COMMUNICATION DISABILITIES ACCESS CANADA - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Professor
Ann Sutton is a Professor in the Speech-Language Pathology program in the School of Rehabilitation Sciences at the University of Ottawa. She previously had an academic appointment at the Université de Montréal and the Research Centre of Ste. Justine Hospital in Montreal. She has worked clinically in Montréal and Boston MA. Dr. Sutton is a member of professional organizations related to communication disorders, including Speech-language and Audiology Canada (SAC), the Ordre des orthophonistes et audiologists du Québec (OOAQ), and the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). Dr. Sutton has been involved in research within the field of communication disorders for many years, particularly in the area of augmentative and alternative communication, receiving funding for much of her work from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada. She has published several scientific papers, participated in many conferences, and served as Editor for the journal Augmentative and Alternative.
My name is Anne Abbott. I am an artist, a writer and an advocate for people like me who have communication disabilities.Within my full and active life, I sell my artwork in-person and online; write a personal blog, and manage my own attendant services. I also take care of my two kittens Sherlock and Watson.
Job Titles:
- Instructor
- Member of the Board of Directors
I am an artist, a writer and an advocate for people like me who have communication disabilities. Within my full and active life, I sell my artwork in-person and online; write a personal blog, and manage my own attendant services. I also take care of my two kittens, Sherlock and Watson.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Writer
Audrey King is an internationally known speaker, writer and advocate on issues related to independent living. She has served on multiple governments, boards and agency advisory committees over the years. (e.g. the Ontario Advisory Council for the Physically Handicapped, the Metropolitan Toronto District Health Council, Centre for Independent Living in Toronto (CILT) and the Ontario March of Dimes. Audrey was the first chairperson of Ontario's Ministry of Health Assistive Devices Program, Respiratory Advisory Committee (1992) and co-founder of Citizens for Independence in Living & Breathing (CILB), a multidisciplinary networking organization that provided education, advocacy, information and support for community living ventilator users. Although retired from a 30-year career in psychology at the Hugh MacMillan Rehabilitation Centre, Audrey continues to be involved in education, research, consultation and advocacy for those who strive to live independently with a severe disability.
Job Titles:
- Co - Founder
- Executive Director
- Founding Member
- Executive Director and Co - Founder of Communication Disabilities Access Canada and Augmentative Communication Community
- Resource Developer
Barbara Collier is executive director and co-founder of Communication Disabilities Access Canada and Augmentative Communication Community Partnerships Canada. Since 2001, she has developed and managed CDAC's projects relating to human rights, social justice and accessibility for people who have disabilities that affect communication. Barbara's background is in Speech-Language Pathology, Augmentative Communication, human rights and accessibility legislation. She has published extensively in peer-reviewed journals and has authored numerous books, DVDs, and online courses. She is the primary author of all CDAC's reports, online resources and courses. Through her work with CDAC, Barbara established Canada's first communication intermediary program and has provided trainings for over 500 Speech-Language Pathologists to work as intermediaries to support victims, witnesses and accused persons communicating in police, legal and justice services. She has participated on Ontario's customer service and healthcare accessibility standards committees and provided input to draft standards on provincial and federal levels. In 2018, Barbara was responsible for having Bill C81 amended to include communication as a priority area of focus in the Accessible Canada Act. In 2010, Barbara was recognized as a Fellow of the International Society for Augmentative and Alternative Communication (ISAAC). She is co-recipient of the ISAAC President's Award and in 2016, on behalf of CDAC, she accepted the David C. Onley Award for Leadership in Accessibility. In 2019, the Ontario Association of Speech Language Pathologists and Audiologists awarded Barbara with the lifetime honours of the association for her outstanding contribution to Speech-Language Pathology in Ontario. Email: barbara collier.cdac@gmail.com
Presenter and Resource Developer Barbara Collier is a founding member and Executive Director of Communication Disabilities Access Canada (CDAC). She is a Speech-Language Pathologist and Augmentative Communication Clinician with extensive experience working with people who have significant speech, language and communication disabilities. She has worked as a clinician, educator and researcher and has headed up CDAC's socially innovative projects relating to communication accessibility, human rights and social justice for people with speech, language and communication disabilities. In 2013, Barbara started up communication intermediary services across Canada. She is the primary author of CDAC's resources and training programs. Barbara is the author of a number of peer reviewed publications and is a frequently invited speaker at national and international conferences. In 2010, Barbara was honoured as a Fellow of the International Society for Augmentative and Alternative Communication. In 2016, on behalf of CDAC, she was awarded the David C. Onley Award for Leadership in Accessibility and in 2019, she was awarded the honors of the Ontario Association of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists.
