The IDEA Project

Our inaugural project is based on an IDEA. The Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Accessibility (IDEA) project builds capacity within the disability sector on the intersections of race and disability through various programs and initiatives across Canada.

The words ‘Race & Disability’ written in bold black letters. Below is ‘Community of Practice written in thin, capital letters. Above is an orange-yellow icon of budding plants.

Our Programs

The IDEA Community of Practice (CoP) is a learning network for decision makers and leaders in the disability sector to build confidence, learn about the intersections of race and disability, and co-create effective IDEA* strategies to apply in their disability organizations. We are rolling out this round of CoP in 3 cities across Canada: Toronto, Winnipeg and Vancouver.


*Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Accessibility

IDEA Community of Practice

IDEA Practitioners and Professionals Network

The Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility (IDEA) Practitioners and Professionals Network is an opportunity for staff who hold the diversity portfolio within disability organizations to come together and share information, network, and engage in dialogue on how to address the intersections of race and disability within your respective organizations.

IDEAL logo.

IDEAL: Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Accessibility and Leadership is a four-session leadership program designed for Indigenous, Black, and Racialized people with disabilities. This program focuses on building capacity and educating participants on disability rights, history, and advocacy. It unpacks key topics, including understanding your rights, exploring disability justice movements, fostering community solidarity, and mastering self-advocacy.

IDEAL Program

Peer Network logo.

Our Peer Network is a a space for Indigenous, Black and Racialized people with Disabilities to build community and network. This network is focused on creating an open environment for peer-to-peer sharing, learning, and problem-solving, where your voice matters.

Peer Network

A speaker icon. The words "RDC Storytelling" written in red and black bold letters.

This is a storytelling initiative dedicated to amplifying the lived realities of Indigenous, Black, and Racialized people with disabilities. By sharing powerful narratives on social media, our program brings to light their unique experiences, challenges, and triumphs, fostering understanding and empathy within communities.

Storytelling Program

IDEA Project Steering Committee

  • Rabia Khedr, a Punjabi Musilm woman, is wearing a neutral beige hijab. She is smiling in front of white curtains in the background.

    Rabia Khedr

    CEO, DEEN Support Services

    Rabia is the CEO of our parent organization, DEEN Support Services, a disability support organization created by and created to support Muslim Canadians with disabilities. She is a consultant with diversityworX, previously served as a commissioner at the Ontario Human Rights Commission, on the board of Accessibility Standards Canada, and a member of the National Disability Advisory Group organized by the Minister of Disability Inclusion, Carla Qualtrough. Rabia was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012. She is the founding member of Race and Disability Canada.

  • Sricamalan Pathmanathan, a Sri Lankan Canadian man in his mid 50s is smiling while wearing a teal coloured shirt.

    Sricamalan Pathmanathan

    Founding Member, Organization of Canadian Tamils with Disabilities (OCTD) & Ethno-Racial People with Disabilities Coalition of Ontario (ERDCO)

    Sricamalan (Sri), in his mid-50s, immigrated to Canada from Sri Lanka as a victim of the minority Tamil ethnic cleansing. After earning a Master’s degree from New Dehli and London, Sri is a Human Resources professional at Toronto Metropolitan University and a founding member of OCTD and ERDCO.

  • Bhrapa Bhrapakaran, a Sri Lankan Canadian man, is sitting by a white table with his hands on top of each other. He is smiling and wearing a light pink dress shirt and a call center headset, with a view overlooking buildings in the background.

    Selvamanikam Bhrapakaran

    ATI Foundation

    Selvamanikam (Bhrapa) was born in Jaffna, Sri Lanka with perfect eyesight. His visual impairment was caused by optic nerve and retinal issues caused by an accident while playing at a young age. He pursued his education in Colombo and obtained his Bachelor’s degree with Honours from the University of Jaffna. Due to the ongoing war in Sri Lanka, Bhrapa moved to Canada in 1997. He began working at Scotiabank, becoming the first person with vision loss in their call centre department. He has continued to work there for more than 25 years.

  • Ingrid Palmer, a Black woman with medium length, curly hair, smiling at the camera. Outfit includes: black button-up sweater, floral shirt with assorted blues, and a silver necklace with circles as charms.

    Ingrid Palmer

    Focus on Ability

    Ingrid (She/Her) is an award-winning speaker and bestselling author and holds the position of IDEAL (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, Leading to belonging) Chief Officer at Realize Canada. Ingrid is committed to helping combat discrimination in all forms, driving systemic change and debunking myths and stereotypes of stigmatized identities. Her dedication is deeply rooted in her lived experiences of early childhood trauma, living in foster care, disability, and gender-based violence.

  • Shahina Siddiqui, a Pakistani Canadian woman, is wearing a purple hijab and purple glasses. She is smiling in front of a bookcase.

    Shahina Siddiqui

    Co-Founder, Volunteer Executive Director, Islamic Social Services Association (ISSA)

    Shahina is an educator, speaker, social justice activist, writer, and author. She is widely recognized for her work in anti-racism advocacy, social justice and combatting Islamophobia. For over two decades, Shaina has worked to highlight the ongoing growth of Islamophobia and its impacts through her writing, community organizing, media engagement, public speaking and offering training across various sectors.

  • Meenu Sikand, an Indo-Canadian woman with short hair, is smiling with a white background. Outfit includes: light rose gold top with an intricate weaving pattern and a necklace made of gold, white, and black beads of varying sizes.

    Meenu Sikand

    CEO, Founder, Accessibility for All

    Accessibility for All is a non-profit organization that helps other organizations make practices more accessible, with a specialized focus on youth, women, seniors, and people from racially marginalized communities. Meenu currently sits on the board of United Way GTA, the Canadian Women’s Foundation, and the Accessibility Standards Advisory Committee and has volunteered with several other organizations, including the Centre for Independent Living in Toronto (CILT) and ARCH Disability Law Centre. Meenu was inducted into the Canadian Disability Hall of Fame in 2020.

  • ​​Franceska Grantzidis, a middle aged white woman, is smiling at the camera with her mouth closed, with green bushes in the background. Outfit includes: black sweater over a teal top.

    Franceska Grantzidis

    Interim Executive Director, Plan Institute

    Franceska and Plan Institute lead efforts to empower individuals with disabilities to live fulfilling lives. With a focus on addressing intersectional barriers, Plan Institute provides educational material, collaborative community projects, and advocacy for policy reformation.

  • A black man with a beard wearing a dark grey shirt.

    Leroy Ennis

    Ethno-Racial People with Disabilities Coalition of Ontario (ERDCO)

    Leroy Ennis is a disability advocate that started working with the disability community in 2014 with ERDCO. He is currently the ERDCO board chair. Leroy has worked with numerous organizations and committees to address issues that create barriers for people with disabilities. He continues to work with and support organizations that advocate for disability rights, poverty reduction, accessibility and other barriers to people with disability.