Advisory Group

My name is Bernard Maiezza. I am a 59-year-old man from Toronto who recently joined the Neuroinclusivity in Housing Committee as a replacement member.

I was diagnosed as Autistic later in life and had lived unsupported for the first 52 years of my life. Although I am quite proud of my career as a musician/composer/producer, before having a diagnosis, I had always struggled throughout my life in the ways that are so common for many of us on the spectrum, such as maintaining employment, navigating social situations, and the various co-morbid symptoms that often accompany autism, such as stress, anxiety, and depression.

Once I was diagnosed, I connected with some of the meager few supports that are available and began applying what I had learned about living on the spectrum. In the years since my diagnosis, I have really learned and experienced firsthand a lot of the systemic barriers that those with a disability must navigate on a daily basis. That led to my recent return to school to study law, and I just graduated from a paralegal program. I am currently working part-time in the legal field and plan to open my own paralegal business in the fall. My hope is to work primarily in the areas of disability, housing, education, social assistance, and human rights. I am also doing some work in personal injury, small claims, and employment law.

I am also a member of the ODSP Action Committee and just applied to be on the board of the Federation Of Metro Tenants Association.

I look forward to working with you on the committee as we progress.

Lisa Marielle Cooper is an interdisciplinary artist, educator, and community builder of the Jamaican diaspora. Her artistic works and performances have graced various stages and venues, including the Harbourfront Centre, Nuit Blanche (Toronto, Winnipeg, and London), the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO), and the George Paton Gallery in Melbourne, Australia. Her artistic practice spans writing, performance, visual art, programming, and interactive installations, engaging audiences in conversations about identity, liberation, resilience, Afrofuturism, Caribbean Futurism, and Black joy.

Lisa holds a diploma in Social Service Worker (SSW) from Sheridan College and is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Computing and Information Systems (CIS) at Athabasca University, where she is exploring the intersections of art + design, technology, and accessibility.

Lisa is an organizer of Pyjamas Conf, a 24-hour Python programming conference aiming to create a relaxed and intimidation-free learning environment. She co-founded PyLadies Calgary, a professional and social group supporting women and non-binary individuals in the Python programming community, and is involved in organizing the inaugural PyLadiesCon.

Additionally, Lisa is an accomplished public speaker, workshop facilitator, trainer, and consultant, addressing a range of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) topics, including intersectionality, anti-oppression, anti-Blackness, gender diversity, and disability justice.

Sameer studies work and labour at York University, with an interest in the labour movement and globalization. He has a background in public policy, having worked in government and the non-profit sectors on pressing issues like child care reform.

Sameer joined the Neuroinclusivity in Housing project’s advisory committee because he believes that the specific barriers neurodiverse people face in accessing appropriate housing are too often invisible in building standards and regulations, and that bringing forth more inclusive standards will ultimately benefit everyone. Sameer is currently an Associate at the Global Labour Research Centre. You can follow his work here.

Taylor has worked within early learning and education sectors for most of her career. She currently works in Children’s Services within Ottawa where her role is to support and coach educators to foster inclusion in their practices.

Taylor is a Registered Early Childhood Educator and has completed her Bachelor and Master of Education. Taylor is currently completing a Forest School Practitioner Certification. Taylor has previously participated on committees through the College of Early Childhood Educators and the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario.

She is excited to share her voice and perspective to the Neuroinclusivity in Housing project. Taylor is passionate about using her voice to speak against injustice and oppression—especially as these intersect with early years and disability. Taylor is twice exceptional and a proud member of the Metis Nation of Ontario. 

Bio coming soon!

Margaret is a fourth-year PhD candidate in Social Work at Carleton University and a Community Outreach Liaison for Neuroinclusivity in Housing. Her role in this project is to work with the Autistic and Neurodivergent Advisory Committee to infuse community voice into the different elements of the project, leading activities that work towards bringing the perspectives of this committee to knowledge mobilization and applied research.

Most of Margaret’s other work is interested in supporting Autistic adult mental health, wellbeing, and inclusion, her current PhD project seeks to investigate Practitioners’ and Professionals’ barriers to and facilitators of providing Ottawa Autistic adults with mental health support with the Ottawa Adult Autism Initiative.

In the Past, Margaret has worked as a Research Assistant for the Bridging the Silos project and in the Oral Histories of Disability Rights Movement project. You can find out more about Margaret through her ORCID.