Unfiltered: Adaptive - Sport, Fashion & Technology

UNFILTERED AF TALKS

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unfiltered tent - 215 King St W, Toronto.

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Saturday June 6, 2026

12:00 Pm

Adaptive AF – Sport, Fashion & Technology

What happens when sport, fashion, and technology are reimagined through an adaptive lens?

Adaptive AF brings together leaders across industries to explore how disability is reshaping the future of design, performance, and innovation. From adaptive athletics and inclusive fashion to accessibility-driven technology, this conversation highlights how different sectors are beginning to rethink who they design for — and why disabled perspectives are essential to building better experiences for everyone.

Featuring voices from sport, fashion, and tech, the panel will unpack the barriers that still exist, the progress being made, and the innovations helping redefine what inclusion can look like in practice.

Ardra Shephard

Moderator

Ardra Shephard is an author, creator, podcaster, advocate and television host. Her memoir Fallosophy: My Trip Through Life With MS (Douglas & McIntyre) is nominated for the 2026 Forest of Reading Evergreen Award.

Anthony Palma

Anthony Palma is Director of Partnerships and Strategic Initiatives at the KITE Research Institute, part of the University Health Network (UHN). UHN is Canada’s leading academic health sciences centre and home to Toronto General Hospital, recently ranked the #2 hospital in the world by Newsweek—the highest position ever achieved by a Canadian institution.

Anthony leads strategic collaborations that drive new diagnostics, treatments, innovations, and policy advancement. He champions inclusive care by bridging healthcare with sectors such as fashion, gaming, construction, and entertainment—unlocking new pathways for impact.

His work is grounded in the belief that patients, communities, academia, and industry all play a role in enabling healthier, more independent living at home.

Archie Allison

Archie Allison has been an advocate, program instructor and Director, Access, Awareness and Sport Teams at Variety Village since 1983, promoting sport and recreation and community connections for people of all ages and abilities. As a coach, event manager, advocate and workshop facilitator, Archie is dedicated to ensure everybody feels welcome in healthy active living initiatives in our community, city, province and country. Archie is an enthusiastic volunteer championing tournaments, competitions and community events introducing inclusive sport, health, and fitness. Archie has an extensive background instructing adapted physical activity programs, training initiatives, and sharing resources to connect families, coaches, educators, and organizations to collaborate and create spaces and places to play, participate or compete.

Izzy Camilleri

Izzy Camilleri is one of Canada’s leading and most celebrated fashion designers, and a pioneer in adaptive clothing. Izzy first ventured into the world of accessible clothing after initially doing custom work for a wheelchair user in 2004. It opened her eyes to the huge necessity for this type of clothing in the world. In 2022, Izzy received 2 awards for her adaptive line. She won the Innovation Award from the Women’s Empowerment Awards and the Fashion Impact Award from the CAFA Awards. In 2006, she received CAFA’s Womenswear Designer of the Year Award. Her adaptive line has been featured in the Royal Ontario Museum. For more than 39 years, she has designed custom clothing for an international clientele, crafted gorgeous collections featured in fashion magazines from Vogue to InStyle, and dressed celebrities like Daniel Radcliffe, Mark Wahlberg, Meryl Streep, Angelina Jolie and David Bowie. Since 2009, Izzy has focused on inclusive fashion through her brand IZ Adaptive, with the mission to make great looking and well fitting clothes accessible to everyone.

EXPLORE The Full Schedule

Mattmac performs passionately on stage, holding a microphone under moody purple and blue lighting. A DJ works behind turntables on the left, while a guitarist plays seated on the right. The stage is set with musical equipment, creating an atmospheric live concert setting.

Mainstage

luke, maayan, and jake, sit on a stage sharing a panel discussion smiling.

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