Date: Tuesday, May 26th, 2026
Time: 12 to 1:30 p.m. ET
Language of delivery: English
Platform: Zoom
Accessibility: ASL interpretation and bilingual captioning will be provided. Additional accommodations available as requested.
About
True leadership means being approachable and embedding accessibility into every aspect of your organization. It is not just about compliance, but about empathy, intentionality and creating a work culture that values everyone’s contributions. Join panelists from various work sectors as they discuss how to advance accessibility through executive direction.
Speakers
Moderator
Katie Aubrecht
Dr. Katie Aubrecht is Associate Professor in the Department of Sociology and Director of the Centre for Aging and Disability Justice and the Spatializing Care Lab at St. Francis Xavier University. Dr. Aubrecht analyzes marginality and mental health, rurality and resilience, across the life span.
Dr. Aubrecht is a Tier II Canada Research Chair Health Equity and Social Justice (CRC HESJ). The overall purpose of the CRC HESJ is to improve the quality of care and self-perceived health of people living in rural communities who are socially and economically marginalized. She aims to inform domestic and international policy on mental health in rural areas by using a participatory action research and training program with three objectives. First, she and her research team are identifying promising directions in human rights-based approaches to rural mental health care. They are also evaluating the health equity impacts of human rights-based approaches to mental health. Lastly, they are working to promote social justice by mobilizing the mental health knowledge they generate.
Panelists
Senator Chantal Petitclerc
The Honourable Chantal Petitclerc is not only an internationally renowned athlete, but also a compassionate person. When she was 13 years old, she lost the use of her legs in an accident. While Petitclerc was developing her skills as a wheelchair athlete, she pursued her studies, first in social sciences at the CEGEP de Sainte-Foy and then in history at the University of Alberta in Edmonton. She overcame adversity and many obstacles to become a proven leader in the sports world. Her gold medals in the Paralympic Games, Olympic Games and Commonwealth Games, the various awards and accolades she has received, and her appointment as Team Canada’s Chef de Mission for the Rio Paralympic Games are all markers of her success.
Her many achievements and her personal journey have also made her an in-demand public speaker, recognized across Canada. She has been the spokesperson for Défi sportif AlterGo for 17 years, and is an ambassador for the international organization Right to Play. A tireless advocate for the contributions people with disabilities have made to our society, she plays a definitive role in building a more inclusive society. Her example inspires people to overcome their obstacles and achieve their full potential.
Through her experiences, Senator Petitclerc has also learned a lot about the particular characteristics of various communities, as well as how decisions are made at the national level. As someone who has functional limitations herself, she has a good understanding of the needs of various minority communities and would like to ensure their voices are heard. The Senator is a Companion of the Order of Canada and a Knight of the Order of Quebec. She has also received five honourary doctorates, was inducted into the Canadian Paralympic Hall of Fame and received the Northern Star Award (formerly the Lou Marsh trophy). In addition, Senator Petitclerc sits on various committees and boards of directors, where she provides her dynamic and unique perspective.
Meagan Larocque
Meagan Larocque is the Chief of Staff and Director of Communications and Outreach at Accessibility Standards Canada, where she leads strategic communications, partner engagement, and outreach initiatives that advance accessibility and inclusion across Canada and internationally. With a career dedicated to accessibility, equity, and inclusive systems change, Meagan brings a unique interdisciplinary perspective shaped by diverse educational and professional experiences.
As a person with disability and with a Master of Social Work, Meagan is passionate about creating spaces, systems, and conversations where accessibility and inclusion are embedded into everyday practice. Her work focuses on making complex ideas practical, human-centered, and actionable solutions that strengthen accessibility, belonging, and organizational culture.
During her spare time, Meagan is a woodworking and pottery artist, athlete, outdoor enthusiast, and active community member.
Maureen Haan
Maureen Haan is the President and CEO of the Canadian Council on Rehabilitation and Work (CCRW), Canada’s only national organization solely dedicated to the vision of equitable and meaningful employment for people with disabilities.
Maureen serves as Canada’s civil society lead on Article 27 (Work and Employment) of the United Nations CRPD and was involved with Civil Society at the G7 in Italy and with APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation) in Peru.
Maureen co-leads the Disability and Work in Canada initiative, serves as a Board member of Accessibility Standards Canada and the Canadian Association of Supported Employment (CASE). She was also appointed to the Minister’s Disability Advisory Group (MDAG). In recognition of her dedication to disability rights and gender equity, Maureen was the recipient of the inaugural Hummingbird Award from DAWN Canada.
Maureen began her career in the Deaf community and is fluent in American Sign Language (ASL). She lives in Thornhill with her husband and two sons.
Carly Fox
Carly Fox (she/her/elle) is a queer, neurodivergent, and invisibly disabled youth passionate about raising awareness of invisible disabilities, challenging oppressive structures perpetuating ableism, and creating space for all disabled persons to feel empowered to share their own stories.
As a disability advocate, Carly aims to raise awareness through her own experiences with invisible disabilities and neurodivergence, provide educational resources on the policies and legislation shaping disabled persons’ lives, and create space for disabled youth to share their own stories through blogs, public speaking, and consultations. Carly believes in collaborating with a wide variety of individuals and organizations to tackle tricky conversations, challenge mainstream misconceptions, and empower impactful policy change and attitude shifts.
As an emerging academic, Fox is enrolled at Carleton’s Institute of Political Economy, where she is pursuing an MA with a collaborative specialization in Accessibility. Her research explores how provincial disability assistance programs shape recipients’ ability to pursue the opportunities they find meaningful through a human security and capabilities approach. She will be presenting her preliminary findings at the Leeds Disability Studies Conference this April, and looks forward to beginning her Master’s Research Essay under the supervision of Dr. Kelly Fritsch.