Item - 2019.CA4.5

Appointees' biographies:

Darren Cooper

Darren Cooper currently serves as the Accessibility Project Manager and the Academic Coordinator for the Leadership in Accessibility and Inclusion Program at The Chang School of Continuing Education at Ryerson University. Prior to these roles, Darren was the Accessibility Specialist for the City of Mississauga and the Accessibility Coordinator for the Town of Milton. Darren holds a Certificate in Municipal Administration and an Honours B.A. in Communication Studies.

Karima Ewig

Karima Ewig has been working in the field of disabilities for over eleven years and grew up with epilepsy. Karima went to school for Developmental Services Worker and Intervenor for Deafblind Persons. Karima currently works in a day program and a group home supporting adults with disabilities. Karima has come to understand that not everyone will accept you as you accept yourself and because of this she continually explores options to advocate and educate for people with disabilities. 

Miranda Fray

Miranda Fray is a well-seasoned Career Development Professional with extensive experience being retained by organizations to facilitate change processed and turn-around strategies within Community Employment Services funded by the Ministry of Training. Currently, she is an active part of the management team within TDSB at Next-Steps Employment Centre – Riverdale in which she implements services to assist marginalized client groups such as diversity hiring events for persons with disabilities.

Michelle Grimley

Michelle Grimley is currently developing her career in disability advocacy, diversity and inclusion at Community Living Toronto in the role of Community Support Coordinator – Membership Services. Michelle works collaboratively with people with developmental disabilities to identify gaps in programs and services and create socially inclusive community supports. Michelle leads a Membership Team that coordinates fundraising events and grant requests to develop and implement a wide variety of social, educational and recreation programs.

Glen Hart

Glen Hart works in food, nutrition and life skills training for Fife House, a housing non-profit organization for persons living with HIV/AIDS.  He also sits on the Board Governance Committee of the Ontario HIV/AIDS Treatment Network.  His professional experience includes working with many marginalized populations such as LGBTQ+ refugees, street involved communities and persons living with HIV/AIDS.  Glen identifies as Métis and as an active part of Toronto’s vibrant LGBTQ+ community.  His personal experience of disability includes living with the many physical, mental and cognitive challenges of life with HIV/AIDS, as well as the related issues of stigma and exclusion.

Stefanie Marinich-Lee

Stefanie Marinch-Lee has dedicated both her professional career and volunteer associations toward the advancement of services and rights for persons with disabilities. Stefanie attended Osgoode Hall Law School and completed her articles of clerkship at ARCH: Disability Law Clinic. Her work has always intersected with current disability issues and is considered a subject matter expert in this field. She brings experience from both the public and private sector in employment, education and policy development.

Michael McNeely

Michael McNeely is striving to become the first deaf-blind lawyer to graduate from Osgoode Law School. He currently teaches advocacy skills at the Canadian Helen Keller Centre. He is a former high school teacher, and current accessibility advocate who has worked with those in the film, stage and transportation industries to help improve their accessibility practices. Michael currently serves on the Board of Directors at the Canadian Deafblind Association in Paris, Ontario.

Liv Mendelsohn

Liv Mendelsohn, M.A., M.Ed. is the Director of Accessibility and Inclusion at the Miles Nadal JCC, and Artistic Director of the ReelAbilities Toronto Film Festival. Passionate about building accessible communities engaged in the arts with a focus on youth with disabilities. Liv is a 2017-2-18 Civic Action DiverseCity Fellow, and a 2018-2019 mentor for AFP Fellowship in Inclusion and Philanthropy. She is a field instructor for the Faculty of Social Work at the University of Toronto.

Michael Miceli

Michael Miceli graduated summa cum laude with his B.A., Honours degree in Psychology and a Certificate in Practical Ethics from the Department of Philosophy in 2005 and completed his M.A. degree in Critical Disability Studies in 2007, both from York University. His research interests focus on the ethical and social implications of new reproductive technologies such as prenatal genetic screening for persons with disabilities and women of child-bearing age.

Jason Mitschele

Jason Mitschele is a proud advocate for the promotion of equality for persons with disabilities and contributes to the following organization as a: Director for the Canadian National Institute for the Blind Foundation – Ontario and Quebec Advisory Board; Adjunct Professor in Training, Faculty of Law, University of Toronto, Trail Advocacy Program; Member of the National Equity and Diversity Committee, Public Prosecution Services of Canada and Board member, Guide Dogs for the Blind, Alumni Advisory Board.

Wendy Porch

Wendy Porch is the Executive Director at the Centre for Independent Living in Toronto (CILT). Before joining CILT, Wendy was the Manager of Episodic Disability Initiatives at Realize. Wendy worked for years as a Research Fellow in Accessibility in Educational Media at the Open University UK and undertook Research and Development at the Adaptive Technology Resource Centre at the University of Toronto. Wendy started her work life at ARCH Disability Law Centre. Wendy holds an M.Ed. in Counselling Psychology from the University of Toronto.

Buvani Sivagnanasunderam

Buvani Sivagnanasunderam graduated from University of Toronto with a degree in Health Science & Psychology and went on to pursue a Masters in Global Health at McMaster University. She has extensive experience working with vulnerable populations such as immigrants, newcomers, the LGBT+ community, and individuals with disabilities. She is currently the research coordinator for the non-profit TechGirls Canada and remains fiercely committed to working towards an inclusive and accessible Ontario.

