• Gary Garlough, (Chair), Uxbridge, ON
• Rob Malloch, (Past Chair), Etobicoke, ON
• David Oswald, (Treasurer), Mississauga, ON
• Dr. Steven Reid, (Ex officio; President & CEO), Toronto, ON

• Susan Alcorn Mackay, St. Charles, ON
• Waqas Baggia, Ajax, ON
• Melissa Chung – Toronto, ON
• Jill Nebb – Owen Sound, ON

Revised April 2025

The Learning Disabilities Association of Ontario (LDAO) is supported by a dedicated and diverse team of professionals with expertise across education, linguistics, project management, content development, finance, communications, and community engagement. United by a deep commitment to equity, inclusion, and accessibility, the LDAO team leads and supports initiatives that empower individuals with learning disabilities (LDs) and co-occurring conditions such as attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) across the lifespan.

Whether developing province-wide educator resources, supporting families, engaging in policy advocacy, or advancing workplace inclusion, LDAO staff work collaboratively to drive systemic change and create inclusive environments where all individuals with LDs can thrive.

Below is an alphabetical listing of LDAO staff contributing to these efforts:

Kelli Cote is a Public Policy and Education Consultant at LDAO, supporting its LD@school resources. With 30+ years in education, Kelli has held leadership roles such as Principal and Student Services Coordinator with the York Region District School Board. Passionate about supporting individuals with LDs and ADHD, she works to reduce stigma and advocate for assistive technology. A former guest lecturer at Niagara University and LDA York Region board member, Kelli specializes in policy development, advocacy, and knowledge mobilization. Her qualifications include certifications in Reading, Special Education, and Mathematics, along with a Supervisory Officer’s Certificate. She enjoys collaborating with families, educators, and communities to promote equity and inclusive learning environments.

Allyson Cousineau-Grant is a French Consultant for LDAO, supporting its TA@l’école resources. With almost two decades of experience as a speech-language pathologist, Allyson has worked at the Conseil des écoles publiques de l’Est de l’Ontario (CEPEO), supporting children and adolescents with communication challenges, including speech, language, reading, and writing difficulties. She collaborates with educators and special education staff to integrate effective strategies for supporting students with special needs in the classroom. Allyson has also taught courses on language development and literacy interventions at the University of Ottawa, the University of Alberta, and Laurentian University. Passionate about fostering inclusive education, she specializes in speech, language, reading, and writing disorders as well as augmentative and alternative communication.

Amanda Cruise is a Producer of French Educational Content for LDAO, supporting its TA@l’école resources. She received an Honours Bachelor of Arts degree in French Studies from the University of Guelph and a Master of Arts degree in French Language, Literature, and Culture from the University of Victoria. An avid traveller, Amanda enjoys connecting with educators from across Francophone Canada and learning about the latest research on LDs. Her favourite part of her job is keeping up with new research on inclusion practices.

Solen Lefeuvre-Pauly is a bilingual Office Coordinator for LDAO, supporting the LD@school and TA@l’école resources. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Digital, and Communication, as well as a Master’s degree in International Negotiation and Business Development from Rennes School of Business in France. Solen is passionate about coordinating events and projects that empower educators to better support students with learning disabilities. She brings a wealth of expertise in organization, communication, and outreach to her role, ensuring LDAO’s resources reach diverse audiences. She enjoys collaborating with colleagues and stakeholders to foster inclusive learning environments.

Nathalie Paquet-Bélanger is an French Consultant for LDAO, supporting its TA@l’école resources. She has a bachelor’s degree in Special Education and a Master’s of Education Science from the University of Quebec at Rimouski. She holds a certificate in ICT integration in education (TELUQ). She is also a sessional instructor in education at the UQAR.  Her current position is as a teacher consultant in the area of Québec city about students experiencing learning difficulties. Nathalie is glad to bring her contribution and expertise to the LDAO team and to network with teachers sharing the same passion for the success of students with LDs.

