax, Brock, Clarington, Oshawa, Pickering, Scugog, Uxbridge, and Whitby. We offer seamless connections to destinations across Durham Region and The Greater Toronto Hamilton Area. Durham Region Transit operates an innovative suite of services, including scheduled, On Demand and Specialized.
Employment & Accessibility: Donna Mullings
Donna has worked in the employment field for over 8 years, providing front-line services to all populations, including people with disabilites and injured workers. Donna has a BA in Disability Studies from Ryerson University and a Masters Degree in Critical Disability Studies from York University. Donna volunteers as a Peer Support Mentor for Spinal Cord Injury Ontario, providing support to individuals who sustain Spinal Cord Injury and/or living with Spinal Cord Injury. Although she is no longer a committee memeber, Donna sat on the Ajax Accessible Advisory Committee for over 10 years from 2009 to 202. Donna goes by the pronouns she/her.
Accessible Tourism - AVROD
Jeremy Brooks
Jeremy Brooks is the Founder and CEO of AVROD Virtual Reality Technologies. Jeremy holds a MA Degree in Digital Archaeology and Founded AVROD as a solution to visit and digital preserve archaeological and cultural heritage sites in conflict areas. He has since expanded AVROD as an eLearning metaverse dedicated to remote travel and tourism and accessibility. Jeremy and Manan Patel (AVROD, CTO) have produced accessibility VR experiences in partnership with the Peterborough Council for Persons with Disabilities' (CPD), Time in My Shoes Program. These VR projects help Canadians experience what it is like to live with disabilities in everyday settings.
Manan Patel
Manan Patel is the CTO of AVROD Virtual Reality Technologies. Manan holds a bachelor’s degree in computer science and has built multiple aspects of AVROD’s backend design from the ground up – while directing and managing AVROD’s accessibility and social media projects. Manan is a true inventor and pioneer and advances the intersection between innovative virtual reality technologies, brilliant database design, and social media innovation. Manan has been the director and chief architect of the Council for Persons with Disabilities, Time in My Shoes VR accessibility project which helps bring to light many disabilities that thousands of Canadians live with everyday.
A Personal Approach to Addressing Accessibility Needs
Erik Switzer
For nearly thirty years, Erik has been a trusted member of the Home Health Care industry in Canada holding several Senior leadership positions in both the Manufacturer and Vendor sectors. Erik brings his expertise and experience in Personal Mobility, Home Modifications, and Vehicle Adaptations to Soul: The Wheelchair Studio. Outside of work, Erik lives in Toronto with his wife and 7-year-old son and is involved in many activities with his family including, running, baseball, & soccer.
Kaitlyn Carmichael
Kaitlyn has just celebrated her 5-year anniversary of being a Product Consultant in the Home Health Care Industry. Kaitlyn loves that she gets the opportunity to work with everyone from Pediatrics to Geriatrics. Prior to getting into the Home Health Care Industry, she spent 8 years helping people to re-integrate into home, community, and school/work-life following their Traumatic Brain Injury. On the side, she has been a trainer providing first aid coverage for varying levels of sports teams throughout the Durham Region for the past 14 years.
Hearing Loss & Accessibility: Sandra Nurse
Ajax Audiology & Hearing Services
Sandra graduated with an MSc in Audiology from Howard University in the United States. She holds a BA in Communications from McGill University, where she also lectured in audiology at the graduate level. Sandra has practiced audiology for over a decade and has international experience, offering services in English, French, and Creole.
Athletes & Accessibility
Mike Frogley
Mike Frogley is highly regarded among the greatest wheelchair basketball minds in the world. He is a leader, mentor, and innovator who is actively involved in the development of the sport at all levels. He competed with the Canadian Men’s Wheelchair Basketball Team at the 1992 Paralympic Games in Barcelona, Spain, where Canada placed fourth. Frogley would later move behind the Canadian bench, serving as the head coach of the Men’s National Team from 1996-2004 and in 2008. He guided Team Canada to Paralympic supremacy for the first time in program history with back-to-back gold medals in 2000 and 2004, as well as a Paralympic silver medal in 2008. In addition to coaching in Canada’s National program, Frogley spent 21 years coaching wheelchair basketball in the US College system, where he led his teams to a combined 12 national championships.
