Who We Are
An introduction to IDEA-STEM and who we are, our journey, our team, and how we work.
We are researchers, educators, and IDEA professionals committed to transforming how inclusion is understood and practiced in Canadian workplaces and learning environments.
Rooted in lived experience and professional expertise, our team brings together an intersectional network of disabled, Mad, neurodivergent, chronically ill, and allied individuals from across the country. We work at the intersection of community leadership, academic research, and policy development to challenge ableism, sanism, and exclusion — and to center those most impacted.
Our focus is on advancing accessibility and inclusion in science, technology, engineering, math, and healthcare — as fields of study, sites of employment, and essential public services. Through research, collaboration, and consultation with governments, educational institutions, NGOs, and private sector partners, we support organizations in building inclusive policies, practices, and cultures.
We lead through co-creation, knowledge-sharing, and a deep belief that inclusion benefits everyone — and that lasting change begins with meaningful engagement and action.
[Image description: An airplane moving upward across the blue sky with a streak of white directly below. There is a hint of greenery at the top of the image hinting at trees framing the shot.]
🌿 IDEA-STEM: Our Journey
📍2014 — A Research Collaboration Begins
Mahadeo and Ainsley meet through a national research project exploring the experiences of graduate students with disabilities. Their shared lived experience, passion for inclusion, and academic expertise lay the foundation for years of collaboration — and eventually, something bigger.
“Can you help us do better?” — a question they hear often, from students to institutions.
📍2014–2019 — Building a Shared Vision
They co-present at national and international conferences, consult informally, and envision a different kind of organization — a centre of learning that would teach science inclusively and reimagine what access and excellence could look like in education and research.
📍2020 — The Pandemic Hits
Access barriers intensify.
Ainsley witnessed firsthand the exclusion disabled patients and workers face in hospital settings. Mahadeo, already working remotely, sees how the broader system deprioritizes access.
“Nobody gave a damn about persons with disabilities in any capacity.” — – Mahadeo Sukhai, Co-founder
IDEA-STEM is formally founded — not just as a concept, but as a response to urgent need.
📍2021 Organizational Pause
They entered an intentional period of organizational pause and slow build. Rather than pursue growth at any cost, they chose to focus on clarity of purpose, refining their values, and exploring sustainable ways of working. This meant laying the groundwork for what IDEA-STEM could become — developing infrastructure, deepening relationships, and ensuring that the foundation would support the work ahead.
📍2022–2023 — Growth Without Trying
Without active outreach, two major contracts and multiple engagements land organically. Their presence expands through conferences, panels, and partnerships — confirming the need, and the momentum.
“What if we tried?” — the question that fuels the next chapter.
📍2024–2025 — A Mission in Motion
IDEA-STEM expands, collaborates, and deepens its impact across sectors — with a growing team, network, and mandate. Their work lives at the intersection of science, strategy, and knowledge.
“We have a community internally, we have a community externally... and we have, as an organization, greater ability to change the world. And it’s time to use it.” – Mahadeo Sukhai