Sukaina Dada

Dr. Sukaina Dada has been working in the area of paediatric disability for over 15 years. She focuses on addressing health disparities faced by racialized and newcomer children with disabilities and advocates for protecting the rights of children globally.

Sukaina is a pediatric occupational therapist and chief executive officer of SMILE Canada - Support Services, a Canadian nonprofit organization where she oversees the strategic planning of services and programs that support the unique needs of underserved families in Canada facing systemic and environmental barriers. Sukaina holds a PhD in Critical Disability Studies, School of Health Policy, and Management from York University with a research focus on displacement and disablement. She recently completed a visiting postdoctoral fellowship at York University, developing an artificial intelligence search engine for disability advocates globally and the UNCRPD Secretariat.

Through her grassroots work, she makes a significant community impact through advocacy on intersectional oppressions, safer spaces, culturally responsive supports, and culturally relevant resources. Her recent book "Untold Stories of Displacement and Disablement" addresses the critical intersections of disablement and displacement impacting disabled refugee children and their families.