Media

(Ottawa, Tuesday April 14, 2026)

 

The National Educational Association of Disabled Students (NEADS) is proud to announce the appointment of three new members to our Board of Directors. We welcome Marine Dandois as the new Quebec Director, Amerah Rahman as the new Prince Edward Island Director, and Bianca Lenarduzzi as a Director at Large.

 

Marine Dandois is a PhD student in Education Sciences at the Université de Montréal and holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. Drawing on her own lived experience, she turned to the field of education to explore the well?being and resilience of neurodivergent individuals adopting a critical perspective on normative frameworks in order to build neuroinclusive environments. She is actively involved in several organizations and committees, including the editorial committee of the Canadian Journal of Autism Equity, the board of directors for the Quebec Association for Equity and Inclusion in Post-Secondary Education (AQEIPS), and as co-founder of Voix Neurodiverses, a student group at her university.

 

About her appointment to the NEADS Board of Directors, Marine had the following to say: “Joining the board is an exciting new chapter that aligns with my commitment to inclusion in education and with my values of solidarity and justice. I hope to make a meaningful contribution by supporting students and helping to advance lasting changes toward more inclusive universities.”

 

Amerah Rahman works as a Community Access Coordinator with ResourceAbilities in Charlottetown, where she supports individuals with disabilities in navigating the systems and services they need. She has a background in Psychology and Sociology from the University of Prince Edward Island, and outside of work she volunteers in geriatric research through the Age Strong Lab and serve on the ASI Advisory Project Committee.

 

Upon joining the NEADS Board of Directors, Amerah says, “I care deeply about creating spaces where people feel genuinely seen, supported, and valued, and I'm excited to collaborate meaningfully, help remove barriers, and celebrate a more inclusive community together.”

 

Bianca Lenarduzzi is going into her 4th year of the BSW Social Work program at the University of Windsor and has a diploma as a Social Service Worker with a specialization in Gerontology from St. Clair College. She has been involved in several societies and committees, including the Sexual Violence and Misconduct Committee, the Organization of Part Time University Students (OPUS), and the Canadian Federation of Students (CFS) as a Disability Representative. Bianca looks forward to bringing a fresh perspective to NEADS.

 

Stephanie Evans, Chair and Newfoundland and Labrador Director of the NEADS Board of Directors, has the following message for our new Board members: “I want to extend a warm congratulations and welcome to each of you on your appointment to the Board of Directors. We are very pleased to have you joining the board and look forward to working together.”

 

We at NEADS extend our warmest welcomes to Bianca, Marine, and Amerah. We have no doubt that they will be an invaluable addition to our team and bring a fresh perspective to the table. All three exemplify dedication and passion for disability advocacy in post-secondary education and in our communities, and we cannot wait to see the wonderful things we can achieve together.