Bill Scott is retired. He worked as an environmental planner with Ontario Hydro. After a stroke, he communicates using his speech, pointing to words, pictures and maps and using his smart phone and a communication device.
Caitlin Buchel is the owner and managing clinician of Buchel Speech and Language Group in Manitoba. She works in a variety of areas including with acute neuro-rehab inpatients, as well as with outpatients with Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs) and those recovering from a stroke. She also sees individuals in palliative care, including those with neurodegenerative communication disorders. Caitlin is Manager of the Communication Intermediary (CI) program through Communication Disabilities Access Canada (CDAC) and is the consulting SLP on the Manitoba Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID) team, facilitating communication between patients and the interdisciplinary MAID team, from eligibility assessments through to provision. Caitlin is a member of the Canadian Association of MAID Assessors and Providers (CAMAP) working group developing guidelines for capacity to consent to MAID - specifically providing input into communication challenges in this context. She is the current Vice President of the College of Audiologist and Speech-Language Pathologists of Manitoba (CASLPM).
I'm Casey Morrison from Collingwood, Ontario. I am on Collingwood's Accessibility Committee to make Collingwood to be more accessible. I am also a volunteer at the Collingwood's Public Library.
Job Titles:
- Executive Director of North Yorkers for Disabled Persons, Inc
Cathy Samuelson is the Executive Director of North Yorkers for Disabled Persons, Inc. North Yorkers provides supportive housing and attendant services to individuals with physical and communication disabilities under the independent living philosophy. Additionally, North Yorkers offers outreach communication support, a communication enrichment program, and information and referral services.
Charlene Cratt has over 30 years of experience in the field of augmentative and alternative communication, serving people across the lifespan, collaborating on projects, expanding services, teaching, mentoring and learning. In 2013 Charlene joined Hotel Dieu Shaver Health and Rehabilitation Centre as Senior Speech Language Pathologist and worked with an interdisciplinary team to develop the first ever service for adults in the Niagara Region of Ontario, who require augmentative and alternative communication service. Canada hosted the International Society of Augmentative Communication Conference in 2016 and Charlene chaired the inaugural film festival; a creative showcase for people who rely on AAC, with entries from around the world. Charlene has completed the CDAC Communication Intermediary preparation work to assist victims, witnesses and accused persons when communicating in police, legal and justice systems. In 2020, Charlene retired from Hotel Dieu Shaver.
Job Titles:
- Administrative Coordinator
Chevanne Simpson assists Communication Disabilities Access Canada on ad hoc basis with administrative work.
My name is Christine Hunt and I work at North Yorkers for Disabled Persons in Toronto. I support people communicating in situations such as applying for services, medical appointments and social events. Being able to help people convey what they want to communicate is so important because they know their message has been heard and it yields an immediate positive impact on the individual.
Cindy De Graff has a social work degree. She has worked as a planning facilitator and is currently the Manager of Planning Services at the Ontario Federation for Cerebral Palsy in Toronto. In addition, she provides System Navigation support as well as Information and Referral services to adults with cerebral palsy in the province of Ontario.
My name is Dan Watson. I am a theatre artist. I work with a lot of folks who have communication disabilities. I am also the father of three and my oldest son, Bruno has a communication disability. He uses a communication book. I believe being a communication assistant is very important because everyone deserves the right to be heard and to be listened to.
Dr Joanne Watson is a lecturer in the Post graduate disability and inclusion program at Deakin University in Australia. In addition to teaching, Jo is engaged in a wide range of research projects. Jo's teaching and research is informed by a career of thirty years as a Speech Pathologist. Jo's broad research interests are centered around the impact of the United Nations' Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) on signatory nations' capacity to support and protect the human rights of people with complex communication and support needs. Her current research focus includes supporting people with complex communication and support needs to live self-determined lives through supported decision making mechanisms and individualised supports. Jo has an extensive national and international profile, having practiced, taught and engaged in research in Hong Kong, China, Australia and the USA.
