2026 Program - Toronto, ON
| Time | Event | Speaker (s) |
|---|---|---|
| 8:30 - 9:45 a.m. | Registration opens + breakfast | - |
| 9:00 - 4:30 p.m. | Vendor Alley open | - |
| 10:00 - 10:15 a.m. | Indigenous Blessing | Lori Boros, Community Engagement and Special Events, Toronto Native Centre |
| 10:15 - 10:20 a.m. | Welcome Address | Jade Ondrik, Emcee |
| 10:20 - 10:40 a.m. | Opening remarks + Housekeeping | Angela Bonfanti, President & CEO, CNIB Jane Savidant, Board Chair, CNIB Grace Lee Reynolds, President & CEO, MaRS Andrew Galster, Executive Director, CNIB Lorenzo Pellicciotta - CNIB Fundraiser |
| 10:40 - 11:10 a.m. | Future of Workspaces - Technology Panel Discussion | Kate Robinson, Logitech Ada Lopez, Lenovo Diane Bergeron, Head of Global Strategies and Senior Vice-President of Public Affairs, CNIB Moderator: Jane Shannon, Senior Manager, Scotiabank |
| 11:15 - 11:35 a.m. | Ready Together: Shaping an Inclusive Response to Emergencies | Jen McEachen, Owner, JLM Disaster Resiliency and Accessibility Consulting |
| 11:35 - 11:45 a.m. | Morning Break | - |
| 11:45 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. | From Research to Results: Connecting Data, Organizations and Community | Larissa Monitz, Director of Research and Mission Programs, Fighting Blindness Canada Kathy Beitz, Coordinator of Inclusive Workplaces, CNIB Waldo Beauséjour - Director of Data Sciences and Applied Research, VLRC Jennifer Urosevic, President and CEO, VLRC |
| 12:15 - 1:00 p.m. | Lunch Break + Vendor Alley Activities | - |
| 1:00 - 1:40 p.m. | Keynote Presentation A Voice at the Table: Shaping the Technology of Tomorrow | Maxine Williams, VP of Accessibility and Engagement, Meta Patrick Milne, COO, CNIB |
| 1:45 - 2:00 p.m. | AI Through Our Lens: How Artificial Intelligence is Shaping Everyday Life | Razan Eltayeb, University of Montreal |
| 2:15 - 2:45 p.m. | From Internship to Impact: Turning Global Experience Into Career Opportunity | Alice Clark, Senior Director of Global Strategies & Public Affairs, CNIB Holly Stevens, Intern, CNIB Come to Work Joel Biju Mathen, Intern, Come to Work Jasdeep Sandu, Intern, Come to Work Mehak Aziz, Intern, Come to Work |
| 2:45- 3:15 p.m. | More Than Vision: Mental Health, Well-Being, and Living with Sight Loss | Malini Ondrivik, Clinic Director, OSR Clinics Johnjoe Farragher, CEO, Hadley Duane Morgan, Executive Director, CNIB |
| 3:15 - 3:30 p.m. | Afternoon Break | - |
| 3:30 - 3:45 p.m. | From Button to Beacon: The Evolution of Accessible Pedestrian Navigation | Matt Baker, VP of Sales, Intersections |
| 3:45 - 4:00 p.m. | Beyond Words: The Creative Language of Vision and Hearing Loss | Tamar Bresge |
| 4:00 - 4:15 p.m. | Changing the Game: Innovation in Accessible Sports | Simon Dey, OneCourt |
| 4:15 - 4:25 p.m. | AMI Fall Content Preview | Dave Brown, AMI Corporate Brand Ambassador |
| 4:25 - 4:30 p.m. | The Road Ahead: Reimaging Independent Mobility | Caitlin McClung, Public Policy & Government Affairs Lead, Waymo |
| 4:30 - 4: 45 p.m. | Closing Remarks | Suzanne Decary-van den Broek, Senior Vice President, CNIB |
Session Information
The Future of Work “Spaces” — Technology Panel
What does the workplace of the future look like when accessibility is built in from the start? This panel brings together leaders in workplace technology to explore how emerging tools, accessible hardware and inclusive design are reshaping where and how people with sight loss work, collaborate and connect.
Ready Together: Shaping an Inclusive Response to Emergencies
Emergency preparedness must work for everyone. This session explores how accessibility and disability inclusion can be embedded into emergency planning and disaster response, with practical insights into creating safer, more resilient communities where people with sight loss are considered from the outset.
From Research to Results: Connecting Data, Organizations and Community
Research has the greatest impact when organizations and communities work together. Leaders from across the sight loss sector will explore how Canadian research, data and lived experience can be better connected, shared and translated into meaningful action for people who are blind, Deafblind or have low vision.
A Voice at the Table: Shaping the Technology of Tomorrow
As accessible and wearable technologies evolve, how do we ensure people with sight loss remain part of the conversation? Meta and CNIB come together for a candid discussion about informed consent and privacy, affordability and equitable access, the importance of lived experience in product development, and what consumers should expect from the support and lifespan of emerging technologies.
AI Through Our Lens: How Artificial Intelligence Is Shaping Everyday Life
Artificial intelligence is rapidly becoming part of everyday life—but what does that mean for people with sight loss? This session explores emerging research into how AI is being used by people who are blind or have low vision, highlighting its potential, its limitations and the opportunities to shape a more accessible and inclusive AI future.
From Internship to Impact: Turning Global Experience Into Career Opportunity
How can an international internship shape a young person’s career at home? Alumni of CNIB’s International Youth Internship Program share their experiences working with disability organizations internationally and reflect on how accessibility, lived experience, professional development and global perspectives influenced their transition into the Canadian workforce.
More Than Vision: Mental Health, Well-Being and Living With Sight Loss
Living well with sight loss involves far more than vision rehabilitation alone. This conversation explores the relationship between sight loss, mental health and overall well-being, examining why emotional and psychological support must be recognized as an essential part of a holistic approach to living with vision loss.
From Button to Beacon: The Evolution of Accessible Pedestrian Navigation
Accessible pedestrian signals have transformed how people with sight loss navigate their communities—and the technology continues to evolve. This session explores the move from traditional push-button systems toward connected beacon and app-based solutions, and what these innovations could mean for safer, more independent pedestrian travel.
Beyond Words: The Creative Language of Vision and Hearing Loss
How do we understand and express experiences that extend beyond sight and sound? This session explores the creative language of vision and hearing loss, inviting audiences to consider how sensory experience, communication and artistic expression can challenge assumptions and open new ways of understanding one another.
Changing the Game: Innovation in Accessible Sports
The experience of being a sports fan is becoming more accessible. OneCourt explores how innovative technology is transforming the way people with sight loss experience live sports, creating new opportunities to follow the action, understand the game and participate in the excitement alongside other fans.
Because the agenda doesn't yet identify Apple's topic beyond the speaker/organization, I would hold off on publishing a synopsis rather than assume the content. The current agenda lists this as a 10-minute Apple session with the title still TBD. 2026 Connecting the Dots Agenda…
The Road Ahead: Reimagining Independent Mobility
What might independent transportation look like when the driver is no longer required? Through a short Waymo feature, this session introduces the possibilities of autonomous vehicles and invites attendees to consider how self-driving technology could reshape independence, mobility and access to transportation for people with sight loss.