MEMBERS
VÉRO Leduc
chair and principal investigator
Véro Leduc is an artist, engaged scholar, and a professor in Communication Studies at the University of Quebec in Montreal, where she teaches in the Cultural Action program as well as in the Disability and Deafhood: Rights and Citizenship program, which she co-founded. First Deaf university professor in Quebec, she got appointed as Canada Research Chair in Cultural Citizenship of Deaf People and Cultural Equity Practices. Her recent work focuses on Deaf and Disability arts practices in Canada and Deaf music. In 2020, she received the Governor General’s Medal of Canada for her commendable work in breaking down barriers to social exclusion and enhancing access to university and culture for people who are Deaf and hard of hearing.
Photo credit: Émilie Tournevache
SARAH Heussaff
chair co-coordinator
Sarah Heussaff (PhD) is a research professional at the Chair. She holds a PhD in communication (UQAM) and a master’s degree in curatorial practice (Department of Art History, University of Rennes, France). Disabled researcher and curator, she is also a lecturer at the University of Quebec in Montreal (UQAM), within the Disability and Deafhood microprogram, as well as at the Institute for Feminist Research and Studies (IREF), where she teaches the course “Feminisms, Anti-Ableism, and Body Diversity.”
Her thesis, funded by the FRQSC, focuses on the emergence of disability/crip arts in relation to disability activist movements. As part of her doctoral research and creation, she has focused on the development of a disability-feminist curatorial practice that takes into account physical and cultural accessibility, and she curated the exhibition “De la vie au lit”, presented at the Galerie de l’UQAM in 2024.
Coordinator of the Disability, Deafhood and Innovations Laboratory, she has also been co-coordinator of the Canada Research Chair in Cultural Citizenship of Deaf People and Cultural Equity Practices since its creation in 2020. She is an organizing member of the Réseau d’études handi-féministe (REHF), she is also a member of the Centre de recherche Cultures Arts Sociétés (CELAT) and the Observatoire des médiations culturelles (OMEC).
Email: heussaff.sarah@uqam.ca
Photo credit: Sarah Heussaff
SENDY-LOO Emmanuel
chair co-coordinator
Disabled and neurodivergent artist, Sendy-Loo Emmanuel is a consultant, cultural worker, and doctoral student in communication at UQAM. Her research, rooted in Black Disability Studies, explores neurodivergence within Black communities through artistic collective creation, as a lever for intersectional dialogue and inclusion.
As founder of the WECAN Organization, she works to support, develop, and professionalize artists of afro-descent. With 16 years of experience in finance, visual arts, and performing arts, she combines cultural expertise with strategic management.
With degrees in infography and business administration and an MBA in management consulting, she is a certified management consultant and a member of the Order of Chartered Administrators. She is also a member of CELAT-UQAM, OMEC, and GERACII, affirming her commitment to research and cultural circles.
Email: emmanuel.sendy_loo@uqam.ca
Victoire Bajard
research assistant
Profoundly deaf from birth, Victoire Bajard has a non-linear academic career. With a degree in psychomotor skills (close to occupational therapy), she obtained a Master’s degree in Health at the University of Lyon 1 and at the same time an Inter-University Diploma (DIU) in Health Ethics, with the Universities of the Grand Est Français. These different courses allowed her to focus on the question of accessibility for deaf signing people to health services. Currently a doctoral student in communication at UQAM, she is preparing a thesis in communication on the access to health services for deaf communities in several countries. She grew up in a hearing environment, communicates in French (and increasingly in LSQ), and English.
Email: bajard.victoire@uqam.ca
MARIEKE Hassell-Crépeau
research assistant
Marieke Hassell-Crépeau holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology with a concentration in feminist studies from UQÀM, and is currently studying for a master’s degree in social work and the Handicap et sourditude : droits et citoyenneté graduate microprogram. Her research focuses on the experiences of mothers with chronic pain. Her dissertation, funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC), draws on Crip Studies and feminist disability studies, among others. Marieke lived with chronic migraine since adulthood, which means she has to deal with chronic pain and other incapacitating symptoms on a daily basis. She advocates solidarity between all people of the dis/abilities diversity.
Email: marieke.hassell-crepeau@mail.concordia.ca
Photo credit: Marieke Hassell-Crépeau
LAURE Abdelmoumeni Pierini
research assistant
Laure Abdelmoumeni Pierini holds a Masters in Gender, Equality and Social Policies from the Department of Sociology and a University Diploma in Visual Performing Arts in Sign Language, at the University of Jean Jaurès in Toulouse. As an amateur actress, she has performed in theater some adaptation pieces in LSF (French Sign Language). As a doctoral student in sociology at the University of Ottawa, her thesis focuses on the Deaf feminist movement. She is also a research assistant for the international component of the Gender, Disability, and Inclusive Development partnership project, funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada. As an activist for the rights of Deaf people, she is an executive member of the World Federation of the Deaf, Youth Section (WFDYS) for a four-year term (2019 – 2023).
