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NEADS Announces Executive Directors and CCD Award Winner

OTTAWA, July 31, 2007 - Members of the National Educational Association of Disabled Students' (NEADS) board of directors selected its executive directors on Sunday, June 24th during a meeting in Ottawa. We are very pleased to report that the following outstanding representatives will serve on the executive until November, 2008:

  • Mahadeo Sukhai, President (Open Representative)
  • Tim McIsaac, Vice-President Internal (Manitoba Representative)
  • Margaret Shalma, Vice-President External (Ontario Representative)
  • Fraser MacPhee, Secretary/Treasurer (Prince Edward Island Representative)

Dr. Mahadeo Sukhai, President of NEADS, recently completed his doctoral thesis in the Department of Medical Biophysics at the University of Toronto, and is currently serving as a post-doctoral fellow in leukemia biology. Mahadeo was active in disability issues and University of Toronto governance throughout his time as a PhD student and remains committed to volunteering in governance, disability and education. Dr. Sukhai has represented NEADS at numerous conferences and meetings across Canada and has forged significant partnerships between our organization and other equity seeking non-governmental organizations and associations in the post-secondary community.

Tim McIsaac, Vice-President Internal of NEADS, is completing five years of Service with the St.James/Assinaboia Assiniboine South Community Health Advisory Council with the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority. He is involved with the board of the National Educational Association of Disabled Students as chair of its Proposal Development Committee. He has held the position of Career/Rehabilitation Counselor at the Canadian National Institute for the Blind and a Special Needs Council at Dakota Collegiate. Tim has been involved with the Manitoba League of Persons with Disabilities, City of Winnipeg Access Advisory Committee, Council of Canadians with Disabilities, Canadian Blind Sports Association and the Manitoba Sports and Recreation Association for the Blind. He has over 13 years experience in the banking industry as a Financial Officer and Customer Service Representative.

Margaret Shalma, Vice-President External of NEADS is completing an undergraduate degree majoring in women and equity studies at the University of Toronto. She intends to go on to complete a Masters in critical disability studies. Margaret is actively involved as a volunteer in a variety of organizations: chairperson for the Students' For Barrier Free Access, a University of Toronto student group run for and by students with disabilities. Her interests are in the areas of disability arts/culture and disability and sports.

Fraser MacPhee, Secretary Treasurer, a student at Holland College, is a member of the University of Prince Edward Island's Access-Ability Committee. He also works closely with faculty at Holland College on issues relating to access and accommodation for disabled students. Fraser represented NEADS at the Building an Inclusive and Accessible Canada national disability symposium in November 2006.

Kimberley Gerritsen

Rachael Ross, NEADS' Past-President, will act as an advisor to the board and executive for the next two years.

The NEADS recipient of the 2006 Council of Canadians With Disabilities (CCD) Award is Kimberley Gerritsen, former NEADS Alberta Representative and 2006 national conference Chair. Each year CCD recognizes leaders in the disability community from member groups for their "valued contribution to the disability rights movement in Canada." Kim was selected for this award by NEADS for her exceptional work in organizing the 2006 national conference "Creating Leaders For the Future: On Campus and Beyond."

Congratulations to members of our new executive and the CCD Award winner! For further information, contact: National Educational Association of Disabled Students (NEADS), Rm. 426 Unicentre, Carleton University,Ottawa, Ontario, K1S 5B6, tel. (613) 526-8008, www.neads.ca , info@neads.ca

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