About

Who We Are

The Disabled CoLab fosters inclusive and empowered disability community spaces as a tool to advance accessibility and disability inclusion in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), as well as broader academic fields.

To achieve our mission, our projects focus on two goals:

  1. Building community spaces to support belonging and facilitate community knowledge exchange and

  2. Amplifying the voices of disabled people to advance change led by disabled people and catalyze continued community engagement within institutions of power.

Our Values

  • Our work is by and for the disability community. Disabled people lead our work, shape our priorities, and define our success.

  • Community is where belonging, care, and knowledge are created. Connected and empowered communities have the power to drive lasting change.

  • Systems of oppression are interconnected. Disability justice cannot be separated from racial justice, Indigenous sovereignty, gender justice, 2SLGBTQIA+ justice, economic justice, and the broader pursuit of collective liberation. We are not free until we are all free.

  • Accessibility and equity are not just outcomes - they are practices. We strive to build an organization, events, research, and partnerships that reflect the inclusive future we advocate for.

Emma and Samantha stand together in front of a rock garden. Emma is a white woman accompanied by her service dog, a black lab named Marlowe. Samantha is a white woman wearing large glasses.

[Image Description]: Emma and Samantha stand together in front of a rock garden. Emma is a white woman accompanied by her service dog, a black lab named Marlowe. Samantha is a white woman wearing large glasses.

Co-Executive Directors

Emma is a white woman wearing a back brace, smiling next to her service dog, a chocolate lab named Marlowe.

  • (She/Her)

    Emma is a PhD candidate at the University of Waterloo studying molecular genetics. Emma lives with a genetic connective tissue disease and is a service dog handler and trainer.

Samantha is a white woman with curly brown hair and glasses, smiling at the camera.

  • (She/Her)

    Samantha is a PhD student at the University of Waterloo studying critical disability studies and science communication. She is a science communications specialist and is currently living with chronic pain, generalized anxiety disorder, and episodic depression.

Board of Directors

Soorena wears a suit and tie in a formal headshot image.

  • (He/Him)

    Soorena Azarhazin is a PhD candidate in Biotechnology at Lakehead University. His research field is relevant to Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), numerical analysis of thermo-fluids processes, and flow control. He has a congenital profound sensorineural hearing loss and uses closed captioning and subtitles to better speech comprehension.

Ariadne smiles at the camera in a headshot, wearing a blue bow tie and clear glasses. She has a braid down the left side of her head.

  • (She/Her/Elle)

    Ariadne Jevnikar is a PhD candidate at Lakehead University in the Educational Leadership and Policy Studies stream. Ariadne’s research explores how high school principals influence the school culture for sexual and gender minority youth.

Victoria smiles at the camera while wearing a black graduation gown and red striped graduation sash.

  • (She/Her)

    Victoria Parlatore is a fourth-year PhD Candidate in Higher Education at the University of Toronto, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE). Her current research explores the self-reported needs of students with disabilities and the extent to which post-secondary institutions are meeting identified needs through current policies, practices, and supports, bringing disabled students together to reimagine access, on our terms. Victoria identifies as dynamically disabled, experiencing a combination of chronic mental and physical health disabilities. In addition to her academics Victoria works as a Graduate Peer Mentor for Accessibility Services, research consultant, and has served on several advisory committees dedicated to improving accessibility and student experience.