Rethinking Disability Conference 2024

RDC 2024 Register Now Picture block on purple background
RDC 2024 – Register Now

RDC2024 Video

ODEN is proud to announce the return of our Annual Rethinking Disability Conference for 2024

This conference is designed for Employment Service Providers and businesses from across Ontario, to enhance their professional development, increase capacity and learn new skills to apply to their services and inclusive-hiring processes.

 

Conference Speakers

Looking to register for the Business Stream on Monday, November 4. 

Click here

Program

Monday November 4, 2024

7:30am-8:45am Grand York Ballroom

Registration Desk Open

Buffet Breakfast – sponsored by Fedcap Canada

8:45am-9:00am Grand York Ballroom

Welcoming Remarks – ODEN CEO and Board

9:00am-10:15am Grand York Ballroom

Opening KeynoteRacism Affects Me Too: The Intersection of Disability and Anti-Black Racism on Employment

Marty Lampkin, Registered Social worker and Professor, RSW, BSW, MSW

Sponsored by Fedcap Canada

Markham Room

BUSINESS STREAM ONLY

Disability Awareness & Confidence Training – Part I

J.C. Doyle, ODEN

Sarah Birch, ODEN

Jennifer Ridley, ODEN

10:15am-10:45am Networking Break
10:45am-12:00pm Grand York Ballroom

1A – The Intersection of Disability and Anti-Black Racism on Employment Part 2: a Reflective Journey into Unpacking Our Understanding of Labour

Marty Lampkin, Registered Social worker and Professor, RSW, BSW, MSW

Grand York B

1B – Perspectives of Employment from the Voice of Lived Experience

Yvonne Spicer, Theresa Somerton, Nicole Flynn

Sponsored by Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital

Grand York C

1C – ODEN’s newest initiatives and You!

 

Dr. Jennifer Crowson, ODEN

Onysia Robinson-Kotsikas, ODEN

 

Sponsored by Sheraton Parkway Toronto North

 

 

 

Markham

BUSINESS STREAM ONLY

Disability Awareness & Confidence Training – Part II

J.C. Doyle, ODEN

Sarah Birch, ODEN

Jennifer Ridley, ODEN

12:00pm-1:30pm Lunch – sponsored by London Regional Employment Service
1:30pm-2:45pm Grand York Ballroom

2A – Artificial Intelligence  in the Workplace

 

Julie LaSorda, Community Living Essex County

Aaron Watson, Community Living Chatham-Kent

Grand York B

2B – Autism Employment Successes:  Selling the Skills of Talented People

 

 

Sean Wiltshire, Avalon Employment

Grand York C

2C – Turning the Lights Back On:  Recognizing & Managing Burnout

Melanie McGregor, CMHA Halton

Markham

BUSINESS STREAM ONLY

Disability Awareness & Confidence Training – Part III

J.C. Doyle, ODEN

Sarah Birch, ODEN

Jennifer Ridley, ODEN

2:45pm-3:15pm Networking Break
3:15-4:30pm Grand York Ballroom

3A – Inclusive on Purpose:  Making Sense of Accessible Marketing

Kelly Thibodeau, Squarely Accessible

Jolene MacDonald, Accessibrand

Grand York B

3B – The Power of Employment Discovery: Proven Results in Creating Long-Term Labour Market Attachments

Donnalee Bell, CCDF

Evan Dawe, JobPath

Derek Roy, Career Compass

Grand York C

3C – The Canadian Landscape for Disability and Work

 

Maureen Haan, CCRW

Dino Zuppa, Accessible Standards Canada

 

Markham

BUSINESS STREAM ONLY

B2B Presentation, LCBO

 

Joanna Patsakos, LCBO

4:30pm-6:30pm Networking Event with OCTC

Sponsored by Meridian Credit Union

Tuesday, November 5, 2024

7:30am-8:45am  Grand York Ballroom

Registration Desk Opens

Buffet Breakfast – sponsored by Fedcap Canada

8:00am-8:45am Grand York Ballroom

ODEN AGM

9:15am-10:15am Grand York B

4A – Journey to Belonging: Bracing for Impact

 

Brendon Pooran, PooranLaw

Cheryl Wiles Pooran, PooranLaw

Grand York C

4B – SkillingUp! Program

 

Lisa Livingston, March of Dimes Canada

Markham

4C – Transitions to Work From Post-Secondary School: How a New Program is Helping Students

Alison Bambury, Humber College

Keith Manalo, Humber College

10:15am-10:45am Networking Break
10:45am-12:00pm Grand York B

5A  – Co-Design & Co-Production:  Meaningfully Engaging Job Seekers in the Design & Delivery of Services

Jake Deutsch, Deloitte

Hannah Nogiec, Deloitte

Grand York C

5B –

Enhancing Employment Services with Virtual Reality & Digital Literacy

Peter Young, Virtual Encounters

 