The Civic Appointments Committee recommends that:

1. City Council appoint the following twelve individuals to the Toronto Accessibility Advisory Committee, for a term of office ending on November 14, 2022, and until successors are appointed:

Darren Cooper

Karima Ewig

Miranda Fray

Michelle Grimley

Glen Hart

Stefanie Marinich-Lee

Michael McNeely

Liv Mendelsohn

Michael Miceli

Jason Mitschele

Wendy Porch

Buvani Sivagnanasunderam  

Candidates' biographies:

Darren Cooper

Darren Cooper currently serves as the Accessibility Project Manager and the Academic Coordinator for the Leadership in Accessibility and Inclusion Program at The Chang School of Continuing Education at Ryerson University. Prior to these roles, Darren was the Accessibility Specialist for the City of Mississauga and the Accessibility Coordinator for the Town of Milton. Darren holds a Certificate in Municipal Administration and an Honours B.A. in Communication Studies.

Karima Ewig

Karima Ewig has been working in the field of disabilities for over eleven years and grew up with epilepsy. Karima went to school for Developmental Services Worker and Intervenor for Deafblind Persons. Karima currently works in a day program and a group home supporting adults with disabilities. Karima has come to understand that not everyone will accept you as you accept yourself and because of this she continually explores options to advocate and educate for people with disabilities. 

Miranda Fray

Miranda Fray is a well-seasoned Career Development Professional with extensive experience being retained by organizations to facilitate change processed and turn-around strategies within Community Employment Services funded by the Ministry of Training. Currently, she is an active part of the management team within TDSB at Next-Steps Employment Centre – Riverdale in which she implements services to assist marginalized client groups such as diversity hiring events for persons with disabilities.

Michelle Grimley

Michelle Grimley is currently developing her career in disability advocacy, diversity and inclusion at Community Living Toronto in the role of Community Support Coordinator – Membership Services. Michelle works collaboratively with people with developmental disabilities to identify gaps in programs and services and create socially inclusive community supports. Michelle leads a Membership Team that coordinates fundraising events and grant requests to develop and implement a wide variety of social, educational and recreation programs.

Glen Hart

Glen Hart works in food, nutrition and life skills training for Fife House, a housing non-profit organization for persons living with HIV/AIDS.  He also sits on the Board Governance Committee of the Ontario HIV/AIDS Treatment Network.  His professional experience includes working with many marginalized populations such as LGBTQ+ refugees, street involved communities and persons living with HIV/AIDS.  Glen identifies as Métis and as an active part of Toronto’s vibrant LGBTQ+ community.  His personal experience of disability includes living with the many physical, mental and cognitive challenges of life with HIV/AIDS, as well as the related issues of stigma and exclusion.

Stefanie Marinich-Lee

Stefanie Marinch-Lee has dedicated both her professional career and volunteer associations toward the advancement of services and rights for persons with disabilities. Stefanie attended Osgoode Hall Law School and completed her articles of clerkship at ARCH: Disability Law Clinic. Her work has always intersected with current disability issues and is considered a subject matter expert in this field. She brings experience from both the public and private sector in employment, education and policy development.

Michael McNeely

Michael McNeely is striving to become the first deaf-blind lawyer to graduate from Osgoode Law School. He currently teaches advocacy skills at the Canadian Helen Keller Centre. He is a former high school teacher, and current accessibility advocate who has worked with those in the film, stage and transportation industries to help improve their accessibility practices. Michael currently serves on the Board of Directors at the Canadian Deafblind Association in Paris, Ontario.

Liv Mendelsohn

Liv Mendelsohn, M.A., M.Ed. is the Director of Accessibility and Inclusion at the Miles Nadal JCC, and Artistic Director of the ReelAbilities Toronto Film Festival. Passionate about building accessible communities engaged in the arts with a focus on youth with disabilities. Liv is a 2017-2-18 Civic Action DiverseCity Fellow, and a 2018-2019 mentor for AFP Fellowship in Inclusion and Philanthropy. She is a field instructor for the Faculty of Social Work at the University of Toronto.

Michael Miceli

Michael Miceli graduated summa cum laude with his B.A., Honours degree in Psychology and a Certificate in Practical Ethics from the Department of Philosophy in 2005 and completed his M.A. degree in Critical Disability Studies in 2007, both from York University. His research interests focus on the ethical and social implications of new reproductive technologies such as prenatal genetic screening for persons with disabilities and women of child-bearing age.

Jason Mitschele

Jason Mitschele is a proud advocate for the promotion of equality for persons with disabilities and contributes to the following organization as a: Director for the Canadian National Institute for the Blind Foundation – Ontario and Quebec Advisory Board; Adjunct Professor in Training, Faculty of Law, University of Toronto, Trail Advocacy Program; Member of the National Equity and Diversity Committee, Public Prosecution Services of Canada and Board member, Guide Dogs for the Blind, Alumni Advisory Board.

Wendy Porch

Wendy Porch is the Executive Director at the Centre for Independent Living in Toronto (CILT). Before joining CILT, Wendy was the Manager of Episodic Disability Initiatives at Realize. Wendy worked for years as a Research Fellow in Accessibility in Educational Media at the Open University UK and undertook Research and Development at the Adaptive Technology Resource Centre at the University of Toronto. Wendy started her work life at ARCH Disability Law Centre. Wendy holds an M.Ed. in Counselling Psychology from the University of Toronto.

Buvani Sivagnanasunderam

Buvani Sivagnanasunderam graduated from University of Toronto with a degree in Health Science & Psychology and went on to pursue a Masters in Global Health at McMaster University. She has extensive experience working with vulnerable populations such as immigrants, newcomers, the LGBT+ community, and individuals with disabilities. She is currently the research coordinator for the non-profit TechGirls Canada and remains fiercely committed to working towards an inclusive and accessible Ontario.

This purpose of this report is to have City Council appoint twelve members of the public to the Toronto Accessibility Advisory Committee (TAAC).