Emily, a white woman with shoulder length curly red hair and blue eyes, is smiling warmly at the camera while sitting on a bench in a park. They are wearing a light blue denim jacket over a white collared shirt, with a brown crossbody bag strap visible. In the background, a large fountain sprays water upward, surrounded by green trees and neatly trimmed hedges.

Image Description: Emily, a white woman with shoulder length curly red hair and blue eyes, is smiling warmly at the camera while sitting on a bench in a park. They are wearing a light blue denim jacket over a white collared shirt, with a brown crossbody bag strap visible. In the background, a large fountain sprays water upward, surrounded by green trees and neatly trimmed hedges.

Emily Maxwell (she/they) is the Artistic Director & Founder of The Disability Collective. Emily is a queer, disabled, and neurodivergent artist who spent the first decade of her career working as a stage manager for theatre and live events. Emily founded The Disability Collective in 2020 as a way to combine her love for art with her passion for disability justice. In June 2023, Emily received the inaugural Christine Karcza Disability Leadership Award at the 43rd Annual Dora Mavor Moore Awards, in recognition of her dedication to creating opportunities for disabled artists to showcase their work, and fighting for accessibility in performing arts spaces, both on and offstage. Additionally, Emily works as an Access Program Manager for Luminato Festival Toronto, an Accessibility Coordinator for the Toronto Fringe Festival, and worked as the Accessibility and Events Manager for ReelAbilities Film Festival Toronto. In her spare time, Emily enjoys reading, writing, and working on various small crafts. Emily lives and works in Toronto with her husband, Nathan, and their two cats, Merry and Pippin.

Sessions:

**Cross-Disability Collaboration October 10, 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM Moderator: Emily Maxwell Panelists: Carly Neis, Kelly MacDonald, Sage Lovell Location: Aki Studio** Collaboration across different disability communities is a powerful way to build solidarity and spark innovation in the arts. This panel brings together Deaf, disabled, neurodivergent, and Mad artists to share stories, challenges, and successes in cross-disability work. Explore strategies for fostering mutual understanding and creating projects that embrace the full spectrum of lived experience.