CWDO Board Members

TYLER BARKER  - York Region, Ontario

Interests: Ttransportation, Direct Funding, Attendant Services, Employment, Mobility issues

Background: Tyler is a 25-year-old from Aurora Ontario.  He is currently on the Aurora Accessibility Advisory Committee.  This committee advises the town of Aurora on how to make the community more accessible and more inclusive for all   Tyler is also member of the Canadian Paraplegic Association and the Ontario Federation for Cerebral Palsy.

Tylers main focus is to help improve and make recommendations to help improve policies and/or accommodations for people with disabilities in Ontario. Tyler enjoys watching his beloved Maple Leafs.  He also enjoys reaching out and being involved in his community. One of his goals is to study disability studies at Ryerson University.

ERICA CARSON - Ottawa, Ontario

Interests:  Disability pride and identity, youth with disabilities, arts and culture, gender and sexuality

Background: Erica is a Carleton University student in the Bachelor of Arts Honours program in Women and Gender studies. She is a woman living with a physical disability who learned early on the importance of self-advocacy. During her years at Carleton she has found her passion within the field of disability studies and intends on doing her Masters Degree in Disability Studies. Since her involvement as one of the central organizers of the Youth Activist Forum in 2011, Erica has realized the critical importance of introducing youth with disabilities to the disability community in which they can feel empowered. She believes that she can bring a passion and unique vision to Citizens with Disabilities - Ontario. She appreciates that she will gain a tremendous amount of knowledge about issues and challenges that many other people with disabilities encounter.

CINDY GORLEWSKI - Greater Toronto Area (GTA)

Interests: mobility issues

Background: Cindy has a BA-BPHE from Queens, a B.Ed. from U of Toronto and an MBA from the University of Western Ontario. She represented Canada at the International Olympic Academy in 1983. Cindy worked in amateur sport and was a flight attendant for Air Canada, before finally settling down to teach French with the York District Catholic School Board. While teaching, Cindy worked with special needs children and with those children requiring individual education plans. Cindy is presently on leave, using herexperience with limited mobility to be active in advocating for accessibility. She has chaired the Newmarket Accessibility Advisory Committee (AAC) since 2003, she sits on the York Regional AAC and facilitates workshops to educate others about accessibility awareness. Cindy also sits on the Newmarket Heritage Committee.
 

MELISSA GRAHAM - London, Ontario (on leave of absence)

Interests: mobility issues, mental health, accessible housing, affordable housing, recreation, young adults with a disability

Background: As a person with a disability, fighting for awareness and access has continually been a part of Melissa's life. Her particular interest lies with youth and young adults with disabilities, and their struggles to find a voice in an environment that's still adapting to them. As a recent social work graduate, Melissa finds herself advocating for this voice in her field and volunteer experiences. "The really lucky people don't always have the best of everything. They are the ones who make the most of whatever life throws them." ~ Anonymous  

TERRANCE J. GREEN - Ottawa, Ontario

Interests: strategic planning, education, housing, recreation, transportation

Background: Terrance has advocated for over four decades, with advocacy groups, and on his own, to enhance and protect the rights of people with disabilities. Starting in Nova Scotia with the Canadian Council of the Blind, and a newspaper called Touchstone, uncovering and removing barriers. Employed with Transport Canada, he received an award of excellence for his work in equity in human resources planning.
1992, in Ottawa, most of his activities were issue driven; i.e., municipal and Provincial elections, transportation, education, and audible pedestrian signals.

In 2001, as a lawyer, his areas of interest became access to justice, transportation, education, and community or social participation.
 

CHRISTINE KELLY - Ottawa, Ontario

Interests: mobility issues, mental health, attendant services

Background: Christine Kelly is a PhD Candidate in the School of Canadian Studies at Carleton University where her research examines attendant services in Ontario from feminist and disability studies perspectives. Christine is actively involved in the field of disability studies and has published articles in academic peer-reviewed journals on topics related to disability, gender, and attendant services. Christine has developed and taught undergraduate courses related to disability in the Pauline Jewett Institute of Women and Gender Studies at Carleton University. At Citizens with Disabilities - Ontario, Christine was one of the central organizers for the unique 2011 Youth Activist Forum. Christine has extensive research, volunteer and policy experience related to disability.

