Dr. Sukaina Dada has been working to improve children’s health and wellness 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. Dr. Dada is a paediatric occupational therapist who has worked with disabled children and youth in various community and healthcare settings. She is the founder and executive director of SMILE Canada - Support Services, a Canadian charity supporting newcomer children and youth with disabilities and their families. Through her grassroots work, Dr. Dada has had a significant policy impact through advocacy on antiracism, safer spaces, culturally responsive supports, and culturally relevant resources. She oversees the strategic planning of services and programs that support the unique needs of more than 750 underserved families facing institutional barriers.

Dr. Dada holds a PhD in Critical Disability Studies from the School of Health Policy and Management at York University with a research focus on displacement and disablement. She has recently completed a visiting postdoctoral fellowship at York University, developing an artificial intelligence search engine for disability advocates globally and the UNCRPD Secretariat. Her upcoming book (2024) addresses the critical intersections of disablement and displacement impacting disabled refugee children and their families.