Rethinking Disability Conference 2025
ODEN is proud to announce the return of our Annual Rethinking Disability Conference for 2025
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.
Looking to register for the Business Stream on Monday, November 3.
Click here
Program
Monday November 3, 2025 |
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| 7:30am-8:45am | Grand York Ballroom
Registration Desk Open Buffet Breakfast sponsored by Fedcap Canada |
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| 8:45am-9:00am | Grand York Ballroom
Welcoming Remarks – ODEN CEO and Board |
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| 9:00am-10:15am | Grand York Ballroom
Opening Keynote – Harness Your Energy – Build Your Resilience: A Path to Thriving in Life Beverly Beuermann-King, Resiliency, Stress & Organizational Wellness Expert
Keynote sponsor – WCG |
Markham Room
BUSINESS STREAM ONLY Disability Awareness & Confidence Training – Part I
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| 10:15am-10:45am | Networking Break | |||
| 10:45am-12:00pm | Grand York Ballroom
1A – Storytelling in Motion: Harnessing Social Media in a Shifting Landscape
Kelly Thibodeau, Squarely Accessible Kristen Hartigan, Square Key Digital |
Grand York B
1B – Excelling During Change: Building Resilience in Times of Transition Beverly Beuermann-King, Resiliency, Stress & Organizational Wellness Expert |
Grand York C
1C – Purposeful Networking to Create Business Connections that Last
Jan Vilaca, Certified Success Coach
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Markham
BUSINESS STREAM ONLY Disability Awareness & Confidence Training – Part II
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| 12:00pm-1:30pm | Lunch sponsored by the Canadian National Exhibition | |||
| 1:30pm-2:45pm | Grand York Ballroom
2A – Disclosure & Accommodation Workshop – PART I
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Grand York B
2B – Realizing Employment Potential – Project SEARCH Employer Engagement Strategy Panel
Paul Found, Norfolk Association for Community Living |
Grand York C
2C – Psychological Safety & Belonging in the Workplace
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| 2:45pm-3:15pm | Networking Break | |||
| 3:15-4:30pm | Grand York Ballroom
3A – Disclosure & Accommodation Workshop – PART II
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Grand York B
3B – Employment Services Wasn’t Built for Complexity
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Grand York C
3C – Building Employer Confidence: Occupational Therapy Innovations for Mental Health Inclusion Kelly Sward, Occupational Therapist Paul Bakker, Social Impact Squared Hadassah Lebovic, GLA Rehab Inc.
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| 4:30pm-6:30pm | Networking Event hosted by OCTC
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Tuesday, November 4, 2025 |
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| 7:30am-8:45am | Grand York Ballroom
Registration Desk Opens Buffet Breakfast sponsored by Fedcap Canada |
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| 8:00am-8:45am | Grand York Ballroom
ODEN AGM |
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| 9:15am-10:15am | Grand York B
4A – Navigating Resilience: Supporting Racialized Job Seekers who have a Disability through Intersectional Employment Approaches
Rebecca Gewurtz, IDEA
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Grand York C
4B – Future Ready: Using Creative Problem-Solving to Tackle Employment Challenges
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Markham
4C – Promising Practices in Action: Strengthening Collaboration between ESPs and Businesses
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| 10:15am-10:45am | Networking Break | ||
| 10:45am-12:00pm | Grand York B
5A – Job Seeker Resource Tool: Writing a Disclosure Statement
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Grand York C
5B – TBC
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Markham
5C – Survey Says…Knowledge is Power!
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| 12:00pm-1:30pm | Lunch sponsored by the Canadian National Exhibition | ||
| 1:30pm-2:45pm | Grand York B
6A – Effective Uses of AI for ESPs & Businesses
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Grand York C
6B – Creating Opportunities, Driving Results: How Businesses and Employment Service Providers Collaborate for Success (Business Panel)
Danica McPhee – Erie Shores Health Care |
Markham
6C – From Law to Practice: Legal Obligations & Rights in the Workplace
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| 2:45pm-3:15pm | Networking Break | ||
| 3:15pm-4:30pm | Grand York B
7A – The Partnership Effect: Collaboration with IES
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Grand York C
7B – Indigenous Equity & Workplace Inclusion – Service Provider Partnerships (virtual session)
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Markham
7C – Tips for Providing Disability Positive Employment Services
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| 4:30-5:00pm | Grand York B
CSBT (Group Benefits Program) Information Session |
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| 6:00pm-6:30pm | Cocktails | ||
| 6:30pm-10:00pm | Gala Dinner
Business Champions League Inductee Ceremony DES Awards DJ & Dance |
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Wednesday, November 5, 2025 |
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| 7:30am-9:00am | Grand York Ballroom
Registration Desk Opens Buffet Breakfast sponsored by Fedcap Canada |
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| 10:00am-10:30am | Networking Break | ||
| 9:00am-10:15am | Grand York B
8A – Addressing Barriers to Digital Tools & Tech-Enabled jobs in Canada – Insights from Young People who have a Disability
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Grand York C
8B – Inclusive Leadership
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Markham
8C – TBD
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| 10:45am-12:00pm | 9A – From Skills Shortages to Skills Resilience: Disability Inclusive Approaches for the Trades
Shauna McKenzie-Onita , The Career Foundation Panelists – TBC |
9B – Inclusive Employment: Recognizing & Addressing Literacy Barriers for Clients who have a Disability
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9C – Journey to Belonging
Amy Olmstead, MCCSS |
| 12:00pm-1:00pm | Lunch sponsored by the Canadian National Exhibition | ||
| 1:00pm-2:15pm | MLITSD Government Update | ||
| 2:15pm-2:30pm | ODEN Closing Remarks | ||
| 2:30pm-2:45pm | Surprise Snacks and Drinks To-Go | ||
Conference Hotels
RDC 2025 will be held at the Conference Centre connected to The Sheraton Parkway Toronto North and the Best Western Parkway Hotel North.
Sponsors and Exhibitor Info
RDC 2025 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 2025 SPONSORS
Accessibility Sponsor:
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Business Stream Sponsor:
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Exhibitor Alley Sponsored By:
List of Exhibitors:
Innovation Alley Sponsor:
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