Email: abdelmoumeni.laure.2@uqam.ca
Photo credit: Isaac Leal
JENNIFER Parenteau-Manning
research assistant
Multidisciplinary artist and quadrilingual Deaf interpreter, Jennifer Parenteau-Manning has always been active in the Deaf community. Diversity and inclusion are important values for her. She contributes to raising awareness and promoting Quebec Sign Language (LSQ) and accessibility for Deaf, hard of hearing and Deafblind people. Jennifer strives to create opportunities for collaboration between Deaf and hearing people in the cultural community. She has been seen headlining in the play Traversée and as an LSQ interpreter in Guérilla de l’Ordinaire, presented at the Théâtre d’Aujourd’hui. Within L-Expression, a sign singing collective, she performed in LSQ the song Plus rien, from Les Cowboys Fringants and performed various original musical performances in LSQ and ASL.
Photo credit: Jennifer Parenteau-Manning
Gwendoline Lüthi
research assistant
Gwendoline is a sexologist who graduated from the University of Quebec in Montreal and is a member of the Quebec Professional Order of Sexologists. She also holds a bachelor’s degree in social work from the School of Social Work and Health in Lausanne, Switzerland. She identifies as a queer woman from the dis/ability diversity and specializes in supporting people from the dis/ability diversity. She has developed a practice rooted in an anti-ableist, queer, feminist, and intersectional perspective. Her work aims to promote sexual justice, that is, equitable access to pleasure, autonomy, and relational and sexual dignity for all people, regardless of their bodies or life trajectories. A long-time activist in the feminist community, Gwendoline designs and facilitates inclusive sexuality education workshops, develops accessible educational materials, and offers training in clinical and community settings as well as conferences. She also conceived and hosted two seasons of the podcast “Au coin du brasier,” a socially conscious project that explores issues of sexuality and sexual and reproductive health for people with diverse abilities. She is currently pursuing a master’s degree in communication at UQAM, with a concentration in disability and deafness: rights and citizenship.
Email: luthi.gwendoline@uqam.ca
ÉMILIE Peltier
research assistant
After living in several countries, Émilie Peltier moved to New Brunswick in 2012. With a degree in language sciences, communication, and mediation, she works in the cultural community and is self-taught in filmmaking, photography, writing, printmaking, and embroidery. As her deafness influences her relationship to the world, she is conveying to visual, aesthetic, and textured projects, guided by an instinct for activism and an interest in strange and human relationships. She has (co)-directed various projects including 54 North, Matin Ecchymose et Mon baptême de sourde. Émilie moved to Montreal in 2021, took the course “Handicap et sourditude: droits et citoyenneté” at UQAM, and became involved in various accessibility organizations, all, while pursuing her identity and artistic exploration. In 2023, she joins the Chair and wishes to work towards the recognition of artists and cultural workers with disabilities.
Photo credit: Bernard Fougères
MARIE Achille
research assistant
Deaf at birth, Marie Achille obtained a bachelor’s degree in art history at the Université de Montréal and attended the summer school “Handicap et sourditude: droits et citoyenneté” in 2022. Constantly discovering new things and the importance of meeting the other to access oneself, opening up to otherness is essential to her. Practicing photography and participating in workshops of experimentation and creation in collective, the study of all bodies, gestures, non-verbal and affects is an integral part of his work. Putting forward our common and individual subjectivities is important to her. From a perspective of emancipatory and creative research, Marie is interested in critical studies on disability. Her Master’s degree in art history focuses on queer and disabled artistic practices.
Email: achille.marie@uqam.ca
Photo credit : Marie Achille
FLORENCE Lacombre
research assistant
Florence Lacombe is a proud Deaf woman and a graduate of the French Sign Language Interpretation Major at UQAM. From an early age, she has been actively involved in the Deaf community, its development and its recognition. Her experiences working with the hearing population have enabled her to identify barriers to accessibility, develop strategies for inclusion and promote Deaf culture.
Interpreter and translator of French, LSQ and ASL, Florence is also an activist for the rights of Deaf people and is actively involved in promoting Deaf culture and Deaf communities. She is interested in accessibility issues for Deaf signers who need a linguistic intermediary.
In 2023, she spent a year in Toulouse exploring new approaches and practices in accessibility for Deaf people, reinforcing her commitment to a more open and accessible society for all.
SARA Houle
interpreter
LSQ (Langue des signes québécoise – Quebec Sign Language) interpreter for over 20 years, Sara Houle is the designated interpreter for the Department of Social and Public Communication at University of Quebec in Montreal (UQAM). She has extensive experience in a variety of contexts, including the community, educational and artistic fields. With LSQ as her first language, she is committed to promoting its early acquisition and collaborates on various projects for the youth. Over the course of her career, she has developed ties with Deaf communities in several Canadian provinces, through her involvement in a variety of settings.
