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Mathieu Simard has been working in the physical rehabilitation area for the past 19 years and has been involved in a large number of international health projects since 2000. This mixed background has led to a number of different positions to strengthen disability inclusion in high and low-income settings alike. These range from clinical service provision to providing teachings and trainings in various non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and universities in Canada and abroad. In addition to serving as Deputy-Vice President North-America and Vice-Chair on the International Commission on Accessibility and Technology, Simard chairs RI Rehabilitation International’s Task Force on Disability, Armed Conflict, and Natural Disasters. He is currently pursuing a PhD candidate in Rehabilitation Sciences at McGill University.
News & Events
Global IT Challenge
https://youtu.be/Mdb3xaUpfyM Press Release - Organizing Committee The Global IT Challenge for youth with disabilities (GITC), which seeks to strengthen the IT capabilities of youth with disabilities and bridge the digital divide, is recruiting countries to participate...
ECOWAS calls for stronger support for people with disabilities
A working group of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), a regional political and economic union of 15 countries located in West Africa, urges stronger support for people with disabilities in a communique recently released during a regional...

Universal Design in Kindergarten and School, Guidelines and Universal Tools
The project Universal Design in Kindergarten and School, Guidelines and Universal Tools, is a project in cooperation between Rehabilitation International (RI) Norway and the Education Commission in RI International. The project is funded by grants from Global...
People with disabilities more likely to delay care during pandemic: study
According to a study published in a recent issue of Health Affairs, people with disabilities were more likely to delay medical care because of COVID-19. The study pulled from data from the 2020 National Health Interview Survey, an annual study conducted by the Centers...
Call for Applications – RI Centennial Award of Outstanding Contributions
On the occasion of RI's centennial anniversary, we are pleased to announce the RI Centennial Award of Outstanding Contributions that will be presented in conjunction with our Centennial Anniversary Celebrations, to commend individuals or organizations that have made...
More training needed for physicians to improve care for people with disabilities
According to a recent study of American physicians funded by the National Institutes of Health of the US Department of Health and Human Service, some physicians are refusing to provide care services for patients with disabilities because they lack the knowledge...
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