Policy Domain Area Committee

Katie Aubrecht – Canada Research Chair Health Equity & Social Justice, Assistant Professor, Department of Sociology, St. Francis Xavier University

In the first year of her undergraduate degree, Katie Aubrecht signed up for introductory level sociology course taught by a professor who was blind. “Through that course I realized the importance of having access to conversations and education about accessibility early on. It was so powerful for me to be in a class where disabilities were acknowledged and reflected in the curriculum and discussions. It has guided me throughout my career.”

Katie is Canada Research Chair Health Equity and Social Justice and Assistant Professor in the Department of Sociology at St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish, Nova Scotia. Her research program analyzes marginality and mental health, rurality, and resilience across the life span as health equity and social justice issues. Katie is also Director of the Spatializing Care: Intersectional Disability Studies Lab, a participatory arts-informed health research infrastructure that supports and enhances community engagement and cross-sectoral collaboration. The Lab advances research, education and training that centres first voice perspectives with the goal of bridging medical, social, and cultural approaches to care. Her most recent work concentrates on the aging disability nexus, studying policies and programs related to mental health and disability in young adults and later life.

Katie is CAN’s Committee Chair for the Policy Domain and looks forward to facilitating a national discussion that shines a light on regional perspectives. “I hope to bring an equity and social justice lens as well. I am a firm believer in collaborative, co-design approaches.”

Katie’s motto: It’s relationships that matter and make the difference.

Rosalie McGrath, MA English Language and Letters/Critical Theory and Analysis – Senior Accessibility and Inclusion Advisor, Statistics Canada

“Disability is another way that people live differently, view the world differently, experience the world differently, and express themselves differently. It’s a perspective that has significant value from which we can learn.” – Yazmine Laroche Deputy Minister of Public Service Accessibility

With over twenty years of public service experience in diversity and inclusion, as well as a lifetime of lived experience with disability and gender diversity, Rosalie developed expertise in public policy, strategic planning, program design and service delivery. She has a Bachelor of Arts with honours from St. Francis Xavier University in English Language and Literature. She also has a Masters of Arts and Letters with a focus on Critical Theory and Canadian Cultural Studies from Carleton University. Seeing a need for disability inclusion, Rosalie founded the current Advisory Committee on (Dis)Ability at the Department of Canadian Heritage and led policy thinking in the Department’s new Accessibility Office. As the Founding Chair of the committee, Rosalie has advanced initiatives that support a disability inclusive workplace. As the first Senior Advisor in the Accessibility Office and currently Senior Accessibility and Inclusion Advisor at Statistics Canada, she also worked to frame a cogent and respectful departmental response to the requirements of the Accessible Canada Act.

Rosalie is interested in linking with the academic community and contributing toward the development, promotion and implementation of sound CAN policies that inform the disability community and the governments with which it deals.

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Max Brault – Vice President of Management Consulting, BDO Canada LLP

“Leading with curiosity.”

Max has a vision to move Canada towards a barrier-free society by demonstrating to the world that Canadians with disabilities contribute to society and to successful business ventures. Max organized and facilitated the Persons with Disabilities Champions and Chairs Committee (PwDCCC), and was instrumental in guiding the federal government toward new and progressive accessibility legislation, Bill C-81, the Accessible Canada Act (the Act).

“I want to stay in touch with the community and have a helpful hand in ensuring that it embraces the open challenge that the new Accessibility Canada Act now provides.”

https://www.linkedin.com/in/max-brault

Jonathan Lai, PhD – Executive Director, CASDA (Canadian Autism Spectrum Disorder Alliance)

Jonathan Lai (PhD) is the Executive Director at the Canadian Autism Spectrum Disorder Alliance (CASDA). He holds an Adjunct Faculty Position in Health Services Research at the Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation (IHPME) in the Dalla Lana School of Public Health at the University of Toronto. Jonathan’s current work involves building consensus among stakeholders and being a constructive policy idea generator to guide the development of a federal National Autism Strategy and nudge the system for sustainable change.

Jonathan would like to see bridges being built between various initiatives, and harness our collective energy among various like-minded groups across Canada.

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Thomas Simpson – Director of Public Affairs and Advocacy, CNIB

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” – Margaret Mead

Thomas is the Director of Public Affairs and Advocacy where he works to smash barriers to inclusion in society for Canadians who are blind or partially sighted. He leads the Public Policy Team which builds powerful advocacy campaigns and influence government legislation and policy. Prior to his time with CNIB, Thomas worked for the Government of Canada in Regulatory Affairs.

Thomas applied to join the Policy Domain Area Committee to further policy development for all Canadians with disabilities. Working in government and for a national non-profit, he has unique insights into policy development that would be beneficial for the work that the Canadian Accessibility Network and specifically the Policy DAC hope to achieve.

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Danielle Lorenz – PhD Candidate/Associate Editor, University of Alberta/Canadian Journal of Disability Studies

Danielle is a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Educational Policy Studies at the University of Alberta and the social media editor for the Canadian Journal of Disability Studies.

Dulcie McCallum – Canada’s Delegation to the UN to negotiate the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

Susan Lynn Hardie – Executive Director, Eviance