AUDREY Beauchamp
communications and marketing coordinator
Constantly motivated by action, new challenges, and issues in terms of accessibility, equity and inclusion, Audrey Beauchamp owns a small business in communication and marketing management, in addition to working as a marketing coordinator for CB Linguistic Services (SLCB). She has many years of experience in the field as well as in project management. Having worked within the Quebec Sign Language (LSQ) community, she is committed to helping organizations achieve their goals. An artist at heart, joining the Chair team comes naturally. She wishes to participate, among other things, in the promotion and recognition of artists from Deaf communities, and thus break down the obstacles related to cultural accessibility.
XING Fan
video capsules editor
Deaf, born in Shanghai, China, Xing immigrated to Quebec at the age of 16, shortly after shortly after obtaining a certificate in cooking. Trained in the Deaf Sector at Lucien-Pagé school, then in 2D animation technique at Cégep Vieux-Montréal, he obtained a college studies certificate in applied computer graphics at Cégep Ahunstic. Multilingual, he is fluent in Mandarin, English, French, as well as Chinese, Quebec, and American sign languages. Since 2020, he works as a video editor for Cinéall, a Deaf cinema production company. Having several strings to his bow, including artistic creation in all its forms, his dream is to continue working in digital art, a passion that thrills him.
KIM Auclair
graphic designer
Kim Auclair is an entrepreneur, blogger, lecturer, graphic designer and web communications consultant. Her strength? To help people get on the map, by showcasing the story behind their products, services or unique expertise to the media. Having a cochlear implant since September 17, 2019, she is also involved in various projects aimed at raising public awareness of the realities of Deaf and hard of hearing people. In particular, she makes illustrations and participates in the writing and layout of practical tools in collaboration with various stakeholders in the field.
MISS PHOTON
graphic | web design
Christine Deschenes, also known as MissPhoton, is a graphic designer, photographer, and a digital artist.
Missphoton was born in her twenties, when she was learning the art of creating with light, while studying photography. From this passion came naturally the desire to create beautiful visuals through design and digital art.
MISS PHOTON therefore refers to light, but also to her need to make a positive impact by sharing beauty and promoting what brings value to our lives.
Without borders and mobile, MissPhoton offers her services both in Quebec and internationally.
Photo credit: Christine Deschenes
ISAAC Leal
photographer
Fascinated by the magic of imagery, Isaac Leal has been exploring various forms of art related to this passion since his youth. Deaf from birth, he is curious about everything related to sign language, photography, and digital art.
He works as a photographer and webmaster while managing multiple artistic projects. Actively involved in the Deaf community, he contributes in his own way to the democratization of its artistic expressions.
Photo credit: Isaac Leal
Former members
Master’s student in communications at UQAM, Audrey-Anne Lamarre has a bachelor’s degree in social work and has worked as a social worker within the homelessness and mental health fields. Her interests revolve around marginality, self-determination of people considered deviant and inclusiveness of people living with mental health issues. She also developed a great interest in visual arts from a young age by watching episodes of Bob Ross, an American painter and television host, with her grandmother. As part of her master’s thesis, she studies the junction between art and madness as an emancipatory space for Mad* folks.
* “Stemming from the Psychiatric Survivors’ movement in the 1970s, Mad Pride represents an international arts and culture movement that is founded on Mad histories and identities, framing the medicalization and institutionalization experienced by Mad-identified people as oppression and inequitable practice. Rather than concentrating on awareness and coping with stigma, Mad arts focus on expressing the unique ways people experience the world in making meaning and creating countercultural movements” (Canada Council for the Arts, 2019: 20).
Isabel Lainez was raised in Mississauga, Ontario. She graduated in graphic design at the Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester, New York. She is a Latina designer, illustrator, and creative-of-many-talents. She founded and now owns the design studio Izalaix Design, that allows her loving mind to be creative everyday and to enjoy taking on different challenges. She has been an artist her entire life and today, she is a freelance designer who has worked on several different collaborating projects with a diversity of peoeple. These experiences encourage her to expand her skills set into more than what she is accustomed to, helping people make their own creative dreams a reality.
Doctoral student in communication at the University of Montreal, Marie-Ève Vautrin-Nadeau has studied in communication, arts (visual arts and literary creation) and intervention related to mental health. She is particularly interested in issues of emancipation, inclusion and citizenship of people living with a mental health disorder. As part of her thesis, she questions storytelling and public testimony practices that concerns these people, especially those who position themselves as “ambassadors” of mental health in the wake of awareness-raising initiatives and the fight against stigma. Creative and committed, she combines a socio‑historical sensitivity with a respectful gaze on stigmatized individuals and groups, in addition to cultivating an ethic of care and a clear interest in life story practices.
FUNDING