Markham

5C – KTT Mentorship

 

Amanda Mastronardi, KTT

Jill Temple, P4P

Ingrid Muschta, ODEN

12:00pm-1:30pm Lunch – sponsored by London Regional Employment Service
1:30pm-2:45pm Grand York B

6A –

Collaboration Unleashed: Powering Success Through Engagement

Janeen Hailewell, People Minded Business

Ryan Stanga, People Minded Business

Dan Bigonesse, People Minded Business

 

Grand York C

6B –

Community Connections ~ CDPCBO transition to CDPOntario: from Certification to a Professional Association

Lorraine Katanik, CDPCBO

 

Markham

6C – Jobs Ability Canada 2.0:  An Interactive Session 

 

Liz Gosse, OCTC

Pawrnaa Perinpanayagam, OCTC

2:45pm-3:15pm Networking Break
3:15pm-4:30pm Grand York B

7A – Creating Partnerships that Work – How Does This Work with Transformation 

Michael Bennett, Bennett Edge

 

Grand York C

7B – Employer 2 Employment Service Provider Conversation

 

Matthew Kingsbury, Michaels

Joanna Patsakos, LCBO

Markham

7C – Effective Communicating & Working with Government

Brian Zeiler-Kligman, Sussex Strategy Group

6:00pm-6:30pm Cocktails
6:30pm-10:00pm Gala Dinner

Sponsored by College Boreal

DJ & Dance

Wednesday, November 6, 2024

7:30am-9:00am Grand York Ballroom

Registration Desk Opens

Buffet Breakfast – sponsored by Fedcap Canada

9:00am – 10:00am Grand York Ballroom

Plenary – Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development (MLITSD)  – Employment Services Transformation in Ontario and Current Engagements

10:00am-10:30am Networking Break
10:30am-12:00pm Grand York B

8A – Breakout Session – MLITSD

Grand York C

8B – Breakout Session – MLITSD

Markham

8C – Breakout Session – MLITSD

12:00pm-1:00pm Lunch – sponsored by London Regional Employment Service
1:00pm-1:15pm Government Cloing Remarks
1:30pm-1:45pm ODEN Closing Remarks
1:45pm-2:00pm Surprise Snacks and Drinks To-Go

Conference Hotels

RDC 2024 will be held at the Conference Centre connected to The Sheraton Parkway Toronto North and the Best Western Parkway Hotel North.

RATES: 
Sheraton Parkway Toronto North  (SOLD OUT)
(905) 881-2121
$199/night
Code: OD8403
Best Western Parkway Hotel Toronto North (SOLD OUT)
(905) 881-2600
$179/night
Code: 1103ODENCON

Sponsors and Exhibitor Info

RDC 2024 has added additional marketing and sponsorship opportunities for this year. Please be sure to download the package below.

As a sponsor and/or exhibitor your business will:

  • Position your company as a thought leader, action-taker and trailblazer to attract top talent to your organization.
  • Promote your products and services to the disability market, which touches 73% of consumers and represents a huge opportunity for business. This represents $538.5 billion of disposable income.
  • Build relationships with over 240 conference delegates from Ontario by providing a venue for private and public stakeholders to learn, network, and grow their employment practice and diversity goals.
  • Showcase your company’s profile by supporting an Ontario-wide network of service agencies that deliver employment opportunities for people who have a disability.

Download Sponsorship Package Here!

For more information contact Sue Dafoe, Business Services Manager at sdafoe@odenetwork.com or via phone at 1-866-280-6336 Ext. 105.

Please note that ODEN does not share or sell any participant lists. 

If you are receiving these emails, they are SPAM.  Please forward all emails of this nature to Lila Jorgenson at ljorgenson@odenetwork.com.

THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR 2024 SPONSORS

 

Accessibility Sponsor (Monday):

Accessibility Sponsor (Tuesday):

Circle with checkmark inside with Blue text - MyJobMatch Building Connections for an Inclusive Future on right of image.

 

Accessibility Sponsor (Wednesday):

SERCO with red circle under letter o

Platinum Sponsors:

CSBT letters with Community Service Benefits Trust

Silver Sponsors:

Circle with checkmark inside with Blue text - MyJobMatch Building Connections for an Inclusive Future on right of image.

 

 

Gala Sponsor:

Networking Event Sponsor:

Breakfast Sponsor:

Lunch Sponsor:

Keynote Speaker Sponsor:

 

 

 

Exhibitor Alley Sponsored By:

List of Exhibitors:

CSBT letters with Community Service Benefits Trust

 

Circle with checkmark inside with Blue text - MyJobMatch Building Connections for an Inclusive Future on right of image.

 

March of Dimes Logo

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SERCO with red circle under letter o

 

 

LCBO Spirit of Sustainability

 

 

Session Sponsors: