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?
Denne historien er fra Issue 4 2018-utgaven av SHE Canada Magazine.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra Issue 4 2018-utgaven av SHE Canada Magazine.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Ahed Tamimi: BRAVE Beautiful & BOLD
She is 17 years old, which based on our conversation is quite an accomplishment for someone living there.
Joan Kelley Walker
She has gone from sustaining an impressive modelling career to helping spread awareness about sustainable fashion, which includes starting her own line.
Sunburn Savior
Yes, we need moderate exposure to the sun in order to provide the body with the essential vitamin D.
TōN Cosmetics
They combined their strengths to create a brand that offers something for every-one.
#Keep Tribe Alive
Tribe of Lambs is all about giving back to society.
Cat Forsley
@catforsley
UNTTLD (Simon Belanger)
Luxurious, domineering, and vibrant – three words that solidly define UNTTLD’s incredible showcase of their F/W 2018 collection at Toronto Fashion Week. Adorned with black headdresses (or hats), the models that graced Yorkville Village’s runway flaunted boldcoloured velvet dresses and boss-lady outfits. Since 2011, designer duo Simon Belanger and Jose Manuel Jacques have been creating lux pieces that reflect on masculine feminity to emphasize the capabilities and desires of the modern woman. We had the opportunity to speak to Simon shortly after the show about their one-of-a-kind collection that is truly one to reminisce.
Dr. Sapna Sriram
When she’s not taking care of or teaching her own kids, she’s making sure Canadians know how to take care of themselves especially when it comes to injuries and injury prevention. Dr. Sapna Sriram is a leading Canadian chiropractic physician and award-winning co-founder and CEO of Integra Health Centre. She is an injury expert and recognized for her innovative approaches to performance optimization and injury rehabilitation. We got a chance to ask her all about how and why she founded her facility.
Sunny Smiles
Sunny Smiles
Naheed Yaqubian
Ontario Liberal Candidate for Aurora-Oak Ridges-Richmond Hill
