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National AccessAbility Week
National AccessAbility Week
Every year, starting on the last Sunday in May, Canadians celebrate National AccessAbility Week (NAAW). Founded as ‘National Access Awareness Week’ in 1988, this week is an opportunity to celebrate the valuable contributions of Canadians with disabilities and to recognize, highlight, and promote inclusion and accessibility for people with disabilities in our schools and broader communities.
To commemorate NAAW 2025, TMU School of Medicine’s Disability Health Unit led by Dr. Pamela Liao, in collaboration with the Clinical Faculty Development Unit, has prepared a roster of events running each day from Monday, May 26 to Thursday, May 29 to promote accessibility and inclusion in medicine, and to amplify the voices of individuals with disabilities to help build a more accessible and equitable world.
DocTalks Podcast: Accessibility in Medical Education
DocTalks Podcast: Accessibility in Medical Education
This special National Accessibility Week episode of DocTalks features Dr. Pamela Liao, Disability Health Lead, and Melissa Hellwig, Head Medical Librarian, at TMU School of Medicine. Together, they will explore how medical education can become more inclusive for learners with disabilities – from dismantling outdated technical standards to embedding accessibility into curriculum design and library resources, including the launch of TMU Libraries’ disability research guide. With stories of lived experience and national leadership in disability justice, this conversation highlights how inclusion strengthens care, curriculum, and community.
Follow and listen to DocTalks on Spotify and SoundCloud.
May 27, 2025: Faculty Development Workshop: Accessibility for Our Learners - Case Example
May 27, 2025: Faculty Development Workshop: Accessibility for Our Learners - Case Example
On May 27 we held a powerful and interactive workshop exploring ableism within medical culture and consider how educators can foster more inclusive learning environments. Through a case-based discussion, participants will examine and identify potential ableist biases that may be embedded in the Culture of Medicine. Attendees will also leave with at least one actionable accessibility practice they can implement in their everyday teaching with learners.
Panel members
Dr. Audrey Yap | Accessibility Theme Lead and Assistant Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Toronto | Education Lead, Division of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Sinai Health
Janet Rodriguez | Health Mentor | Centre for Advancing Collaborative Healthcare and Education
Moderated by
Dr. Pamela Liao | Disability Health Lead, Special Advisor to the Dean | TMU School of Medicine
Dr. Heather MacNeill | Interim Assistant Dean, Clinical Faculty Development | TMU School of Medicine
Session Recording Coming Soon!
Dr. Audrey Yap Accessibility Theme Lead and Assistant Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Toronto | Education Lead, Division of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Sinai Health
Janet Rodriguez | Health Mentor | Centre for Advancing Collaborative Healthcare and Education
May 28, 2025: Disability Justice, Leadership and Inclusion in a New Era of Medicine
May 28, 2025: Disability Justice, Leadership and Inclusion in a New Era of Medicine
On May 28, we held an inspiring panel discussion moderated by Dr. Pamela Liao, Disability Health Lead and Special Advisor to the Dean at the TMU School of Medicine. This engaging session focused on physicians with disabilities who are not only overcoming systemic and personal barriers, but also redefining leadership, advocacy, and inclusion across the medical career spectrum—from training to practice to policy. Panelists will share personal journeys, discuss the structural changes needed in healthcare and medical education, and oer a vision for a more accessible and equitable future in medicine. Let’s come together to celebrate resilience, reframe disability, and amplify the voices shaping the next generation of inclusive medical leadership.
Panel members
Dr. Carrie Bernard | President, The College of Family Physicians of Canada | Assistant Professor, Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto | Assistant Clinical Professor, Department of Family Medicine, McMaster University
Dr. Michael Quon | Physician Lead, Physician Health Inclusion | General Internist, Ottawa Hospital | Assistant Professor, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa
RJ Roggeveen (@rj_adapted) | Medical student, Dalhousie University | Wheelchair Life & Disability Advocate
Moderated by
Dr. Pamela Liao | Disability Health Lead, Special Advisor to the Dean | TMU School of Medicine
May 29, 2025: Introducing TMU Academic Accommodation Support to Clinical Faculty
May 29, 2025: Introducing TMU Academic Accommodation Support to Clinical Faculty
This informative and interactive session introduced the role of Academic Accommodation Support (AAS) and explored how clinical educators can create inclusive environments while meeting their legal responsibilities.
Participants gained a deeper understanding of academic accommodations in clinical settings and how to apply them through an anti-ableist lens. Practical strategies and real-world examples were shared to help faculty integrate accessibility principles into everyday teaching and assessment.
Panel members
Jenny Sampirisi | Learning & Inclusion Education Developer | TMU
Moderated by
Dr. Pamela Liao | Disability Health Lead, Special Advisor to the Dean | TMU School of Medicine
Session Recording Coming Soon!
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