In 2013, Mike returned to Canada to lead the development of Canada’s up and coming athletes as WBC’s National Academy Director. Most recently, he has joined Own the Podium as the Summer Paralympic Performance advisor where he will be working as part of the OTP team to help Paralympic sports maximize their potential and achieve greater podium success.
With unwavering dedication and an unparalleled work ethic, Frogley is renowned for his desire to empower those around him to achieve their very best every day, both inside and outside sport.
Community Discussion: AODA & Human Rights
Community discussion about the AODA and Human Rights Code with the Carion Fenn Foundation.
Accessible Technology
Accessible Technology – Axcessiom Technologies
Shanjay Kailayanathan
EXHIBITORS
National Seating & Mobility
National Seating & Mobility is a medical equipment retailer that focuses on mobility and home accessibility. We Install and Service a wide variety of accessibility equipment including Stairlifts, ceiling tracks and lifting devices. We authorized vendor for Veterans Affairs, March of Dimes, and HCAI auto insurers. We are available for onsite assessments of accessibility in the home. Located in North York at 4279 Steeles Avenue West
Motion
Motion (formerly Motion Specialties)
Canadian-owned and operated, Motion is Canada’s leading provider of comprehensive and customized mobility and home accessibility solutions for a wide variety of clients from children to seniors. It is Motion’s mission to make life accessible for everyone with solutions that are delivered professionally, consistently and with integrity. Products include wheelchairs, walkers, mobility scooters, stairlifts, ceiling lifts, bathroom and bedroom safety items, and more. Serving Durham Region, Motion Whitby is located at 1450 Hopkins St., Unit 5. To learn more about our products and services, visit motioncares.ca.
Durham Community Action Group
The Durham Community Action Group (DCAG) is a community-based, not-for-profit service provider that has been supporting and serving the community of Durham Region since 2008. Although the community primarily served by DCAG is the Black or African Canadian community, DCAG has provided services and remains open to serving all communities in the Durham Region
DCAG also serves as a Resource Centre, providing information and much needed referrals, linking vulnerable families and marginalized youth to culturally appropriate and relevant services and resources in the Durham Region and GTA.
Canadian Mental Health Association Durham
Each year the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) provides direct service to more than 100,000 Canadians through the combined efforts of more than 10,000 volunteers and employees in locally run organizations in all provinces and territories, and branches in more than 135 communities. The CMHA is dedicated to the promotion of the mental health of all people, and ensuring the provision of the best possible services for people with mental health problems.
Ajax Audiology & Hearing Services
Ajax Audiology & Hearing provides complete audiological evaluations. The audiologist will determine your hearing levels and provide recommendations. We also offer a virtual hearing test.
We offer convenient telecare for your hearing aids.
LiveWell Pathway
At LiveWell Pathway, we understand firsthand the challenges of caring for aging or ill loved ones. Often, the burden of care can take away from the joy of just being a daughter, son, husband, or wife. Our goal is to help you provide the best care possible for your loved one, while giving you back your time to be that son, daughter or partner again.
Abilities Centre
Abilities Centre is an internationally renowned innovation and research hub where we develop, measure and scale programs designed to have positive economic, health & wellbeing, and social impacts on Canadians of all ages and abilities. Inspired by the vision of the Late Honourable Jim Flaherty and Honourable Christine Elliott, the dream of Abilities Centre began in the early 2000s, with a group of accessibility and inclusion champions who saw the urgent need for increased programming and services for people with disabilities in the Durham Region and across Canada. Their vision was to create a place where people of all ages and abilities could come together and realize their full potential, and in the process, change the social fabric of our communities and country.
Carion Fenn Foundation
The Carion Fenn Foundation is a Registered Charity established to provide support, education and resources to the public and individuals impacted by Syringomyelia, Chiari Malformation, Chronic and Rare Diseases.
Access is a Right under the law!
Accessibility in Canada
Accessibility in Canada
Accessibility in Canada
Bill C-81, The Accessible Canada Act?