Media

Exciting Additions and Changes to the team at NEADS!

(Ottawa, May 14, 2018) -

The National Educational Association of Disabled Students’ (NEADS) team has seen some exciting changes recently which will position us to move forward with our agenda in the next year. Roxana Jahani Aval has been appointed to the position of Acting Chair of the NEADS Executive Directors, adding to her duties as Ontario Director of NEADS and her seat at the national council table of the Council of Canadians With Disabilities. Tayler Glaspey, British Columbia Director of NEADS has been appointed to the Treasurer position on the NEADS Executive. Jewelles Smith has been appointed from her seat as Director at Large to join the NEADS team of Advisors to the Board. Jewelles is also Chair of the Council of Canadians With Disabilities. Alan Bridgeman continues to work on the communications and social media strategy and implementation as Chair of the NEADS Communications and Social Media Committee. He is a board member of the Manitoba League of Persons with Disabilities. Margaret (Maggie) Lyons-MacFarlane has been shifted in her board position from Nova Scotia Director to New Brunswick Director, as she now lives and works in Fredericton. Maggie continues in her role as Chair of the NEADS Fund Development Committee.

We also welcome new members of the NEADS Board of Directors to the fold who will ensure that we have great representation right across Canada: Jérôme Archambault, Brady Kroeker and Adam Retsinas. Jérôme Archambault is our new Quebec Director. Since 2013, Jérôme has been Chair of the Board of Directors of the Association québécoise pour l’équité et l’inclusion au postsecondaire (AQEIPS). AQEIPS is a Quebec association that works to help students with disabilities access an inclusive education and to foster the transition of these students into the workplace. Originally from Montreal, Jérôme is now completing a PhD in Labour Economics at the University of Ottawa.

Brady Kroeker becomes the Saskatchewan Director of NEADS. Brady is pursuing his Masters degree in Political Studies at the University of Saskatchewan, researching the barriers facing disabled people entering the workplace. He is an active participant in the University of Saskatchewan Debate Society and has been working on his campus to create a disability advocacy group through the university’s students union.

Adam Retsinas is the new Alberta Director of NEADS. He is pursuing a Bachelor’s degree at York University in Toronto, but will be moving to Alberta in June. Adam has been a very active volunteer on and off campus. He has volunteered for science events such as Bioblitz. And off campus, Adam has been a volunteer with Pride Toronto, Arts In The Parks and the Fringe Festival on Canada Day.

Roxana Jahani Aval, Acting Chair and Ontario Director of NEADS speaks enthusiastically about the changes and additions to the NEADS team:

“There are no words to express how overjoyed I am to introduce our new board members. Brady, Jérôme, and Adam are incredible additions to our team. Their diverse backgrounds and areas of expertise will provide new voices to on-going issues in the disability movement. Congratulations to our new board members.

In addition, Jewelles Smith, our Director at Large and previous British Columbia Director has stepped into a new role with NEADS after serving 12 years on our board throughout her education. Jewelles has been made Advisor to the Board, as she provides mentorship, team building, and ongoing aid to the board. As my mentor, I am sad to see her move on from the board, but as a friend, excited to see what her new role with NEADS will bring. All the best Jewelles!

To our community, I encourage everyone to contact our Board members at any point for information, additional help, or opportunities that may arise. We are more than happy to serve the post-secondary disability community.”

Roxana Jahani Aval
Acting Chair & Ontario Director
National Educational Association of Disabled Students
Roxana.jahani.aval@NEADS.ca

For further information, please contact the NEADS office:

Frank Smith, National Coordinator
National Educational Association of Disabled Students
Rm. 514, Unicentre
1125 Colonel By Drive
Carleton University
Ottawa, Ontario, K1S 5B6 Canada
Tel. (613) 380-8065, ext. 201, frank.smith@neads.ca