Rethinking Disability Conference 2023
ODEN is proud to announce the return of our Annual Rethinking Disability Conference for 2023
Develop | Connect | Engage
This conference is designed for employment service agencies 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.
In 2023, the Business Sector Stream will return on Tuesday, November 14. This is an exclusive opportunity for businesses and employers to develop or improve their disability awareness and confidence; learn from other businesses that are successfully implementing disability inclusive hiring and retention; and meet employment service providers from across the province who have the talent pool you need to gain that competitive edge for the future of work. Register for the Business Stream now.
Program
Monday November 13, 2023 |
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| 7:30am-8:45am | Richmond Ballroom
Registration & Breakfast |
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| 8:45am-9:00am | Richmond Ballroom
Welcome |
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| 9:00am-10:15am | Richmond Ballroom
Opening Keynote – Wow, You Look So Normal, Victoria Maxwell, Wellness Warrior |
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| 10:15am-10:45am | Networking Break sponsored by OTEC | ||
| 10:45am-12:00pm | Thornhill
1A – Ready, Set, Recognize: Detecting Workplace Mental Health Issues and How to Help Victoria Maxwell, Wellness Warrior |
Markham A
1B – Authentic Storytelling – The Case for Creating Brand Recognition TBC, Canadian Down Syndrome Society |
Aurora
1C – Digital Accessibility & Why You Need to Know About It! Jolene MacDonald, Accessibrand Sponsored by OTEC |
| 12:00pm-1:30pm | Lunch Sponsored by YMCA-GTA | ||
| 1:30pm-2:45pm | Thornhill
2A – Understanding Standards and the ACA (Accessibility Canada Act): A Policy Review Maureen Haan, CCRW |
Markham
2B – Boost Your Community’s Youth Employment Options and Outcomes Through Collaboration and Advocacy Carolyn McDougall, Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital Andrea Morrison, Ron Joyce Children’s Health Centre Dr. Jennifer Crowson, ODEN |
Aurora
2C – Disrupt! Series – A Framework for Youth Engagement Payal Khazanchi, Community Living Ontario (CLO) Yashvit and Riddhi Danani, Youth Advisory Committee, CLO Shelbey Pillon, CL Essex Terry Cloutier, CL Windsor |
| 2:45pm-3:15pm | Networking Break Sponsored by OTEC | ||
| 3:15-4:30pm | Thornhill
3A – Rural Job Development J.C. Doyle, ODEN |
Markham
3B – Project SEARCH – Many Sites, One Team: Building a Regional Collaboration to Achieve Employment Outcomes Carolyn McDougall, Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital Tracey Morrow, CL Oakville Nancy Comber, CL North Halton Jennifer Way, MODC |
Aurora
3C – Will Robots Take My Job? AI is not Taking your Job, But you may have to work with it Jesse Preston, Epilepsy Toronto Peter Young, META Belleville |
| 4:30pm-5:15pm | Sponsor Information Session | ||
| 8:00pm-11:00pm | Networking Social Event | ||
Tuesday, November 14, 2023 |
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| 7:30am-8:45am | Richmond Ballroom
Registration & Breakfast |
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| 8:45am-9:00am | Richmond Ballroom
Plenary Speaker – No Time…No Worries: 20 Everyday Micro Practices That You Can Use Right Now to Boost Your Mental Health Beverly Beuermann-King, R’n’B Consulting Group – Work Smart, Live Smart |
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| 9:15am-10:15am | Thornhill
4A – 10 Essential Team Needs as we Move Past Crisis and Business Disruption: Keys to Encourage, Engagement, Productivity and Combat Burnout Beverly Beuermann-King, R’n’B Consulting Group – Work Smart, Live Smart |
Markham
Business Stream ONLY4B – Disability Awareness and Confidence Training – Part 1 J.C. Doyle, ODEN Jennifer Hope, ODEN |
Aurora
4C – Making a Difference for Youth Who Have a Disability and Want to Work – An Update on the Youth Success Strategy Dr. Jennifer Crowson, ODEN |
