Accessibility and Festivals: Rethinking How We Engage Audiences and Artists

Sarah Barzak
NSI’s Disabled Producers Lab Participant

Raised in London, Ontario, Sarah Barzak is an autistic writer, producer and culture worker of Malay-Palestinian descent. They are an alumnus of the NSI’s Disabled Producers Lab. When Sarah is not watching films, they enjoy eating spicy food, singing karaoke and crying at the beach.

Yoonmee Han
Research Associate - TMU Access Activations

Yoonmee has been involved in disability community organizing and many research projects that aim to improve access for disabled people in mental health and arts sector such as Access Activations project.  Yoonmee holds MA in Critical Disability Studies at York University, and pursuing PhD in Science and Technology Studies. 

Winnie Luk
Executive Director - DSO

Winnie Luk is the inaugural Executive Director of the Disability Screen Office, a national, disability-led, not-for-profit organization developing opportunities for disabled creatives and advocating for a more accessible Canadian screen industry. Her lived experiences as a Chinese Queer Woman with mobility disabilities drive her lifelong advocacy for equity and accessibility.

Clarence Canisico
Actor

Clarence Cansicio, a Canadian Filipino actor from Toronto, has appeared in films such as Voice Messages, Old Mother Tongue, Altar Boy (Netflix), and The 5%. His work explores identity, language, and Deaf experiences. He advocates for the Deaf community and is pursuing an MA in Critical Disability Studies.