I am an ad-hoc policy consultant for CDAC and a Contract Lecturer in the School of Social Work at Ryerson University. In 2018, I became the first person with a communication disability to be nominated for election to be the Moderator of the United Church of Canada. I hold an MSW from the University of Toronto and a PhD in Policy Studies from Ryerson University. When I am not working, you can usually find me at the gym or the opera.
Dr. Colin Phillips is a Contract Lecturer in the School of Social Work at Ryerson University, having also held sessional appointments at Renison University College, University of Waterloo. Colin teaches courses on social policy, decolonising social work practice, and advocacy as a part of practice. Colin communicates by spelling out his messages on his communication board or typing on his speech-generating device. His communication assistant in these videos is Michael Posthumus.
Job Titles:
- Speech - Language Pathologist
- Consultant on Communication Intermediary Trainings
Elyse is a Speech-Language Pathologist and provides input on communication access to justice for people with acquired disabilities.
Elyse Shumway is a speech-language pathologist in private practice, in the greater Toronto area, specializing in community-based rehabilitation for individuals with neurogenic communication disorders. She has worked as a Communication Intermediary in both criminal and civil situations, including capacity assessments. She also consults to a number of organizations in the areas of training and resource development and is an adjunct lecturer at the University of Toronto Department of Rehabilitation Sciences.
My name is Eva Miodonski. I work for an agency that supports people with disabilities to live independently. Whenever you are working with people, communication is key otherwise we don't really understand each other. It's important therefore to support people who have communication disabilities to be able to fully participate in their communities and interact with people around them. I am very passionate about this work.
My name is Farrah Sattaur. I am an advocate for people with disabilities. I like to educate the public about those us who have communication disabilities. I have worked on a number of CDAC projects.
I am Gabriel Ly. I like the Toronto Blue Jays. My favorite musician is Justin Bieber. I often use communication assistance when communicating with people who don't know me.
I am a published author, keynote speaker and a strong voice for individuals with speech and language disabilities. I work with CDAC on various projects and am currently the Social Media Coordinator for ISAAC Canada. Determined to live my life to its fullest and in bad-ass style, I have ziplined across a downtown city block, climbed the steps in Philadelphia from the Rocky movie and have been inked with a kitty paw tattoo.
Glenda Watson Hyatt is an author, and keynote speaker. Motivated by her personal experiences and the continual flow of social injustices faced by others living with communication disabilities, Glenda is a formidable voice for this systemically overlooked and devalued segment of our society. Through various projects and committees, she aims to increase awareness, understanding and inclusion of people who use alternative means of communication. Currently, she is the Social Media Coordinator for the Canadian Chapter of the International Society for Augmentative and Alternative Communication. She has also worked with Communication Disabilities Access Canada on several projects. She played a strong advocacy role for the inclusion of communication access in the newly enacted Accessible Canada Act; the first-time speech and language disabilities have been recognized in accessibility legislation.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Hazel Self has been involved with disability issues and the development of services for 22 years. She has quadriplegia and uses attendant services. Ms. Self has served on several boards of directors including the Cheshire Homes Foundation, Clarendon Foundation, the Hugh MacMillan Centre and is currently the president of the Centre for Independent Living in Toronto. She is the coordinator of community services at the Gage Transition to Independent Living, a community-based program of West Park Healthcare Centre in Toronto.
Hazel Self has been involved in CDAC since its inception, in the past has been chair of the board of the Centre for Independent Living in Toronto, on the development team of North Yorkers for Disabled Persons, aka 2880 Bayview - a shared, supportive housing project for people with speech, language disabilities, a founder of Direct Individualized Funding for Attendant Services, teaches at U of T Critical Disabilities Studies integrated into the physical therapy curriculum and works at Gage Transition to Independent Living in Toronto.
Heidi's background is in healthcare and bookkeeping. She has worked with many small businesses and nonprofit organizations. She prides herself on her attention for detail and ability to problem solve.
My name is Jared Scratch. I have worked as a personal support worker before becoming a communication assistant. For the last several years, I facilitate communication for a university professor who has a communication disability - first as a student and now as a work place accommodation assisting him delivering his lectures.
