Board of Directors

ARCH is guided by a dedicated and committed volunteer Board of Directors. ARCH’s Board of Directors is consumer-controlled and more than half are people with disabilities.

Jason Mitschele, Chairperson

Jason Mitchele has been practicing law as a Federal Prosecutor since 2003 for the Public Prosecution Service of Canada. His practice involves the prosecution of firearms and narcotics offences. He currently leads the Toronto Superior Court Litigation Team where he manages a team of over 20 prosecutors conducting jury trials at the 361 University Avenue courthouse.

He previously managed the Integrated Road Team where he led a team that prosecutes wiretap and large-scale prosecutions.

He graduated from the Faculty of Law at the University of Toronto in 2002.

Jason is a proud advocate for the rights of persons with disabilities and contributes to the following organizations as:

• National Advisor for Persons with Disabilities for the Public Prosecution Service of Canada
• Board Chair, ARCH Disability Law Centre
• Member of the Ontario Courts Accessibility Committee, Vice Chair, Criminal Law Practice Group of the Advocates Society
• Member of the Customer Standards Development Committee established under the Accessibility for Ontarians With Disabilities Act
• Past Member, of the Toronto Accessibility Advisory Committee
• Director for the Canadian National Institute for the Blind Foundation (CNIB)

Jason has been a member of the Trial Advocacy Teaching Team since 2018.

In July, 2019, Jason was proud and honoured to be the recipient of the National Heads of Prosecution Courage and Perseverance Award in Quebec City.

Jason continues to argue criminal cases at Provincial Court, The Superior Court of Justice and the Ontario Court of Appeal.

Paul Scotland, 1st Vice-Chairperson

Paul was born and raised in Toronto, Ontario with the neuro tube birth defect, Spina Bifida & Hydrocephalus. He holds an Honours, Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from York University and graduated from the University of Ottawa, Faculty of Law.

He has an interest in promoting and growing equality seeking groups and wants to see the disabled community continue to visibly advocate for breaking down barriers that impede accessibility to a society and environment responsive to equity, diversity and inclusion everywhere!

Ellen Cohen, 2nd Vice-Chairperson

Ellen comes to the board with her personal experience of mental illness and a deep commitment to family members, she has always believed she was destined to help others. Her career spans over three decades, marked by her roles as an advocate, educator, and organizer in mental health and social work. Ellen holds a degree in Sociology and Social Welfare and a diploma in Social Services. Her career reflects a lifelong commitment to learning and growth.

Ellen’s diverse experience includes working at various levels of government: as a social service worker with the City of Toronto, a probation officer with Ontario Probation and Parole, and an early childhood educator. For over 30 years, she has been deeply involved in community mental health, contributing to the development of consumer-survivor peer-led organizations across Ontario.

She has been an active volunteer on numerous boards and committees, with a long-standing affiliation with the National Network for Mental Health (NNMH). Ellen’s expertise encompasses mental health across the lifespan and the unique challenges faced by people living in Canada with mental illness, including those at the intersection of mental illness, disability, and the deaf community.

Ellen served as the past co-chair of the Canadian Alliance for Mental Illness and Mental Health (CAMIMH), where she represents the consumer perspective through her work with national organizations. Under her leadership, she was instrumental in bridging the mental health community with the broader disability movement, highlighting the intersections between mental health and disability. This shift has enabled Ellen to engage in human rights and social justice work, advocating for the well-being of all Canadians from coast to coast.

Robert Barber, Treasurer

Robert Barber is a licensed paralegal and CEO of Prevail Paralegal Services, the largest paralegal firm in the Niagara Region. He is a member of the Indigenous Bar Association and serves as a Community Councillor with the Niagara Region Métis Council, in addition to being the Board Treasurer for ARCH Disability Law Centre.

Committed to professional development, Robert has presented in CPD programs at the Law Society of Ontario and the Ontario Trial Lawyers Association, and facilitates an 8-part legal education series for the Métis Nation of Ontario. In 2024, he was honoured with the Niagara 40 Under Forty Business Achievement Award.

Robert is pursuing his LEAN Six Sigma certification at the University of Windsor and serves as a Paralegal Coach with the Law Society’s Coach and Advisor Network.

Robert lives in St. Catharines with his wife and children, actively contributing to his community and the legal profession.

