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DIScover Conference
[Image Description: An event poster for The Disability Collective’s 2025 leadership conference. The background features a digital wave pattern of purple dots on black. At the top left, The Disability Collective logo appears in a white outlined box. Event details are listed underneath: “NATIVE EARTH'S AKI STUDIO • OCTOBER 9 AND 10.” The bold tagline “DISRUPT. DISMANTLE. DISCOVER 2025” is central in large white and gradient purple text. A subtitle reads: “A two-day leadership conference on advancing accessibility and disability inclusion in the arts”. At the bottom right are three accessibility icons in purple: American Sign Language interpretation, face masks required, and open captioning. At the bottom is a slightly transparent white strip with the Toronto Arts Council, Canada Council for the Arts, TD Ready Commitment, Body Confidence Canada, and Creative Arts Financial logos]
Thursday, October 9
& Friday, October 10
Native Earth's Aki Studio
585 Dundas Street East, Toronto
ASL
Interpretation
Open
Captions
Are you a part of an arts organization looking to improve accessibility and inclusion? Then this is the conference for you!
The Disability Collective is incredibly excited to invite you to the inaugural DIScover Conference, a two-day leadership event bringing together arts professionals, accessibility advocates, and community members to focus on advancing accessibility and disability inclusion in the arts.
This is your opportunity to be a part of a ground-breaking event focused on accessibility in the arts. Explore workshop and panel topics like The Future of Audio Description, Preserving Indigenous Sign Languages, and Creative Accessibility.
Through practical sessions and engaging discussions, this conference will equip arts organizations with tools to foster inclusivity and elevate disability representation, setting a new benchmark for accessibility practices. This collaborative event aims to make Toronto’s arts community more inclusive and responsive to diverse needs.
Stay tuned for exciting announcements as we reveal the incredible speakers, panelists, and workshop facilitators of the DIScover Conference.
Schedule
Check out some of the highlights of the inaugural DIScover Conference! Please note that all sessions are subject to change.
A full schedule is available here.
Thursday, October 9th
Opening Remarks
Hope-Adina Adler, Emily Maxwell
Keynote Speaker
Dr. Jill Andrew
Creativity in the Evolving Art of Description
Christine Malec, JJ Hunt
Nothing about Us Without Us: Partnering with Deaf-Led Theatre Companies
Gaitrie Persaud-Killings
Casting Disabled Artists
Moderated by: David Connolly
Panelists: George Alevizos, Prince Amponsah, Yousef Kadoura, Alexia Vassos
Accessible Marketing
Jolene MacDonald, Jessica Oddi
Friday, October 10th
Cross-Disability Collaboration
Moderated by: Ophira Calof
Panelists: Carly Neis, Sage Lovell, Kelly MacDonald
Cripping Your Workspace
Moderated by: Marjorie Chan
Panelists: Cyn Rozeboom, Amelia Rose Griffin
Introduction to Disability Justice
Theodore Walker Robinson, Dr. Syrus Marcus Ware
Relaxed Performances
Jack Hawk, Rachel Marks
Integrating ASL Into Performance
Chris Dodd, Juan Jaramillo, Courage Bacchus
Better Backstages
Meghan Sivani-Merrigan
Registration Rates
One Day Rate: $150
Two Day Rate: $250
Conference Hotel
The Disability Collective's 2025 DIScover Conference is pleased to offer a specially priced room block at the Chelsea Hotel Toronto, located at 33 Gerrard Street West, Toronto.
The Chelsea Hotel Toronto is two kilometres away, or approximately a 25-minute walk, from the Conference venue. It can also be accessed by car, public transportation, or bike. Please refer to our Venue Guide for more information on how to get to the Conference venue.
Room Rate: $269/night
Click here to book a room at the Chelsea Hotel Toronto. You can also call the hotel directly at 1-800-CHELSEA (243-5732) or 416-595-1975 and identify yourself as part of the DIScover Conference room block or refer to Res ID: DIS100825.
To access this discounted rate, bookings must be made prior to the cut-off date of September 8, 2025.
For more information about the Chelsea Hotel Toronto, please visit the hotel website.
Accessibility
Access Measures:
ASL interpretation will be provided for all conference sessions.
Open captions will be provided for all conference sessions.
There will be a quiet space stocked with comfortable furniture, fidget toys, ear plugs, and other access tools.
COVID-19 Policies:
The safety of our conference attendees, speakers, volunteers, and staff is our number one priority.
Masks are required for all conference attendees but may be removed temporarily for drinking and eating. Exemptions are always made for access or medical reasons.
Free KN95 masks will be available.
Air purifiers will be on in all conference spaces.
ACCESS GUIDE COMING SOON
Sponsorship
Don’t miss this unique opportunity to support The Disability Collective's mission - join us to be a part of this ground-breaking event focused on accessibility in the arts!
Sponsorship commitments range from $1,000 to $15,000.
Please email us at philanthropy@thedisabilitycollective.com to learn more about our sponsorship levels and discuss customized benefits for your organization.
Sponsors
Registration Rates
Conference Hotel
Accessibility
Sponsorship
Schedule
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