Job Titles:
- Manager
- Technologist
- Web Developer
- Webmaster
Jason Jang is CDAC's web developer, technologist, and manager of our learning system. He has over a decade of experience in web and software. He is also a musician and student of Chinese medicine. He is happy his efforts with CDAC will provide help to so many.
Jim Bull lives in Woodstock, Ontario. He is active in his community and enjoys hockey, baseball and wrestling. Jim communicates by pointing to pictures in his communication book. Terri-Jo Shaw is his assistant in these videos and she works at Woodstick and District Developmental Services
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Speech - Language Pathologist from Edmonton
Judy Meintzer is a Speech-Language Pathologist from Edmonton, Alberta. She was the Alberta representative during the final months of the CDAC Communication Access Project. She was the chair of Speech-Language and Audiology Canada (SAC) for three years and has served on several committees of the Alberta College of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists and Speech-Language and Audiology Canada. Throughout her career, she has advocated for the rights of people with communication disorders. She was the chair of SAC Role of Speech-Language Pathologists, Audiologists and Communication Health Assistants in End-of-Life Care Ad-Hoc Committee and continues to work on the development of tools and resources to support this population through provincial and national working groups. She is also very involved in advocacy work to promote earlier access to AAC supports in Alberta.
With over 30 years of professional experience in the human service field, Karen McClintock is a strong advocate for people with developmental disabilities and the workforce that supports them. She is currently the Director of Organizational and Community Development with Lambton County Developmental Services. Karen is a Developmental Services Worker/Deaf Major graduate from Fanshawe College, Certified Professional Coach from the Adler Institute and has a special interest in augmentative and alternative communication supports. She is passionate about lifelong learning and the unique role that teams play in creating dynamic and vibrant organizations. Karen delights in educating and engaging organizations about how to develop high performance teams, self-managed teams, employee engagement and organizational development. In 2018 Karen received the Regional Support Associates Award of Excellence, for demonstrating outstanding contributions and achievement in the field of developmental disabilities and dual diagnosis.
My name is Kevin Bolianatz. I am an attendant and provide personal support services for Sam Savona.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Kristine Donato lives in St. Catharines, Ontario. She has worked as an assistive technologist, research project coordinator and is a job coach with Ontario March of Dimes. Krystine brings first-hand knowledge of her experiences as a person who uses assistive technology to communicate. She has been working as an advocate with Communication Disabilities Access Canada for a number of years. ss Canada for a number of years.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Research Assistant and Project Manager at Brook University
Krystine Donato is a research assistant and project manager at Brook University. Krystine speaks and uses a device when her speech is not understood. Krystine is an active advocate for people who have communication disabilities.
Lana is a lawyer in Toronto, Canada. She has devoted her legal career to disability law and policy work. She works, often in collaboration with disability organizations, to advance the right s of people with disabilities through law reform and education. She teaches Disability and the Law at Ryerson University, and also teaches at the Law Society of Ontario in the Professional Conduct and Practice in Ontario course. She works in private practice and previously worked in Ontario's Legal Aid Clinic System, both at ARCH Disability Law Centre and the Advocacy Centre for the Elderly. She obtained her LL.B. from the University of Toronto in 1992 and was called to the Ontario bar in 1994. She is also a graduate of the Maytree Public Policy Training Institute. Her work has covered diverse areas of disability law, including legal capacity, abuse of people with disabilities, accessibility of telecommunications, including litigating at the CRTC, home care, supportive housing, services for people with intellectual disabilities and assistive devices. Her current work focus is on legal capacity, decision-making and the domestic and international law implications of United Nations treaties, including the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. She speaks at conferences and does consulting work both in Canada and internationally.