Dolly Menna-Dack, Secretary

Dolly is the Clinical and Research Bioethicist at Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital and the Youth Engagement Strategy Lead.

She is particularly interested in pediatric rehabilitation issues that arise in both clinical care and research with children and youth with chronic illness and disabilities. Dolly was the first former patient to join the SickKids Research Ethics Board as a Community Member and has held progressive leadership positions on REBs since, including Ethics member, Vice-Chair and Interim Chair. Dolly has over fifteen years’ experience on pediatric research ethics boards, acute and rehabilitation focused boards as well provincial review boards.

Dolly is a nationally and internationally sought after leader in Lived Experience roles and has been the Youth Engagement Strategy Lead at Holland Bloorview since its inception in 2012. Dolly has extensive experience training and supporting youth and young adults in advocacy and partnering in the areas of service & care delivery, teaching & education of healthcare providers, clients & families, as well as research and policy.

Dolly’s own lived experience of growing up with a physical disability led her to advocate for a Lived Experience role on the clinical healthcare teams. Dolly created the Youth Facilitator role, which has been Ministry-funded since 2006 at Holland Bloorview. Over the last five years she has led the expansion of the role to multiple healthcare teams. She has also supported the implementation of the Youth Facilitator role at Toronto Rehab, UHN.

Claudette Paul

Claudette has been on other boards for at least 5 years total. She has lived experience living on reserve for 11 years and work experience on reserve for 15 years. On and off reserve, she has been an advocate for marginalized indigenous people including those with disabilities in such roles as a National Aboriginal Drug and Alcohol Program worker (addictions worker), an Early Childhood Educator, a Family Support worker, an Aboriginal Best Start Service Connector, and her current role as an Indigenous Student Advisor. She continues to advocate for those that need her to be their voice.

Dave E. Lewis

Dave E. Lewis is a highly experienced employment and labour relations professional with expertise in mediation, conflict resolution, and equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility (EDIA) initiatives. Currently an Employment Relations Officer at a major Canadian professional union, he manages the grievance process from intake to arbitration, representing the union and its members. As a neurodivergent, Dave’s commitment to EDIA led him to establish the EDIA Champion Award, recognizing a manager’s contributions to these values. Academically, Dave is pursuing a combined MBA/DBA and holds a Graduate Certificate in Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) from Humber College, an Honors BA in Human Rights & Equity Studies, and a BA in Public Policy from York University. He also holds certifications in labour relations and adjudication from Centennial College and Queen’s University, along with a strategy execution certificate from Harvard University. Dave volunteers as Treasurer and Staff Liaison for a Toronto tenants’ organization and previously served on the Pride Toronto board, co-founding the “My First Pride initiative. He has also contributed as a Community Mediator with St. Stephen’s Community House, resolving neighbor disputes across Toronto.

Hengameh Saberi

Hengameh Saberi is Associate Professor at Osgoode Hall Law School with expertise in international law, disability law and human rights. She has lived, worked in the Middle East, the U.S. and Canada, and brings decades of experience with and a global approach to disability law and human rights advocacy.

Jennifer Hiseler

Jennifer is an accessibility specialist with a background in the built environment, training, and policy work around the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act. She is a graduate of the Accessible Media Production programme at Mohawk College and works with the City of Toronto in the People and Equity Division.

Other experience with accessibility, disability, and inclusion comes from her education as an Orthotic and Prosthetic technician, work as a custom seating technician for high technology wheelchairs, and volunteer involvement with various organizations, primarily with #a11yTO (or Accessibility Toronto). Jenny also wears a prosthesis and always has. This lived experience brings insight and depth to her professional and volunteer work.

Kathryn Underwood

Dr. Kathryn Underwood is a professor in the School of Early Childhood Studies at Toronto Metropolitan University. Dr. Underwood’s interests are in disabled children and their families’ experiences and contributions to our understanding of social services, social life, and society. The focus of her program of research has been on how constructions of disability in early childhood programs and care, early intervention, and health and social service contexts are used to organize children, with particular interest in intersectional identities of all disabled children. Dr. Underwood has conducted a number of studies that focus on parent viewpoints and the work of families to engage with institutions.

