Conference
2026
From Insight to Action: Driving Equity in Employment
Hosted by
Canadian Association for Supported Employment
in partnership with
Canadian Council on Rehabilitation and Work (CCRW)
Ontario Disability Employment Network (ODEN)
Join CASE, CCRW, ODEN and delegates from across Canada for the 31st Annual National Supported Employment Conference!
We will gather in person at the Westin Ottawa in Ottawa, Ontario, from June 9 to June 11, 2026.
The Annual Conference brings together employment service providers, employers, community partners, and other allies to celebrate and to advance employment inclusion of persons experiencing disability.
Through sessions and workshops led by leaders and innovators in the field of supported employment, we will explore shared best practices, innovative solutions to common challenges, the latest trends and research findings, and opportunities for networking and community building.
This conference will be of interest to:
- Employers and business leaders with a national or provincial presence
- Employment service providers
- HR professionals and diversity and inclusion specialists
- Employment counsellors and case managers
- Representatives from public, private, and non-profit sectors
- Government officials and policymakers (federal, provincial, municipal)
- Education and training leaders
- Labour and union representatives
- Persons with lived experience of disability working in the sector
- Disability advocates
- and anyone else interested in employment inclusion for persons experiencing disability!
Call for Speakers
Why Present?
- Share your innovative practices, research, and lived experience with a national audience.
- Contribute to national conversations on disability employment, equity and systems change.
- Connect with a network of professionals and advocates across Canada.
- Enhance your profile as a thought leader in supported employment.
Keynote Speaker: Dr. Matthew Chow
Inclusive Employment: Canada’s Global Superpower
In an era of global economic volatility, Canada possesses a unique, untapped competitive advantage: inclusion. Dr. Chow will illustrate how inclusive employment goes beyond social responsibility to become a strategic “superpower” that fuels national gross domestic product (GDP), addresses labour shortages, and reinforces our core Canadian identity.
Through compelling insights and real-world examples, Dr. Chow will demonstrate how inclusive workforce strategies can transform Canada into one of the most resilient, adaptive, and innovative economies on the global stage.
Dr. Matthew Chow is a clinical AI and health systems strategist who integrates clinical expertise, technology, policy, and organizational strategy to build modern, scalable, and resilient health systems and workplaces. With two decades of experience across private enterprise, public administration, and labour organizations, he brings a systems‑level perspective to complex challenges in healthcare and the future of work.
Keynote Speaker:
The Honourable Carla Qualtrough
Building an Accessible and Disability Inclusive Canada
The Honourable Carla Qualtrough is a human rights lawyer, Paralympic swimmer, disability rights advocate, and former federal Cabinet Minister. She was Canada’s first-ever Minister responsible for persons with disabilities. In this role she created the Accessible Canada Act, the Disability Inclusion Action Plan, and the Canada Disability Benefit.
Her other Cabinet roles included Public Services and Procurement, Employment and Workforce Development, and Sport and Physical Activity. Carla has recently founded CQ Solutions, an innovative consultancy firm focused on disability rights and inclusion.
Venue
Westin Ottawa
11 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, Ontario
Group rates
Conference delegates receive a special group rate for hotel stays between Sunday, June 7, to Friday, June 12, 2026.
To receive the group rate, book online by May 6, 2026.
Accessible room requests
After booking, please email [email protected] to request a specific accessible room type.
The Westin Ottawa is conveniently located in the heart of Canada’s picturesque capital, providing direct access to many of the city’s national attractions.
The Westin is located in the Ottawa business district across from the Rideau Canal, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
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