My name is Laure Préchonnet. I have been working for many years as a French translator with Communication Disabilities Access Canada.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Founder of Lynn Mitchell Law
Lynn Mitchell is a lawyer and founder of Lynn Mitchell Law, specializing in environmental matters. She was previously a partner at Rueter Scargall Bennett LLP and Heenan Blaikie LLP. Ms. Mitchell has more than 20 years of experience as an advocate for and counsel to individuals and corporations, after holding various management positions in financial services. She is a past Chair of the Environmental Law Section of the Ontario Bar Association, a past Director of a community legal clinic and presently sits part-time as a member of the Landlord and Tenant Board. She holds Master of Business Administration and Bachelor of Law degrees from the University of Toronto and a Bachelor of Commerce from Queen's University.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Before her retirement in 2009, Lynnette Norris worked for many years as a consultant in augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) at Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Centre. She has a background in special education and has extensive experience working with children and adults who use AAC. Her particular areas of interest are literacy development, family-centered intervention and transition to adult services. She has presented individually and collaboratively at many international conferences and has worked as a clinician and mentor in AAC issues in Peru, Italy, Columbia, and Brazil. Lynnette has volunteered on many ISAAC committees over the years and was the founding president of ISAAC Canada. She has received several honours and awards. Most notably the Holland Bloorview's Circle on Honour Award for her dedicated and exemplary service and the Ontario Federation for Cerebral Palsy's Doris Griffith Award.
Megan is an Occupational Therapist and currently works at Surrey Place in a clinic for youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities transitioning into adult life. She formerly worked as a member of the Good 2 Go team in the Division of Adolescent Medicine at The Hospital for Sick Children. Megan completed her masters in occupational therapy in 2009. Megan has worked primarily with young people with disabilities and chronic health conditions in supporting transitions from paediatric service providers to adult service providers and in the development of life skills. She has an interest in strengthening and building communities that support adolescents and young adults with disabilities in forming and achieving life goals, advocating for themselves and maintaining their health.
My name is Sam Savona. I'm an advocate for people with disabilities. I sit on many boards and committees. Other than that, I do a lot of community work.
My name is Sarah Kilpack. I work as a personal support worker and a communication assistant for Anne Abbott. I had no experience doing either when I started working with Anne years ago. Since then I have become a fluent communication assistant - which was very hard work to learn but very rewarding.
Scott Ngo lives with his family and enjoys swimming and going to the library. He works in a local gym. In these videos, his communication is facilitated by his sister, Melissa who is Executive Director of Hand over Hand - which is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to fostering a community where people with disabilities will feel safe, accepted and supported through peer networks.
Job Titles:
- Consultant on Communication Assistance Courses
My name is Shelley Deegan. I recently retired as a Speech-Language Pathologist from the Technology Access Clinic at Hamilton Health Sciences. I worked in the field of Augmentative and Alternative Communication for 40 years. I am pleased to be the moderator on this Communication Assistance Course.
Tien Hoang graduated from high school and plans to continue his education in the near future. Tien is studying screenwriting at the Toronto Film School He communicates by operating a speech-generating device with his foot.
I'm Tony Diamanti. I live in Toronto. I am a writer and actor. I have written a number of plays that reflect my experiences as a man with communication disabilities. I have been advocating for communication assistance services for many years.
Job Titles:
- Speech - Language Pathologist
Tracy Shepherd is a speech-language pathologist who works in the Augmentative Communication Service at Thames Valley Children's Centre in London, Ontario, Canada, and as a Clinical Education Coordinator at the Centralized Equipment Pool (operated by Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital) in Toronto, Ontario. She has co-developed an educational program to train clinicians in Ontario, working in the area of AAC. Tracy has also been involved with Communication Disabilities Access Canada on a variety of projects. Her research interests span many areas, including reliability of speech-generating devices (SGDs), abandonment of technology, outcome measurement, as well as other areas of clinical interest (teamwork, listening and family impact). Along with colleagues she has implemented the Libraries for All program in London, Ontario, which encourages communication access in the community. Tracy was President of the ISAAC Canada Chapter from 2009 to 2013, and was on the organization's Executive Committee from 2006 to 2009. Tracy was VP of Conference Planning on the ISAAC International Executive Board from 2014 to 2018 and was a Co-chair for the 2016 conference in Toronto. She has been a member of ISAAC in good standing since 1990. In addition, Tracy is a member of the organizational committee for the Breaking the ICE conference, a national consumer-focused conference for people who use AAC.
Job Titles:
- Treasurer of the Board of Directors
Zoe has been in practice as a tax accountant since 1984 and is an affirmed member of The Association of Professional Accountants and Tax Consultants (T.A.P.T.C.). Zoe has been involved, both professionally and personally, with several not-for-profit and charitable entities. Zoe was on the steering committee that advocated for and eventually opened Casey House Hospice. In the years following that involvement, she was the treasurer for a small charity that sourced funding and provided grants for individuals who were living with the combined challenges of HIV and addictions.