Keynote Speakers
Dr. Temple Grandin
Dr. Temple Grandin is a Distinguished Professor of Animal Science at Colorado State University. Facilities she has designed for handling livestock are used by many companies around the world. She has also been instrumental in implementing animal welfare auditing programs that are used by McDonalds, Wendy’s, Whole Foods, and other corporations. Temple has appeared on numerous TV shows such as 20/20 and Prime Time. Her books include: Thinking in Pictures, Livestock Handling and Transport and The Autistic Brain. Her books Animals in Translation and Visual Thinking have been on the New York Times Bestseller List. Temple was inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame in September 2017, in 2022 was named a Colorado State University Distinguished Professor, and in 2023 was inducted into the Colorado Authors’ Hall of Fame.
Madison Tevlin
Madison Tevlin was born with Down syndrome, though she’ll rightly tell you it’s the least interesting thing about her. She has dedicated her life to dismantling the stigmas associated with Down syndrome, proving from a young age that it does not define her capabilities, and that we all thrive when we reduce stigmas and lift each other up.
Her extensive credits include notable appearances on the television show “Mr. D,” and hosting her talk show “Who Do You Think I Am.” She received praise for a standout performance in “Champions,” a film directed by Bobby Farrelly and starring Woody Harrelson. Madison graced the red carpet as a host at the Canadian Screen Awards, where she also made history as the first person with Down syndrome to be nominated for Best Host in a Talk Show or Entertainment News category.
Beyond her on-screen accomplishments, Madison is an active participant in initiatives that promote inclusivity. She is a member of Best Buddies International and has walked the runway for the Knix Confidence Tour and the Be Beautiful, Be Yourself Fashion Show. Her voice resonated deeply at the “Dear Mom” conference in Laguna Beach, where she served as the keynote speaker, and later in the year was honoured by the Global Down syndrome Foundation with the Quincy Jones Exceptional Advocacy Award in 2023 for her contributions to the community.
Through her speeches, performances, and engagements, Madison Tevlin inspires audiences globally, demonstrating unwaveringly that she is much more than her diagnosis — she is a true superstar changing the world one speech, one role, and one advocacy moment at a time.
Panel Sessions
Session 1
Shona Switzer, Parent and Advocate
When her twin sons, Brayden and Taylor, were diagnosed with autism at 3 ½ years old in 2000, Shona Switzer decided early on how she would approach the world in service of her boys: If barriers to inclusion were in place, she wouldn’t just complain about it; she’d do something to change it.
With a team of family and professionals by her side, Shona worked with occupational therapists, teachers and EAs, attended every conference she could on autism, sensory processing and language development, started a parents support group, lobbied government ministers, spoke to university education students, and sat on the board of SaskAbilities all while raising her twins as a single mother.
Determined and fearless to help her sons thrive, she says they also taught her to “see past disabilities and see abilities.”
Today, Shona, a registered nurse for 36 years, is proud to say Brayden and Taylor are living almost entirely independently, both working jobs they love and are no longer requiring financial government assistance – all things she credits to those surrounding them along the way.
Jennelle Fortier, Inclusion Saskatchewan
Jenelle joined Inclusion Saskatchewan in March 2024 as an Employment & Transitions Facilitator for Regina and the surrounding area. With a strong passion for supporting people with disabilities, Jenelle began her career as a Recreation Coordinator at Elmwood Residences in Saskatoon, where she honed her skills in creating meaningful and inclusive opportunities for the people she supported. She is deeply committed to ensuring people with disabilities have the necessary resources and supports to lead fulfilling lives.
Outside of her professional role, Jenelle enjoys spending time at home in Regina with her partner. Together, they love cooking and experimenting with new recipes. As sports enthusiasts, they can often be found cheering for their favourite hockey team, the Edmonton Oilers. Jenelle also enjoys socializing with friends and maintaining a well-rounded, active lifestyle.
Sandra Bobyk, Office of the Public Guardian and Trustee
Sandra is a Senior Crown Counsel with the Ministry of Justice and Attorney General. Sandra was raised on a farm in the Yorkton area and attended law school at the University of Saskatchewan. She spent several years in private practice before becoming the inaugural lawyer for the ministry’s Family Law Information Centre. In 2006, Sandra transitioned to the office of the Public Guardian and Trustee where she has happily been ever since.
Session 2
Edna Appiah-Kubi, Senior Officer, Program Delivery & Integration, Prosper Canada
At Prosper Canada, Edna contributes to the Technology Enabled Financial Projects and primarily focuses on the user experience, functionality, and maintenance of tech tools like the Benefits Wayfinder and the Disability Benefits Compass. Edna has contributed to international and national programs and projects serving and responding to underrepresented and underserved communities. Edna holds a Master of Arts in International Development Studies from York University and an Honours Bachelor of Arts from the University of Toronto.
Session 3
Sean McEwen, RealEyes Capacity Consultants
Sean is a workplace equity, diversity, inclusion and culture consultant and a director at RealEyes Capacity Consultants. He is also a blogger and public speaker specializing in workforce development and workplace culture. Sean supports employers – private, nonprofit and government – to build business sustainability, innovation and profitability through diverse and inclusive workplaces with high levels of employee engagement.
Over the past 26 years Sean has been designing and directing employment inclusion services for groups under-represented in employment, while providing leadership and coaching to teams of career practitioners serving job-seekers and employers. Sean has developed and facilitated training for employers and employment service providers across Canada and has helped develop regional, provincial and national networks dedicated to employment inclusion. He is the 2018 recipient of the Award of Excellence in Employment granted by the Alberta Premier’s Council on the Status of Persons with Disabilities.
Sean is the designer and director of the GEDI-Hub, Western Canada’s first Employer Resource Centre for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion.
Very late in his career, Sean was diagnosed with five different disabilities and discovered that he had been working successfully for decades with four of these conditions.
Sean’s educational background is in youth services and mental health. He is a certified employment specialist and has chaired the board of directors for both the Alberta Association for Supported Employment, as well as the Canadian Association of Supported Employment. Sean works across Canada but was based out of Calgary until 2024 and has worked extensively with Indigenous communities in southern Alberta. Sean’s Blackfoot (Niitsitapi) name is Oh’sskoi piiksi (blue bird).
Dylan Morin, Advocate
A lifelong Reginan, Dylan Morin is devoted to advocating for those experiencing disability and helping them increase their independence.
After graduating from Leboldus High School Dylan attended the satellite day program at Cosmopolitan Learning Centre for 2 ½ years before being accepted into the Campus for All program at the University of Regina. There, he earned an Inclusive Post-Secondary Certificate in the four-year program.
When he’s not working at the Ukrainian Co-op, Dylan volunteers his time to help others experiencing disability learn how to safely use Regina Transit and find work to give them further independence. He also gives his time to a number of organizations including Inclusion Saskatchewan and Special Olympics and has recently started his own Inclusive Employment Fund to support programs, organizations, and workplaces that focus on inclusive hiring and job support.
Session 4
More details coming soon…