Dr. Steven Reid is the President and CEO of LDAO, supporting its LD@school and TA@l’école resources. With extensive experience as an educator, administrator, and policy leader, Steven has held roles across urban and rural school settings, including Superintendent and Associate Director. He has also served as Chief Assessment Officer with EQAO and teaches at the University of Toronto. An award-winning leader, Steven was recognized for his commitment to students with exceptionalities. Steven’s research explores knowledge mobilization, leadership, math anxiety, and equity, including systemic barriers and anti-racism in schools. He is passionate about addressing systemic barriers and empowering students with LDs to achieve their full potential.

Heather Sears is an English Language Educational Consultant for LDAO, supporting its LD@school resources.  With over 30 years of experience in public education, Heather has held progressive leadership roles including Coordinating Superintendent of Curriculum and Instructional Services at the York Region District School Board. A skilled facilitator of adult learning and equity-minded leader, Heather has co-developed system-wide strategies such as YRDSB’s De-streaming Strategy, Caring and Learning Plan, and System Improvement Learning Cycle. She holds a Master of Education from the University of Toronto and a Supervisory Officer’s Certificate, along with qualifications in French, Special Education, and Health & Physical Education. Heather is passionate about fostering culturally responsive, inclusive learning environments and building educator capacity through research-informed practice.

Martin Smit is an English Language Educational Consultant for LDAO, supporting its LD@school resources.  He has over 30 years of experience as a classroom teacher, music teacher, administrator and system principal for the Hastings and Prince Edward and Greater Essex district school boards as well as the Provincial and Demonstration Schools branch.  Martin is an experienced workshop facilitator and has presented at a number of education conferences including Quest, Educators’ Institute and ASET. Martin is a strong advocate for all students and supports school-wide, data-driven strategies for addressing learning needs.

Contact us:

• • English curriculum and content inquiries
  • Educator’s Institute inquiries
  • General inquiries
  • Demandes liées au curriculum et au contenu en français
  • Demandes liées au Colloque des professionnels de l’enseignement

LDAO Advisory Committee

LDAO is proud to be guided by the expertise and dedication of the LD@school / TA@l’école Advisory Committee (LTAC). This advisory group is composed of English and French educators, administrators, psychologists, and specialists from across Ontario who bring diverse perspectives and deep knowledge of inclusive education.

LTAC plays an essential role in informing the development, planning, and implementation of LDAO’s educator-facing initiatives. Their thoughtful contributions ensure that our resources and professional learning opportunities remain responsive to the evolving needs of educators, school leaders, and students with learning disabilities (LDs) and co-occurring conditions like ADHD. Together, we are working toward more inclusive and accessible classrooms across the province.

Below is an alphabetical list of our 2024-2025 LTAC members:

• Valerie Arsenault, Principal, Rideau Public School, Limestone District School Board

• Amal Boultif, Professor, Faculty of Education, University of Ottawa

•  Karyn Bruneel, Director, Bruce-Grey Catholic District School Board

• Jody Chong, Assistant Professor, Department of Applied Psychology and Human Development, OISE and Special Education Teacher, TDSB

• Andrea Coke, Chief Speech-Language Pathologist, TCDSB

• Julie Cull, Director of Social Services, Conseil scolaire public du Nord-Est de l’Ontario (CSPNE)

• Annie Demers, Associate Executive Director, Consortium pour les élèves du nord de l’Ontario (CÉNO)

• Star-Michelle Lepage, ABA Consultant, Conseil scolaire de district catholique des Aurores boréales (CSDCAB)

• Idrine Matenda-Zambi, Part-time Professor, Windsor Campus of the University of Ottawa and Vice Principal, Conseil Scolaire Catholique Providence

• Deanna Mayfield, Lead Psychologist, Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board

• Amanda Pegg, Principal, Roywood Public School, Toronto District School Board

• Élisabeth Taschereau, Principal, Consortium Centre Jules-Léger (French Language Demonstration School)

Please connect with us if you are interested in joining our advisory committee.