IDEA Symposium
October 6 & 7, 2025
Online and in-person in Toronto, Ontario
Conference registration table
Two attendees smiling at the camera after registration
Two attendees having a conversation at a table
Attendees at the continental breakfast buffet
Attendees posing and smiling directly at the camera
Attendees smiling and engaging before the event start
Sinead McCarthy at the podium
Krista Carr at the podium
Melissa Fishman at the podium
Attendees listening to and/or watching presenters
Attendees listening to and/or watching presenters
Susanne Bruyere at the podium
In memorium posters
An attendee asking a question from the audiance
Emile Tompa at the podium
Panelists on stage
Panelists on stage
Panelists on stage
Rafael Gomez in the audiance
Attendee asking a question from the audiance
Attendees standing and talking
Attendees enjoying a break
Attendees talking animatedly
Attendees enjoying coffee at the break
Attendees posing and smiling for the camera
Alec Farquhar at the podium
Rebecca Gewurtz at the podium
Dan Samosh at the podium
Mahadeo Sukhai at the podium
Angelika Seeschaaf-Veres at the podium
Francis Fung at a break
Group photo of day 1 speakers
Ruth Ann Onley in the audiance
Ingrid Palmer
Attendees talking at the break
Workshop
workshop
workshop
workshop
workshop
workshop
workshop
Mayor Mike Bradley of Sarnia's keynote
IDEA National Office team
Peter Field and Francis Fung at the podium
Karen Harlos at the podium
An attendee asking a question from the audiance
Bilan Arte at the podium
Brian Foster speaking in a panel
Rafael Gomez speaking in a panel
Sinead McCarthy speaking in a panel
Emile Tompa speaking in a panel
An attendee asking a question from the audiance
Attendees having an animated conversation
Attendees having a discussion
Attendees having a discussion in the foyer during a break
Attendees having a discussion in the foyer during a break
Wendy Cukier at the podium
Charolotte Buttle and Hedgerow Thompson on the stage
Rebecca Coxon at the podium
Anna Nelson at the podium
Holland Bloorview Kids rehabilitation Hospital speakers at the podium
Carolyn McDougall speaking from the stage
Teresa Wesz at the podium
Bridgette Sterling at the podium
Joanna Goode and Mary Beshai on stage speaking
Day 2 speakers posing for a group photo
Table talk discussion
Table talk discussion
Table talk discussion
Table talk discussion
Table talk discussion
Table talk discussion
Table talk discussion
Table talk discussion
Francis Fung moderating the table talk discussion report back
Table talk discussion report back
Table talk discussion report back
Table talk discussion report back
Table talk discussion report back
Wendy Cukier at the podium
Agnes McLachlan at the podium
Speed mentorship session
Speed mentorship session
Speed mentorship session
Speed mentorship session
Speed mentorship session
The Win-Win of Designing Workplaces for Disability Inclusion
October 6th and 7th, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Hybrid: Online and in-person in Toronto, Ontario
IDEA and partners gathered with great success for the first IDEA stakeholder symposium on October 6 and 7, 2025. Showcased at the event was progress made by us and our partners in supporting the capacity building of organizations for the inclusion of persons with disabilities.
At the event, we:
- Highlighted the benefits of inclusive design for employers and persons with disabilities;
- Shared innovations and promising practices developed by IDEA participants and partners that advance workplace inclusion and accessibility;
- Hosted interactive sessions on strategies to support the uptake of solutions.
In-person attendees had the added benefit of:
- Workshops profiling tools and resources for workplace stakeholders;
- Interactive sessions where we will set priorities for future activities;
- Extensive networking opportunities;
- Breakfast, lunch, refreshments, and an end-of-day reception on each day.
Accessibility
We aim to ensure that our events are welcoming and accessible to all attendees. At the event, we had CART, ASL, and French-English/English-French interpretation services.
Opening Reflections from Melissa Fishman
Opening Reflections from Melissa Fishman
Inclusive employment practices – Supporting employers on their inclusion journey: Susanne Bruyere
Inclusive employment practices – Supporting employers on their inclusion journey: Susanne Bruyere
Employment accessibility: A practical guide for workplace parties: Panel moderated by Emile Tompa
Employment accessibility: A practical guide for workplace parties: Panel moderated by Emile Tompa
Lightning talks: IDEA applied work – Tools and resources from IDEA’s Incubator Hubs
Lightning talks: IDEA applied work – Tools and resources from IDEA’s Incubator Hubs
The journey to disability inclusion in Canadian workplaces with Alec Farquhar
The journey to disability inclusion in Canadian workplaces with Alec Farquhar
Improving recruitment, retention, and advancement of employees with disabilities in Canada
Improving recruitment, retention, and advancement of employees with disabilities in Canada
Closing Keynote from Mayor Mike Bradley
Closing Keynote from Mayor Mike Bradley
EDIA, organizational culture change and inclusive training practices for employers: Karen Harlos
EDIA, organizational culture change and inclusive training practices for employers: Karen Harlos
Unions deliver: Capacity building for workplace disability inclusion
Unions deliver: Capacity building for workplace disability inclusion
Transforming Workplace Systems to Build Sustainable Capacity for Inclusion of Diverse Youth: Panel
Transforming Workplace Systems to Build Sustainable Capacity for Inclusion of Diverse Youth: Panel
Addressing barriers to digital skills & tech enabled jobs in Canada
Addressing barriers to digital skills & tech enabled jobs in Canada
Building employer capacity got disability inclusion in the workplace
Building employer capacity got disability inclusion in the workplace
Strategies for advancing disability inclusive workplaces
Strategies for advancing disability inclusive workplaces
The power of mentorships: MetorAbility moments help to create welcoming workplaces
The power of mentorships: MetorAbility moments help to create welcoming workplaces
Meaningfully including employers in the discussion about building disability-inclusive workplaces
Meaningfully including employers in the discussion about building disability-inclusive workplaces
YES Workability: Redesigning the workplace DNA
YES Workability: Redesigning the workplace DNA
ODEN's leadership in disability inclusive hiring through the OCTC project lessons
ODEN's leadership in disability inclusive hiring through the OCTC project lessons
TELUS well-being and health services
TELUS well-being and health services