A visionary human rights lawyer and accessibility champion, Lorin MacDonald is transforming disability rights in Canada through tireless advocacy. Informed by her lived experience with profound hearing loss, she elevates the dialogue around disability through powerful storytelling and systemic change. As founder of HearVue, her social enterprise, she combines dynamic speaking engagements, specialized training, thought leadership, and strategic consulting to drive meaningful progress. Lorin's pioneering work has earned Canada's highest accolades, including the Law Society of Ontario Medal, the profession's highest honour, induction into the Canadian Disability Hall of Fame, membership in the Order of Ontario and the Order of Canada, the Governor General's Award in Commemoration of the Persons Case for advancing gender equality for women with disabilities, and the Ontario Human Rights Commission's Daniel G. Hill Human Rights Award for Distinguished Service.
"Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) initiatives often fail to fully address the lived experiences of people with disabilities. While understanding Disability Law is essential, true advocacy requires engagement with the human stories behind landmark cases, the history of the disability rights movement, and the systemic barriers that persist today. With 27% of Canadians living with disabilities, my goal is to develop lawyers who master both the legal framework and the empathy needed to serve their clients and support their colleagues with dignity, respect, and genuine inclusion."
