Accessible Air Travel
Travel can present challenges for everyone. For people with disabilities, however, the process can be fraught with issues from minor incoveniences to broken equipment to serious injuries. In recent years issues with Accessible Air Travel have made the headlines, all for the wrong reasons. But change is happening. We are bringing together a group of experts in the field who will enlighten us on the changes and direction the travel industry is putting in place to make air travel safer and accessible to all.Â
Our informative webinar on Accessible Air Travel, will feature expert guest speakers from across the aviation, accessibility, and disability advocacy sectors. This engaging discussion will explore current challenges, innovations, and initiatives aimed at improving the travel experience for people with disabilities, including protecting mobility devices, accessibility planning, airport operations, and passenger support. Following the panel discussion, attendees joining virtually will have the opportunity to ask questions during a Q&A session.
Accessible Air Travel
June 15, 2026
Time: 3:30 pm
Zoom meeting
Register for link
Our Speakers
Dr. Tilak Dutta
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Tilak has nearly two decades of experience improving accessibility including the lived experience with a child who is a wheelchair user. He is a Senior Scientist at the Kite Research Institute where he co-leads the Safety+Access Team and he holds an appointment as an Associate Professor at the Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto. His team’s goal is to co-develop tools that help individuals with disabilities and their companions the ability to live safely, independently, with dignity. One of his team’s current projects focuses on identifying ways to reduce the risk of damage to mobility devices during air travel.
Joanne Smith
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Joanne Smith is a nutrition specialist, disability advocate and former broadcast journalist dedicated to advancing accessibility and inclusion in Canada. She holds a degree in psychology from York University, along with diplomas in broadcasting from Seneca College and in nutrition from the Institute of Holistic Nutrition.
As an advocate for inclusion and accessibility, Joanne works with SCI Canada, where she has spent the past eight years representing individuals with mobility impairments on the Canadian Transportation Agency’s Accessibility Advisory Committee. This Committee brings together members from CTA, national airlines, airport authorities, engineers and individuals from a broad range of organizations representing people with disabilities from across the country to address a wide range of barriers to accessible travel, including aviation.
She also runs her own nutrition practice specializing in neurological conditions and is co-author Eat Well Live Well with Spinal Cord Injury (2013), the first nutrition book tailored to the needs of individuals with SCI. Joanne contributes regularly to disability-focused publications in Canada and the U.S. and has partnered with universities on research, including a study published in the Journal of Neuroinflammation.
Joanne has shared her expertise as a keynote speaker and presenter at prestigious universities, conferences, hospitals, and rehabilitation centers across North America, including the Mayo Clinic Neuro-Rehabilitation Summit and Harvard Medical School.
Earlier in her career, Joanne was a reporter and producer at CBC and hosted two national television programs highlighting the stories of Canadians with disabilities, including the Gemini Award-winning Moving On.
Beyond her professional accomplishments, Joanne has dedicated countless hours as a mentor and volunteer for organizations such as Lyndhurst Rehabilitation Center, SCI Ontario, Easter Seals, and The Canadian Foundation for Physically Disabled Persons, demonstrating her deep commitment to empowering the disabled community.
Joanne’s contributions have been recognized with numerous honours, including the King Clancy Award (2006), induction into the Terry Fox Hall of Fame (2007), the Gabriel Award (2008), and the SCI Ontario Community Builder Award (2023).
James Patmore
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Chair of CATSA’s Accessibility Working Group
Advances accessibility at CATSA through engagement, reporting, and cross- organizational collaboration across partners and government.
Led the consultations and development of CATSA’s 2026–2029 Accessibility Plan to support a more inclusive experience for passengers and employees.
Aviation security background with experience in front-line screening, oversight, and performance.
K. Henderson
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With 34 years of experience in aviation, Kathleen Henderson is responsible for the daily advocacy and operational requirements of the Canadian Airports Council’s Operations, Standards & Technical Affairs and the Environment committees.Â
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Kathleen has worked at airports or airlines in 7 different Canadian communities located in 5 provinces before settling outside of Ottawa with Canadian Airports Council.  Currently, Kathleen leads, or is involved with, a number of aviation initiatives at the Canadian, North American and international level examining Sustainable Aviation Fuel, airport operations and security, as well as Accessibility and airport firefighting.
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Kathleen is the Airport Ambassador Liaison for Elevate Aviation, a non-profit organization dedicated to inspiring women to pursue careers in aviation.Â
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Robert Mands
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Rob Mands is the Principle, Customer Accessibility at Air Canada, Canada’s flagship carrier. With over 20 years of aviation experience, If there’s a job at the airport, Rob has probably either done it himself or led the team responsible. With his extensive operations background, Rob uses his technical expertise to lead projects that remove barriers in air travel. One major focus of his career has been to shape Air Canada’s ground handling procedures with the protection of mobility aids in mind.
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Kathleen has worked at airports or airlines in 7 different Canadian communities located in 5 provinces before settling outside of Ottawa with Canadian Airports Council.  Currently, Kathleen leads, or is involved with, a number of aviation initiatives at the Canadian, North American and international level examining Sustainable Aviation Fuel, airport operations and security, as well as Accessibility and airport firefighting.
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Kathleen is the Airport Ambassador Liaison for Elevate Aviation, a non-profit organization dedicated to inspiring women to pursue careers in aviation.Â
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