Media

1986

• NEADS is born at its first national conference “The Foundation” in Ottawa
• Board of Directors is established, led by our first President, Jay Derrig
• First NEADS Newsletter is published
• Frank Smith joins the organization

1987

• NEADS sets policies, objectives and a mandate and begins developmental work
• A list of campus disability service providers and disabled students groups and committees is developed

1988

• Second NEADS national conference “Visions” is held in St. John’s
• Board of Directors becomes representative by province
• Collinda Joseph is elected as President

1989

• NEADS publishes “Resource Directory on Disabled Student Services at Canadian Universities and Colleges”
• Organization begins to focus on student financial aid

1990

• NEADS receives Commonwealth Youth Service Award
• NEADS holds its third national conference “Access a Two-way Street” in Halifax
• Steve Estey is elected as President

1991

• NEADS publishes “Resource Directory of Disabled Student Services at Canadian Universities and Colleges”

1992

• NEADS holds its fourth national conference “Education: A Key to Independence” in Vancouver
• Sylvain Lepage becomes President
• NEADS becomes a member of National Advisory Group on Student Financial Assistance (NAGSFA)

1993

• NEADS publishes “Study of Financial Assistance Available to Post-Secondary Students With Disabilities,” “Directory of Scholarships, Awards, and Bursaries” and “Resource Directory of Disabled Student Services at Canadian Universities and Colleges.”

1994

• NEADS holds its fifth national conference “Partners in Education” in Montreal
• Stephanie Pollock is elected President
• The Employer Advisory Council (EAC) to NEADS is established

1995

• NEADS publishes “Reflections and Actions for an Accessible Post-Secondary Environment”
• Canadian Study Grants launched by Secretary of State with input from NEADS

1996

• NEADS turns 10
• NEADS holds its sixth national conference “Futures: Tomorrow is what we make it” in Toronto
• NEADS publishes “Employment Opportunities for Post-Secondary Students and Graduates with Disabilities” and “The Impact of Funding Options in the Future for Post-Secondary Students with Disabilities”
• NEADS becomes a member of the Minister’s Task Force on Disability, Human Resources Development Canada
• “Investing in The Future: A Mentorship Program For Post-Secondary Students With Disabilities" is launched

1997

• Kent Hehr is elected President
• NEADS publishes “Transition From School to Work: Career Choices For Youth With Disabilities”
• NEADS receives the grant portion of the Franklin Delano Roosevelt International Disability Award
• “Organization of Students With Disabilities Guidebook” project begins
• NEADS presents a brief to a Senate Subcommittee on Postsecondary Education
• Initial work on a NEADS website hosted through INDIE
• Victor Marques joins NEADS as its first Webmaster

1998

• NEADS holds its seventh National Conference “Commitment to Excellence: Building Leaders for the Future” in Ottawa
• NEADS’ e-mail discussion list, NEADS-L, hosted by York University is launched
• NEADS holds a Leadership and Employment Forum in Montreal
• “Developing a National Approach to Services” Project begins
• NEADS publishes “Organization of Students With Disabilities Guidebook”
• NEADS becomes a member of the Council of Canadians with Disabilities (CCD)

1999

• Joby Fleming is elected President
• NEADS publishes “ Working Towards a Coordinated National Approach to Services”
• NEADS holds Leadership and Employment Forums in Calgary and St. John’s
• Chris Gaulin joins as NEADS new Webmaster; more French content is added to the site

2000

• NEADS holds its eighth national conference “Networking, Educating, Advocating: Delivering Success in the New Millennium” in Ottawa; a Corporate Sponsorship program is introduced to support the event
• NEADS launches its new website www.neads.ca
• NEADS publishes “National Directory of Financial Assistance Programs For Post-Secondary Students With Disabilities”
• NEADS holds a Leadership and Employment Forum in Antigonish

2001

• Joby Fleming is re-elected as President
• NEADS publishes “Faculty Awareness and Training in the Post-Secondary Community”
• NEADS High School Outreach Project is launched
• NEADS CampusNet project begins
• NEADS holds Leadership and Employment Forums in Yellowknife and Winnipeg
• NEADS becomes member of the National Library of Canada’s Council on Access to Information for Print Disabled Canadians

2002

• NEADS holds its ninth national conference “Opening Doors to Success” in Ottawa
• CampusNet enters the pilot phase; www.neads.ca/campusnet is launched
• NEADS publishes “Employment Connections: A Transition Tool Kit for Youth with Disabilities” and “Moving On: A Guide for Students with Disabilities Making the Transition to Post-secondary Education”
• NEADS holds Leadership and Employment Forums in Toronto, Montreal, and Victoria
• NEADS website is recognized in Jobboom: Top 100 Internet Sites For Learning and Employment (HRDC)

2003

• Rachael Ross is elected President
• NEADS holds Leadership and Employment Forums in Calgary, Vancouver, Ottawa, and Halifax
• NEADS launches the NEADS Online Work System (NOWS) www.nows.ca
• Access to Academic Materials for Print-Disabled Post-Secondary Students project begins
• NEADS publishes “Access to Success: A Guide for Employers”

2004

• NEADS holds its tenth national conference “Right On!” in Ottawa; live internet streaming of the conference is tested
• Inclusion of Students with Disabilities in College and University-Sponsored Activities project begins

2005

• Rachael Ross is re-elected President
• NEADS publishes “Access to Academic Materials for Post-Secondary Students With Print Disabilities” and “Making Extra-Curricular Activities Inclusive”.
• Job Search Strategies Forums Project is launched through funding by BMO Nesbitt Burns’ (now BMO Capital Markets)“Equity Through Education” program; forums are held in Toronto and Edmonton
• MuchMoreMusic partners with NEADS to launch the MuchMoreMusic AccessAbility Scholarship
• NEADS becomes involved in discussions around the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities by preparing a brief and attending sessions

2006

• NEADS turns 20
• NEADS holds its eleventh National Conference “Creating our Future: On Campus and Beyond” in Ottawa
• Job Search Strategies forums are held in Victoria, Montreal, Halifax and Ottawa
• NEADS is again awarded funding through BMO Capital Markets “Equity Through Education” program to support a new project involving development of: student scholarships and campus awards, a mentorship program and activities to promote the NOWS job site