Training Team
ProHara Training was developed by experts in
accessibility policy, training and built
environments. Meet our team.
Advisory Team
Aislin O’Hara
Aislin is a nationally recognized expert in accessibility policy implementation and training. She works with Canada’s largest transportation and transit agencies, as well as private sector organizations, to create an inclusive customer service experience. Aislin’s areas of training expertise focus on fostering empathy through understanding unconscious bias and how to develop inclusive communication techniques in the workplace and beyond.
Aislin is a Certified Professional Consultant on Aging and sought-after presenter on Aging and Accessibility. Accredited by the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) and the Rick Hansen Foundation as an Accessibility Assessor (RHFAC) working closely with people with disabilities, Aislin has published over 37 accessibility policies and has helped to foster inclusive customer experiences for organizations across the country including Toronto Transit Commission (TTC), City of Edmonton, VIA Rail Canada, HelpAge, Durham Region Transit and many more.
Aislin is an avid golfer and teaches yoga in Prince Edward County, Ontario where she lives with her husband and miniature dachshund.
Samantha Ryan
Samantha is a Certified Engineering Technologist and a leading Canadian Accessibility Specialist whose expertise contributes to building stronger connections between communities and organizations. She helps bridge the gap between inclusive environments and linking people to their goods and services through accessible customer service and gender-neutral awareness training for corporate, university, and public sector audiences. She has been a part of making impactful changes to complex projects including international airports, world-class sports stadiums, high-rise towers, hospitals, and more.
Samantha sits on numerous National Accessibility Technical Committees: Accessible Standards Canada (Emergency Egress for Persons with Disabilities), National Research Council (Emergency Use and Egress and the Accessibility Task Group), Canadian Standards Association (CSA B651, Chair of CSA B652), and the Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility Certification Technical Committee. As a certified RHFAC Instructor and Designated Professional Assessor, she has completed well over 100 RHFAC Ratings to date.
Samantha and her wife enjoy trying new restaurants and reside in Norfolk County Ontario with their rescue dogs, Zeus and Apollo.
Desrianne Mcllwrick
Desrianne McIlwrick is a Certified Orientation & Mobility Specialist with international experience as a direct service provider to individuals with singular and multiple disabilities. With over a decade of experience supporting thousands of individuals with vision and dual sensory loss, Desrianne has acquired a niche skill set and a rich understanding of the needs and functional abilities of persons with disabilities. In addition to teaching clients the skills needed to reach their fullest potential, Desrianne is also well-versed in accessible customer service, the built environment, and accessible transportation.
A leading industry expert in specialized transit, eligibility, and travel training, her knowledge is sought after by many Canadian transit agencies, school boards and rehabilitation organizations. Desrianne is familiar with both American Sign Language and braille, and is a passionate advocate for inclusion.
Desrianne grew up playing competitive softball and remains a baseball lover. In her spare time, she enjoys exercising, crafting, and making personalized cakes for those she loves.
Harrison Udo
Harrison is our e-learning developer who brings ProHara’s content to life by injecting it with creativity and authenticity. Harrison works collaboratively with the ProHara Team to ensure training content integrates the lived experiences of people with disabilities. He incorporates interactive learning elements using state-of-the-art technology to create a robust user experience. Harrison is innovative at using animation to create video examples.
Harrison has worked with leading public and private sector organizations to support their e-learning offerings, including Durham Region, University Health Network, and Learnology. He holds a Bachelor of Computer Science from Brunel University Uxbridge in the UK.
Harrison is a proud father of two teenagers, a bona fide nerd (and proud of it) with a keen interest in Greek mythology and comic books. His dream is to cycle or longboard through every major city of note and has explored New York, London, Paris, and Toronto with more adventures to come!
Igor Samardzic
Igor is the co-founder of S+G Urban Partners and Urban Fabric Media, a social enterprise that produces engaging multimedia content on critical urban issues. Igor is a longstanding advocate for community accessibility, most recently as a member of the Expanding Housing Options in Neighbourhoods Roundtable, as a producer of a documentary, Accessing the City, and overseeing a research project with the University of Toronto on Publicly Accessible Washrooms. He is also a featured contributor in Spacing magazine.
Minette Samaroo
As the National Vice President of Alliance for Equality of Blind Canadians (AEBC), and President of the AEBC Toronto Chapter, Minette actively advocates for social change for people with disabilities. One of her key areas of focus is equitable employment for people with disabilities. Minette Samaroo was born in Guyana, South America, and immigrated to Canada in 2014.
Mazin Aribi
Mazin has been advising on accessibility and inclusion-related initiatives since the early 1990’s. As a person who uses a power wheelchair due to polio, he is passionate about disability awareness and advocacy. Mazin has served as the Chair of the Toronto Transit Commission’s Advisory Committee on Accessible Transit (ACAT) for many terms and is one of the founding members of the Ethno-Racial People with Disabilities Coalitions of Ontario (ERDCO).
Jim Ryan
Jim was an airline pilot for over 35 years, spending most of his career with WestJet. In 2016, Jim Ryan became a complete quadriplegic. As an accessibility expert, he works with local governments and developers to ensure that buildings are fully accessible and that new developments meet future accessibility needs. A motivational speaker and educator, Jim is a Rick Hansen Foundation Ambassador and Certified Accessibility Professional.
Tina
Tina is an advocate for assistive technology and innovation projects that support accessibility and inclusion. As a person who identifies as Deaf, she is dedicated to raising awareness of disability and is a champion for accessibility in the workplace. Tina’s favourite quote is by Helen Keller: “The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched – they must be felt with the heart.”
Anthony Lue
Anthony is a professional athlete currently training for the 2024 Paralympic games in the sport of handcycling. He is a dynamic, positive, and engaging international keynote speaker. He raises awareness about disability, barriers, and accessibility for public and private sector organizations including: Government of Canada, Transport Canada, University of Arizona, Rogers TV, Scotiabank, and Sunnybrook Health Sciences. Anthony holds his RHFAC accessibility designation from the Rick Hansen Foundation and is a member of the City of Pickering Accessibility Advisory Committee.
Kimberly Agar
Kimberly Agar is passionate about teaching and educating people on disability awareness. Kimberly has lived experience with multiple disabilities and identifies as being partially Deaf with a physical disability. Kimberly uses American Sign Language to communicate and has been involved in the Deaf community since 1981.
