DEAM

He has been in the disability field for over ten years, some of his work in this field has been advocating for employment, advocating for disability rights, creating sexual health curriculum for people with disabilities, and their natural and professional supports, and direct individual support. Benjamin Bruce is a lifelong disability activist, committed to continuous learning and unlearning.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Katie has spent the last 15 years teaching French, English, Psychology & Sociology in an Edmonton Public High School. Katie has loved her career as an educator but has recently made a huge career transition; Katie is the founder of Kello Inclusive - a talent agency that exclusively represents disabled and visibly different talent. Kello is the first agency of its kind in Canada! Katie is also the parent of 3 beautiful children, one of whom lives with Cerebral Palsy. Her daughter's disability and all the experiences that have come with it have given her a deep passion for exploring social justice issues, advocacy work, and the paradoxical beauty and challenge that comes with having disability be part of one's life - it is also the reason Kello exists.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Meet Brandon Huynh, an audit associate at PwC, one of the Big Four firms renowned for their global professional services. In his corporate role, Brandon is an advocate for the Deaf community, promoting increased awareness and inclusion within his firm and the broader public. His commitment to advocacy is further demonstrated through his volunteer work, where he coaches young Deaf badminton players and serves on an advisory committee for a non-profit organization in Alberta. As a Deaf individual who primarily communicates through American Sign Language, Brandon's dedication to fostering inclusivity is evident in both his professional environment and his community contributions. Additionally, Brandon's athletic prowess is internationally recognized as he competes as a badminton athlete for the National Canadian Deaf Team. His diverse experiences showcase his determination and his commitment to creating a positive difference in various areas of life.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Riccardo's story is a testament to resilience and the power of inclusion. A pianist since childhood, he earned his Master's Degree in 2016. However, in 2019 a spinal cord injury altered his path dramatically, leaving him paralyzed waist-down. Despite this setback, Riccardo refused to let go of his love for music. With creativity and determination, he developed a device that has allowed him to reclaim full use of the piano pedals and his place on the stage - RESONATE is a groundbreaking innovation aimed at making music accessible to all. In addition to his musical pursuits, Riccardo owns a successful vertical farming business and is deeply committed to advocating for inclusion through his work with Kello Inclusive - a talent agency that exclusively represents disabled and visibly different talent. In short, his story is an important reminder of the power of resilience and how a commitment to inclusion can create a more equitable world for all.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As an ADHD and Autistic individual with over 15 years advocating for diversity, equity, inclusion and psychological safety, 10 years of inclusive design experience and a lifetime of lived experience, Crystal brings a unique perspective on how neuroinclusion impacts opportunities to thrive in workplaces, learning environments and society.

She is currently leading a team of experts in the fields of psychological health and safety, intersectional diversity inclusion, neurodiversity and learning design through the Harmony of Difference Learning Academy and Consulting Consortium to establish neuroinclusion standards, practices and competency development by design.

She believes in a society where all individuals have equitable opportunity to actualize their potential when we empower people potential by design with innovative and inclusive human solutions together.

Their team contributes to a wide range of impactful collaborative neurodiversity inclusion and safety projects, including the suicide prevention of neurodivergent individuals in the Canadian construction industry, public policy and program auditing, workplace fairness assessment and restoration, and regulated neurodiversity safety hazard recognition and control.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Brooke Leifso, MA is a Disabled/Crip applied researcher and social change facilitator. She brings many levels of lived experience to the NorQuest College Workplace Accessibility research chair position and uses an intersectional disability justice social model approach in her work.

She has lived experience of disability and disability advocacy, facilitating support groups for parents with disabilities (at Gateway Association), and adults with developmental disabilities to self-advocate and build community (Self Advocate Federation) and has worked for many years as a front-line Child and Youthcare Counsellor.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kylie Dwyer is a Talent Diversity Consultant at the City of Edmonton with over 9 years of talent acquisition experience in the public sector, including previous roles at Alberta Health Services and the Government of Alberta. She specializes in inclusive hiring, and educating organizational leaders to increase capacity to recruit and retain equity-deserving groups in the workforce, including people with disabilities.

Kylie is passionate about employment equity and showing organizations the countless benefits of inclusive hiring. She believes that a commitment to inclusion and removing barriers to employment are critically important because they are the best ways to improve business outcomes, raise intelligence quotients for teams, and futureproof organizations. Kylie’s work is driven by years of experience collaborating with nonprofit organizations, service providers, employers, and advocates to develop strategies and solutions.

Kylie graduated from MacEwan University with a degree in Sociology, and holds a certificate in Human Resources and Labour Relations, as well as her CPHR designation. She is currently completing her master's degree in equity studies.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tamara Jorgic is the Director of Projects with AWES. She is an educator with years of experience in the fields of adult and workplace education, curriculum development, literacy, and ESL. She’s worked in the non-profit sector, community agencies, and post-secondary institutions as a project and program lead, curriculum developer, instructional designer, and facilitator. She believes in teamwork, clear and transparent communication, and continuous learning. She is passionate about helping people develop their skills to succeed in work and life.