| 10:15am-10:45am | Networking Break sponsored by OTEC | ||
| 10:45am-12:00pm | Thornhill
5A – A Conversation with Employment Service Agencies about Hiring at Michaels Canada and LCBO Joanna Patsakos, LCBO Matthew Kingsbury, Michaels Canada |
Markham
Business Stream ONLY5B – Disability Awareness and Confidence Training – Part 2 J.C. Doyle, ODEN Jennifer Hope, ODEN |
Aurora
5C – Community & College Collaboration to Support Employment Readiness and Access Needs of Students with Intellectual Disabilities Barbara McFater, PTP Susan Toews, George Brown College |
| 12:00pm-1:30pm | Lunch Sponsored by YMCA-GTA
Lunch Keynote – Leading Change: Creating a Culture of Engaged Teams – Neil Thornton, The Thornton Group |
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| 1:30pm-2:45pm | Thornhill
6A – Making Conversations Count with Accessible Social Media Kelly Thibodeau, Squarely Accessible
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Markham
Business Stream ONLY6B – Job Demands and Accommodation Planning Tool – The Next Step: A tool for Employers Dr. Monique Gignac, Ph.D., Institute for Work & Health |
Aurora
6C – Augmentative Technology to Deliver Instructions: Case Studies, Impact, Demonstration and Funding Sam Sweet, CentralReach |
| 2:45pm-3:15pm | Networking Break Sponsored by OTEC | ||
| 3:15pm-4:30pm | Thornhill
7A – Occupational Therapy in Employment Services: How an Innovative Model of Care is Revolutionizing the Employment Sector Tara Aronson-Pattison, PATH Employment Kelly Sward, St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton |
Markham
Business Stream ONLY7B – Inclusive Recruitment & Hiring: A B2b Conversation Joanna Patsakos, LCBO Matthew Kingsbury, Michaels Canada |
Aurora
7C – Redefining Disability from the Lens of Inuit Culture: A discussion of Intersectionality and Inclusion Lisa Spencer – Nunavummi Disabilities Mankinnasuaqtiit Societiy Alyson Colón – Nunavummi Disabilities Mankinnasuaqtiit Societiy |
| 6:00pm-6:30pm | Cocktails | ||
| 6:30pm-10:00pm | Gala Dinner – Sponsored by Fedcap
Entertainment – Music & Dancing |
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Wednesday, November 15, 2023 |
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| 7:30am-8:00am | Richmond Ballroom
Registration & Breakfast |
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| 8:00am-8:45am | Richmond Ballroom
ODEN AGM |
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| 9:00am-10:15am | Thornhill
8A – |
Markham
8B – Breaking Down Barriers Through Knowledge Exchange Amanda Mastronardi, KTT Jill Teeple, Partners for Planning Ingrid Muschta, ODEN |
Aurora
8C – Building Employer Capacity for Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility Rebecca Gewurtz, McMaster University Dr. Emile Tompa, Institute for Work & Health |
| 10:15am-10:45am | Networking Break Sponsored by OTEC | ||
| 10:45am-12:00pm | Thornhill
9A – Job Development – Creating Partnerships that Work Michael Bennett, The Bennett Edge |
Markham
9B – Practical Organizational Change – Focus on Technology Paul Fleming, People Minded Business Ryan Stanga, People Minded Business |
Aurora
9C – |
| 12:00pm-1:15pm | Lunch Sponsored by YMCA-GTA | ||
| 1:15pm-2:30pm | Closing Plenary – | ||
| 2:30pm-2:45pm | Conference Wrap-Up Surprise Snacks and Drinks To-Go |
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Download PDF version
Conference Hotels
RDC 2023 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 2023 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 the Sponsorship and Exhibitor Package
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 Lesley Ellis at lellis@odenetwork.com.
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Accessibility Sponsor (Monday):
Accessibility Sponsor (Tuesday):
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Exhibitor Alley Sponsored By:
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EVERY CANADIAN COUNTS