Logan Wong

Logan identifies as a Trans, bi-racial, Autistic wheelchair user. As an Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Consultant. Logan has been involved equity and advocacy work in his community from a young age, in June of 2012 Logan received the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal Awarded by The Honourable David Onley, Former Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, for outstanding community service. He has worked on numerous task forces and executive committees focused on Anti-racism, Anti-oppression, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (ARAO-DEI) at institutions such as Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation and The CHILDBRIGHT Network.

Currently Logan is the chairperson of the National Youth Advisory Panel (NYAP) at the CHILD-BRIGHT Network and an Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility (IDEA) Task Force member at Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital. Logan has dedicated his career as a social worker to work within the equity space conducting training, writing equity-focused policies/proposals, and supporting the creation, implementation, and sustainability of diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace cultures.

As a graduate of the social work programs (BSW, MSW) at Toronto Metropolitan University, Logan has a deep understanding of Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility (IDEA) frameworks, principles, advocacy, and policy that will support in providing leadership and guidance on ARCH’s Board of Directors.

Michael Samakayi

Michael is a passionate advocate for diversity with a strong commitment to creating inclusive work environments. Currently working as an Employment Consultant at Canadian Hearing Services and services as the President Deaf Youth Canada, Michael brings a deep understanding of how to transform corporate culture, ensuring it is positive, inclusive, and supportive of all individuals. He is highly engaged, intuitive, and collaborative, with a proven track record of executing multiple projects with integrity and excellence.

Michael’s passion for promoting accessibility and equity is reflected in his diverse experience, including advocating for the promotion of ASL classes at the University of Toronto under the Linguistics department. As a graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Toronto, Michael has demonstrated his dedication to both his academic and professional pursuits. His lifelong dream is to run for public office, where he aspires to further his impact on creating equitable and inclusive environments for all. He has a strong analytical ability to deliver tailored solutions that drive social impact within communities and has successfully created and implemented diversity and inclusion initiatives across various organizations.

In his free time, Michael loves to volunteer within the Deaf community, where he continues to make a significant impact. His strategic thinking, strong communication, and leadership skills make him a valuable asset in any role focused on advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Natalie MacDonnell

Natalie MacDonnell holds a Bachelor of Arts and Science and Political Science from McMaster University and is a graduate of the Joint Master of Environmental Studies and Juris Doctor Program at Osgoode Hall Law School and York University.

Natalie has had a long involvement with social justice causes such as human rights and environmental protection. She is also passionate about disability rights, accessibility and access to justice.

Natalie has practiced law in a variety of different areas including housing, privacy, social assistance, human rights and environmental law. Natalie has experience working for the provincial government as well as for legal aid clinics. During her studies, Natalie completed placements with environmental non-profit organizations and the Human Rights Legal Support Centre.

Norah Dillon-Cheetham

Norah Dillon-Cheetham (she/her) has an Hons. B.A. from the University of Ottawa and an M.Ed. from the University of Toronto. Norah is a proud member of the disability community.

During her time at the University of Ottawa she worked as an advocate for students with disabilities and in the federal Office for Disability Issues on youth labour market entry. She worked for over 5 years at the Human Rights Legal Support Centre on the intake team on a large body of cases. She now works as a human rights investigator with the Toronto District School Board on education and employment cases. Norah enjoys policy and research.

Norah has also volunteered with Barrier Free Canada, the Learning Disabilities Association of Toronto District, Citizens with Disabilities Ontario, the Malvern Family Resource Centre, West Neighbourhood House and People for Education.

Ryan Hooey

Ryan Hooey graduated from Spring Arbor University in Jackson, MI in 2008 with a Bachelor degree in Marketing and Public Relations. Ryan then successfully completed a Bachelor degree from the University of Windsor in Sociology and in 2013 completed a certificate in Volunteer Management and Coordination from Mohawk College. He has since worked in the not-for-profit world as an advocate for those living as a part of the disability community. He also works part time for University Health Network in Toronto as a Research Associate with the diabetic retinopathy and foot care team in hopes of bringing more sustainable and available care to people living with diabetes across Canada. He is an avid audiobook listener and has a weekly remote television segment with AMI featuring audiobook trends, author interviews and news called The Chatty Bookshelf. Ryan is a guide dog handler of a 5-year-old CNIB Lab named Joe and the father to a wonderful 4-year-old daughter Abigail.