Ontario Summit for Students with Disabilities
2026 Speakers
Thank you to all of the speakers at the 2026 Ontario Summit for Students with Disabilities.
2026 Sponsors
Keynote Address: Under the Luminiferous Veil; from Invisibly “Sclerosed”, to Abruptly Diagnosed, and Visibly Composed
[Image Description]: Urja smiles at the camera while taking a selfie, walking down a city street in a hoody and jacket.
Urja Henry Nandivada
Urja (she/her) is a graduate student conducting research in Physics Education at the University of Waterloo. I focus on student epistemology and discipline-based education research regarding the undergraduate physics laboratory. My MSc thesis presented an undergraduate experiment on second harmonic generation suitable for the introductory laboratory. My PhD dissertation will be on pedagogical factors influencing epistemic themes found in undergraduate physics laboratory students.
Panel #1: To University and Beyond: Navigating Co-op, Careers, and Employment Transitions
[Image Description]: Yardena smiles at the camera while wearing a white blouse and black blazer. She is a white woman with curly brown hair.
Yardena Gerwin
Yardena Gerwin (she/her) is responsible for supporting Lime Connect’s efforts to attract new and engage current Network Members. In her role as Community Engagement Specialist, she increases visibility and strengthens relationships with university students, student organizations and professional associations; promotes Lime’s programs and benefits to prospective and current members; and expands community building initiatives. As a 2023 Gates Cambridge Scholar, Yardena earned her Master's in Health, Medicine, and Society from the University of Cambridge. Her research focused on mentoring as a form of workforce preparedness for disabled university students. She previously served as a disability policy fellow on the Senate Health, Education, Pensions and Labor Committee. At Middlebury College, Yardena designed her own major in disability studies and social determinants of health. Yardena also worked with the Middlebury Career Center as a peer advisor focused on disability-specific career advising. Yardena is proud to have been 2020 Lime Connect Fellow.
[Image Description]: Lime Connect logo
[Image Description]: CCRW logo
[Image Description]: Career Edge logo
[Image Description]: Melissa smiles at the camera. They are a white person wearing glasses with long blonde hair.
Melissa Pagliaro
Melissa Pagliaro (they/she) is a Researcher with the Canadian Council on Rehabilitation and Work, collaborating on disability and employment research, evaluation, and policy analysis projects. Melissa is passionate about and actively involved in disability advocacy, particularly in the areas of employment, income supports, and accessible, affordable housing. They hold a B.A. Honours and M.A. in Psychology from Carleton University as well as a Case Management Certificate from McMaster University. Melissa is neurodivergent, with ADHD and traits such as pattern recognition, imaginative and symbolic associations, creativity, general and social anxiety, and passion for their special interests. They are a deaf/hard-of-hearing cochlear implant user and experience major depressive disorder. In their personal life, Melissa enjoys playing video games, spending time with her two cats Misha and Locki, doing mixed media art, and making jewelry.
[Image Description]: Jeff wears a suit and tie and glasses, smiling at the camera in a professional headshot.
Jeff Lazenby
Jeff Lazenby (he/him) began his career more than 30 years ago and joined Career Edge, a national not-for-profit social enterprise, in 2016 as Director of Business Development. In March 2020, he was appointed President & CEO by the Board of Directors.
As President & CEO, Jeff leads a dedicated team committed to changing lives, helping individuals from marginalized communities overcome barriers and launch meaningful careers. He is responsible for setting the vision, driving strategy, and ensuring Career Edge continues to deliver measurable impact for both talent and employers. Jeff is also a visible champion for the organization in the community and with key stakeholders.
Outside of work, Jeff is passionate about traveling, photography, and running. He lives in Toronto with his wife, Jahnis
[Image Description]: NEADS logo
Katja Newman
Katja is the Program Manager for the Building Employment Pathways Program at NEADS.
Panel #2: Burnout, Stress, and Self-Care: Supporting the Mental Health and Wellness of Students with Disabilities
[Image Description]: 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.
Ariadne Jevnikar
Ariadne (she/her) 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. Ariadne is a Board of Directors member for The Disabled CoLab.
Moderated Discussions
[Image Description]: Samantha is a white woman with curly brown hair and glasses, smiling at the camera.
Samantha Fowler
Samantha (she/her) is a science communication specialist and PhD student currently living with chronic pain, generalized anxiety disorder, and bulimia nervosa. She navigated being a student with disabilities at the University of Waterloo, graduating Valedictorian with a BSc in 2019, as well as Laurentian University, graduating with a MScCom in 2020. She currently works at the University of Waterloo as the Disability Inclusion Coordinator and is a Co-Executive Director for The Disabled CoLab. Samantha is a PhD student in the Department of English Language and Literature at the University of Waterloo studying critical disability studies.
[Image Description]: Emma sits on a bench next to her black Labrador service dog, Marlowe. Marlowe sports a blue service vest and is licking Emma’s face. Emma wears a back brace.
Emma Collington
Emma Collington (she/her) is a PhD candidate in molecular genetics at the University of Waterloo. She studies mitochondrial metabolism in anaerobic eukaryotes, with a particular interest in parasitic helminths. Emma has a genetic connective tissue disease caused by mutations in collagen and fibrillin, which results in her joints, organs, and blood vessels being too elastic. When not studying or sleeping, Emma is involved in her local disability community, and volunteers with the program that trained her own service dog, Marlowe. She is a Co-Executive Director for The Disabled CoLab.
Closing Remarks
[Image Description]: Victoria smiles at the camera while wearing a black graduation gown and red striped graduation sash.
ictoria Parlatore
Victoria Parlatore (she/her) 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 such as generalized anxiety, panic disorder, major depressive disorder, severe mixed sleep apnea, chronic pain from thoracic spine immobility, and esotropia strabismus. 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. In her personal life Victoria enjoys spending time with family and friends or meeting new people, especially while exploring new places and eating delicious foods, activities in nature such as hiking and snowboarding, creative writing, volunteering with Rotary International, and a good cup of tea.