IDEA-STEM

We are researchers, educators, and IDEA professionals committed to transforming how inclusion is understood and practiced in Canadian workplaces and learning environments. Rooted in lived experience and professional expertise, our team brings together an intersectional network of disabled, Mad, neurodivergent, chronically ill, and allied individuals from across the country. We work at the intersection of community leadership, academic research, and policy development to challenge ableism, sanism, and exclusion — and to center those most impacted. Our focus is on advancing accessibility and inclusion in science, technology, engineering, math, and healthcare — as fields of study, sites of employment, and essential public services. Through research, collaboration, and consultation with governments, educational institutions, NGOs, and private sector partners, we support organizations in building inclusive policies, practices, and cultures. We lead through co-creation, knowledge-sharing, and a deep belief that inclusion benefits everyone — and that lasting change begins with meaningful engagement and action.