The greatest challenges to accessibility are still the negative attitudes, stigma, lack of understanding and expertise. The purpose of the Education and Training Community of Practice (CoP) is to increase awareness of, and expand access to, the skills, knowledge and opportunities that have become increasingly vital to so many Canadians.
Anyone that is a member of CAN Collaborator Organization, or an approved CAN Collaborator Individual, can join this CoP if they have an interest in learning more about, and/or meeting with other experts in the field. Members are involved in enacting the business of the Network, as it relates to the priorities of the working group (as noted above).
In addition to these meetings, members who volunteer to get involved in an approved project can anticipate that there will be an additional two to three hours a month (approx.) commitment that is outside of required meeting times that is dedicated to contributing towards the work the project they are supporting, depending on their agreed upon role with the project. This time is dependant on the agreed upon work plan for the operating year and may fluctuate.
Please see Terms of Reference for the Education and Training Community of Practice for more information on the governance of this Committee.
The Education and Training CoP operates under the direction of two co-Leads. They provide leadership to the Education and Training CoP by:
Education & Training Co-Lead
Estela is the co-founder and CEO of Make A Difference Through Inclusion Ltd. (MADTI), a social enterprise focused on accessible and inclusive business strategy, technology, and innovation. In addition, she is a Director and partner for Keywork Labs Inc., a broadband and cybersecurity services company. With over three decades of business and technology experience, she has dedicated the last decade to transforming customer experiences through inclusive practices. A published author and passionate advocate for accessibility, Estela leverages her personal and professional experiences to create innovative, accessible solutions for diverse communities.
Education & Training Co-Lead
Martha Jez is the Owner and CEO of Fair Chance Learning. With a Master’s in Critical Disability Studies from York University, Martha is a recognized leader in inclusive, future‑ready education. She has collaborated with UNESCO, the British Council, Microsoft, and Amazon to deliver skills development programs across Canada, the U.S., Kenya, Algeria, and the U.K. Her work focuses on building digital fluency, AI literacy, and equitable access to emerging technologies through Universal Design for Learning and system‑wide transformation. Martha also serves on the OISE Curriculum Review Committee for Continued Professional Learning, shaping programs that prepare individuals and organizations for a rapidly evolving world. Known for her energy and motto “LET’S DO THIS!”, Martha brings expertise in collaboration and innovation to every conversation about workforce readiness.
Education & Training Co-Lead
Freda Uwa is a nationally recognized leader in accessibility, mental health, and disability rights, informed by both lived experience and extensive professional expertise. As a senior leader within the Independent Living Canada (IL Canada) network, she brings a strong, unified voice for Canadians with disabilities. IL Canada is a coast-to-coast network of 24 member centres, and under Freda’s leadership, it carries out critical oversight functions, including leading a national research project for Accessibility Standards Canada focused on accessibility in festivals and events.
Freda’s leadership is marked by integrity, perseverance, and an unwavering commitment to dignity, equity, and inclusion. She holds academic credentials in Nursing Leadership, Community Mental Health, and Management, and her career spans healthcare, policy development, program implementation, and advocacy. Freda facilitated Communities of Practice among disability organization leaders as part of the IDEA Project at Race and Disability Canada. A Human Rights Consultant with the Washington Institute of Diplomacy and a Fellow of the Institute of Leadership UK, Freda is also a newly published author of Jollof Life, reflecting her passion for culture, storytelling, and community.
The CoP is currently working on two key projects:
It is essential that when developing policies, practices, tools, etc. that consultation be conducted with those with disabilities. For example, the new BC Accessibility Legislation requires consultation with, and participation of, persons with disabilities in the development of accessibility committees, plans and feedback mechanisms. Organizations are often not aware with how to engage persons with disabilities in the processes, how to determine the time involved, the remuneration required, how best to conduct user testing, etc. Often organizations return to the same dedicated people which can put extraordinary pressure or burdens on those participating.
The Guide will assist organizations to deepen their understanding of inclusion barriers through the development of guidelines, checklists, criteria, etc. for engaging those with disabilities. This will provide a resource to organizations to ensure they effectively:
There is a need for greater awareness of ableism – a rarely discussed system of oppression and discrimination in Canada. This project will draw on definitions of ableism to address the importance of making ableism more understandable and visible to the public and of dismantling ableism as an essential part of working towards accessibility.
This project, therefore, aims to address three priority areas:
Through the development of a brief guide, CAN can assist users in how to recognize ableist elements in their workplaces and communities and make recommendations on how to begin to undo the language, policy and processes to develop accessible and inclusive practices.
This project aims to fill a knowledge gap by providing introductory resources to those who are beginning to work in education and employment-related accessibility and to add ableism-related information to the already available resources that accessibility professionals can utilize.
If you would like to get involved with one or more of these projects, we invite you to connect with us at [email protected] and we will introduce you to the Project Leads.
The Education and Training Community of Practice is always open to recruiting new members who are passionate about advancing accessibility and who feel that their background and expertise could support the work of the Education and Training CoP.
If you are interested, please contact [email protected] and we will coordinate a time to speak with you about becoming a member of the CoP.
