Free half-day symposium featuring keynote speaker David Lepofsky on May 27
Abilities Centre, in partnership with the Region of Durham, will host its annual Accessibility Symposium on Wednesday, May 27 from, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. This year's theme, "Dismantling Ableism," will bring together leading advocates, practitioners and community members to examine the systemic barriers that prevent people with disabilities from fully participating in society and to chart a path forward.
“Creating an accessible region means listening, learning and taking action to remove barriers, both visible and invisible,” said John Henry, Regional Chair and Chief Executive Officer for The Regional Municipality of Durham. “Abilities Centre is a trusted partner in advancing accessibility across Durham, and we are proud to work together on events like this that turn meaningful conversations into action—amplifying lived experience and reinforcing our shared commitment to building a community where everyone can participate fully and feel they belong.”
The symposium is one of several events taking place at the Abilities Centre during National Accessibility Week, an annual recognition that highlights the contributions of people with disabilities and the work still needed to build a truly inclusive Canada.
Keynote speaker, David Lepofsky, a blind, retired lawyer, Order of Canada and Order of Ontario recipient and Chair of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act Alliance will set the tone for the morning. His address will draw on his decades of work advancing disability rights and accessible legislation in Ontario.
A panel discussion will follow, featuring three advocates with both professional expertise and lived experience with disability: Magda Madsen, an accessibility advocate and wellness enthusiast with lived experience of partial sight, hearing loss, and generalized anxiety disorder; Rick Watters, BA, RHFAC, an accessibility consultant and Peer Support Manager at Spinal Cord Injury Ontario with more than 45 years of lived experience with disability; and Miss Natasha Connects, founder of Create Instead of Hate Mental Wellness Solutions and a three-time author on mental health and invisible disabilities.
"Ableism isn't just a personal attitude,” said Michael Cvitkovic, president and chief executive officer, Abilities Centre. “It's baked into our policies, spaces, and institutions, and we can't build a truly inclusive community while leaving those root causes unexamined. We're proud to bring together some of Canada's most passionate and knowledgeable advocates right here in Whitby, and we hope everyone in our community will join us for what promises to be an inspiring and important morning.”
The Accessibility Symposium is free and open to the public.
Attendees can register on Eventbrite.
About Abilities Centre:
Abilities Centre is a state-of-the-art facility in Whitby, Ontario, dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for people of all ages and abilities. Through innovative programs in health and fitness, arts and culture, and life skills development, the Centre fosters inclusivity and empowers individuals to achieve their full potential. Our mission is to reimagine accessibility and redefine the way Canadians live, work, and play. For more information about the Abilities Centre and its programs, please visit
abilitiescentre.org.
About Region of Durham:
Located on the eastern side of the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA), Durham is a region with momentum. Offering a competitive advantage like no other, Durham is a community where talented, smart and ambitious people—known for their innovation, creativity, skills and education—bring access to world markets, insights, invention and traditions. A place where an innovative ecosystem helps propel new ideas forward. Where ingenuity and industry help tackle global challenges. Visit durham.ca to learn more about one of Canada’s fastest growing communities.
Media Contact
Matisse Hamel-Nelis
Manager, Marketing and Communications
Abilities Centre
mhamel-nelis@abilitiescentre.org
Media inquiries:
The Regional Municipality of Durham
Corporate Communications
CorporateCommunications@durham.ca