DOUG MILLMAN - Huntsville, Ontario 

Interests: hearing, mental health, learning disabilities, education, built environment, recreation, creative arts
 
Background: Doug is a retired engineering technologist with 35 years experience in reviewing both the public and the private built environment. He is using his background as a voting member of the AODA Committee for the Built Environment. Also at the present time, Doug is a Director of CWDO; and Chair of  the Mental Health Committee.
 

He independently performed the Site Plan Review for the Huntsville Accessibility Advisory Committee. Previous Board positions have included a nursing home and a not-for-profit daycare centre, which is unique in the area as admitting all disabled children.  Doug's other current board positions include Muskoka-Parry Sound Community Mental Health Services, Muskoka Human Resources, and Huntsville People for Inclusive Communities.  Committee responsibilities include part-time facilitator for the Muskoka Chapter of People First and the Huntsville Sustainability Plan's Committeee for Inclusive Active Living and Recreation.  He works as a volunteer in local schools teaching math to students with intellectual, developmental, and learning disabilities.

MELANIE MOORE - Hamilton, Ontario

Interests:  parenting, advocacy work and housing
 
 

Background: : Melanie is the General Inquiries specialist at the Centre for Independent Living in Toronto.  She coordinates a new initiative called Strength-based Parenting Initiative (SPIN).  Previously, Melanie was CILT’S Community Development Worker.

As a Social Worker, Melanie has been able to do pre employment work, Life Skills training and advocated on behalf of persons with disabilities.

Melanie is a blind parent and uses a guide dog named Vaughn.   She is a member of several advocacy groups such as the Alliance for Equality of Blind Canadians (AEBC) and Citizens With Disabilities - Ontario (CWDO).   

Personally, Melanie loves  spending time with her family and playing the piano, knitting, hiking and making sure she participates in Life Long Learning.

TRACY ODELL - Toronto (Scarborough), Ontario

Interests: mobility issues and all other disability issues to some extent, including learning disabilities, developmental disabilities, and attention deficit disorders with and without hyperactivity (ADD and ADHD)

Background: Tracy Odell is a life-long advocate for independent living and the right of people with disabilities to live in the community. Tracy has assisted in founding numerous supportive housing programs with attendant services, is credited with the establishment of "Nurturing Assistance," has published articles and appeared in videos to raise awareness of issues relating to disability.

She is currently a board member and member of the Executive of CWDO. Tracy has a Masters degree in Critical Disability Studies, and a B.A and B.Ed. in English and Special Education. Working full time and self-managing her attendant services, Tracy lives with her husband, two daughters, granddaughter and assorted pets in Scarborough.

PAT SEED - Thunder Bay, Ontario

Interests: strategic planning, technology, marketing, information technology and communications, aging and disability, attendant service quality committee, built environment, education, employment, fundraising, housing, mental health, recreation, and transportation

Background: Pat holds her B.A. in Speech Communications. She has taught and continues to teach Speaking with Confidence and Public Speaking to Broadcasters and other Professionals. She is also a professional Public and Motivational Speaker, as well as a Writer.

Pat is totally blind from birth. She originally used a white cane for mobility, but has been travelling with Guide Dogs at her side since November of 1996.
 

Pat has worked for Bell Canada and Confederation College. She also was employed as the Information and Referral Coordinator of the Thunder Bay Independent Living Resource Centre for seven and a half years.
Pat began her Professional volunteering career for non-profit organizations, her Parish church, and other organizations in 1980. She still volunteers today and is now a Consultant and Resource person in many areas for many organizations.
 

