Rabia Khedr

Currently serving as a commissioner with the Ontario Human Rights Commission, Rabia is a founder of the Canadian Association of Muslims with Disabilities and the Canadian Alliance on Race and Disability where she brought several South Asian disability organizations together to collaborate. She is also the CEO of DEEN Support Services.

Rabia has served on many boards and committees including the Accessibility Standards Advisory Council of Ontario, Ethno-Racial People with Disabilities Coalition of Ontario, Ontario Women’s Health Network and Federation of Muslim Women. As a consultant under her own company, diversityworX, Rabia has provided training, research and consulting services on accessibility, equity and inclusion for numerous organizations. Rabia has presented at local and international conferences to raise awareness about disability issues, women’s rights, South Asian cultures and Islamophobia and has participated in several television broadcasts and documentaries. Rabia has been recognized for her leadership and community contributions and most notably, received the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012 and the MAX Woman of the Year in 2017. Born in Pakistan and living in Canada since the age of 4, Rabia is fluent in Punjabi and Urdu, but English is her language of power. Rabia is a married mother of 4 who happens to be blind. We had a chance to ask her all about her journey and after learning about her work, we are more optimistic than ever about an inclusive future, especially if she has anything to do with it!

Please tell us a bit about yourself.

I identify myself as an immigrant child, but I could pass, at least over the phone, as someone born here sounding just like the local majority. I proudly call Mississauga my home where I have been living since 1976. I came to Canada with my mother to join my father in 1974. I am the oldest of 4 kids and we all have disabilities. I consult, run a couple of NGOs and serve as a commissioner with the Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC). I am a married mother of 4 and blind.

Please tell us a bit about your company diversityworX. Why did you start it? What kinds of services are offered?