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 E.D.T.
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.
Sonia Gangopadhyay
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Sonia Gangopadhyay is the Director of the Centre of Expertise for Accessible Transportation at the Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA), a role she has held for the past 8 years. She brings more than 25 years of experience in the federal public service, having worked across multiple departments and roles.
Prior to joining the CTA, Ms. Gangopadhyay held positions with the Labour Program and Transport Canada, where she served for over a decade as a Manager and Senior Policy Advisor. Her work has focused on advancing policy and programs in complex regulatory and transportation environments.
Earlier in her career, before entering the federal government, she worked for several years in the social economy sector, contributing to community-based and not-for-profit initiatives.
Ms. Gangopadhyay holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Ottawa and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychoeducation.
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.
Kathleen 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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