Pat is currently the Senior Technical Support and Resource Person for IDEAL Registered Online Conferencing, A member of the Steering and Logistics Committees for the Thunder Bay Leadership Forum 2007, a member of the Business Women's Network of Thunder Bay, as well as many other organizations. "If you think you can, you might; if you Know and Believe you can, you Will!" © May 2004 by Pat Seed

JEFFREY STARK - Kanata, Ontario

Interests:  IT, assistive/adaptive technology and accessibility

Background:  For the last 20 years, technology has been Jeffrey’s focus both professionally and personally. Professionally, Jeffrey is widely respected as an expert in his field of interest and has been a guiding voice in a number of accessibility initiatives in Canada. He has provided training for developers, publishers, technicians and a wide variety of other audiences across Canada on topics such as accessible application design, web accessibility and adaptive computer technology. Jeffrey manages a program which continues to be a driving force in the fields of accessibility and adaptive computer technology and has been internationally recognized for the unique services provided to persons with disabilities, injuries and ergonomic requirements.
 

In his personal life, Jeffrey has been advocating for accessibility and inclusion within Canada. Jeffrey strongly believes in the need for institutionalization of accessibility requirements into all areas with an IT component. There are internationally recognized standards that developers need to follow in order for a system to be accessible. This is a little like the accessibility standards in the build environment (i.e. doorways have to be a certain width to accommodate a wheelchair, ramps, signage, contrasting colors etc). The same exists in web content, applications and other systems. Accessibility means that people with and without disabilities can perceive, understand, navigate, and interact with information, services and applications. The adoption of accessibility standards, guidelines and best practices ensure that systemic barriers are eliminated prior to individual accommodations.
 

Jeffrey is very aware of the technology that is deployed across Canada in the general public. He regularly volunteers his technical services in the general public to persons with disabilities and families of persons with disabilities who require technological accommodations.

DALE STEVENSON - Ottawa, Ontario

Interests: mobility issues, technology, recreation, political activism

Background: Dale has varied experience of disability through academic studies, working in the disability community and for the federal government. Currently, He is in the process of writing his Master’s thesis in Disability Studies at the University of Manitoba where he is exploring the masculinity of men with disabilities. Within the disability community, he is involved with Paralympic sport, volunteerism, and political activism. Further, Dale has gained research experience / accessible web design with: the Council of Canadians with Disabilities, the Canadian Centre on Disability Studies, and Human Resources and Social Development Canada. He has recently gained some experience with Accessibility Advisory Committees and is looking forward to the implementation of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act. As a person with a disability he brings a valuable perspective to his role with CWDO.

JOHN SZCZYGIEL - Ottawa, Ontario

Interests: Technology, captioning, law and human rights

Background: John is currently enrolled in Carleton University, majoring in Law and Human Rights with a minor in Women & Gender Studies. Over the years, he has volunteered as a mentor to ‘Make The Cut’ and ‘PMC Intro’ for new students coming to Carleton University, or to any post secondary education institution. Mentors for these events work to educate students on how to utilize services on their prospective campuses. As an assistive technologist he taught students how to effectively use Kurzweil and Dragon software. Currently he is volunteering with the Paul Menton Center as a Captioner and an Assistive Project Manager, managing captioned movies, their transcriptions and the storage of them.  His goals for the future are to assist in the growth of CWDO and network with other persons involved in captioning across the country, to allow for captions to be more readily accessible to professors and students in the university and college setting.

SOUSAN ZARIBAF - Toronto, Ontario

Interests: Aging with a disability; Arts and Culture; Attendant services; Accessibility; Employment; Housing; Recreation

Background:   As a college student, Sousan formed a Union for Students with Disabilities, organized meetings with administrators and teachers to discuss accessibility on campus, and secured improved services for students with disabilities in the classroom. She served on the Board of Directors of Aldebrain Attendant Care Services of Toronto as Secretary, promoting accessible housing for many years. Sousan participated in successful negotiations with the Ontario Ministry of Housing to secure approval for funding to start construction of an apartment building which integrated wheelchair accessible units with support services in a public community setting. She met with Ruth Grier, then Minister of Health, to advocate the great need for social housing in Toronto.
 

Since commencing employment at TD Canada Trust, Sousan has been an active participant in the Bank's advocacy and employment diversity programs, recently serving on a panel organized by TD to speak to 50
employers from all industries, explaining the tangible advantages in hiring more persons with disabilities.

Updated June 12, 2012