Meet Carly Fox
Short and Sweet
Carly Fox (she/her/elle) is a queer, neurodivergent, and invisibly disabled 24-year-old disability rights advocate based out of Ottawa, Canada. Through public speaking, consultations, workshops, and blogs, her advocacy focuses on connecting individual experiences of disability inclusion and accessibility to wider social, political, economic, and legal structures to champion meaningful collective action for systemic and sustainable change. With an academic background in international development and human rights and a professional background working on disability policy at national and international levels within Disabled Persons Organizations and the federal public service, Fox is passionate about empowering others to realize disability rights in their everyday lives.
If You Want to Learn Way Too Much About Me
Carly Fox (she/her/elle) is a queer, neurodivergent, and invisibly disabled 24-year-old disability rights advocate based out of Ottawa, Canada.
Her advocacy work – whether through blogs, public speaking engagements, workshops, or consultations – revolves around connecting individual experiences to wider social, political, economic, and legal landscapes that help us better understand how we can all come together and advocate for meaningful and sustainable change in our communities and beyond.
Drawing from her lived experiences of neurodivergence (ADHD), psychosocial disability (PTSD), and invisible physical disability (Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis, Fibromyalgia), Fox is passionate about moving beyond awareness-raising to educate the public on cross-disability issues through empathetic and empowering dialogue that meets people where they’re at. Her public speaking engagements speak to the variety of topics she’s ready to tackle: from neurodivergence in the workplace at Hyundai Canada to the legislative process in Accessible Media Inc’s Got Game.
Her academic background in international development and human rights (uOttawa, 2020-2025) and political economy (Carleton University, 2025-) supports her ability to translate policy jargon and broad human rights commitments into practical reforms and advice for the general public. Infinitely more importantly, it has allowed her to empower other disabled people in understanding their human rights and becoming more involved in rights monitoring processes. Currently in her second year of the MA Political Economy program at Carleton University, she plans to complete her Master Research Essay on how accessibility improvements without addressing the legislated disability poverty crisis may serve to further marginalize those on provincial disability assistance.
Carly has been incredibly privileged to work with a number of Disabled Persons Organizations that have shaped her understanding of disability, accessibility, and beyond. Foundational to both her personal identity and career trajectory, she spent 4 years as Communications & Partnerships Director for the National Educational Association of Disabled Students (2021-2024). Here, she was able to meet with on-campus disabled and neurodivergent student groups across Canada to gain a better grasp of regional issues while providing meaningful advocacy opportunities. She also learned how to collaborate with public service partners to advocate for targeted, practical reforms – such as the expansion of the Federal Grant for Students with Disabilities to include those with persistent and prolonged disabilities (largely those with mental and chronic illnesses!)
Fox also has a close relationship to the Council of Canadians with Disabilities, having served as their International Chair from 2022-2025 and now serving as the Youth Representative. As International Chair, she led working groups on awareness-raising and access to information for Canadian Civil Society’s Parallel Report to the United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
As International Chair, she also served on Global Affairs Canada’s Disability-Inclusive Development Working Group, and participated in Foreign Affairs Minister Joly’s human rights roundtable.
Carly also draws from her experience within the public service in the Office of the Chief Information Officer and Office of Public Service Accessibility (OPSA) at the Treasury Board Secretariat. Working on the first-ever review of the Access to Information Act, Fox gained a new appreciation for levers of government transparency and accountability. Her time at OPSA allowed her to immerse herself in federal departments’ accessibility plans and enforcement mechanisms, and to lead two National AccessAbility Weeks (NAAWs). This experience provided her with the unique ability to understand government priorities and constraints when advocating both within and outside of the federal government.
Fox has had the immense honour of representing Canada at several forums abroad. As a two-time Youth Delegate, she was a member of Canada’s official delegation to the United Nations Conference of State Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. In New York, she spoke on the importance of economic security and meaningful employment for disabled youth at an official side event (2022). In a civil society capacity, she attended the Global Disability Summit in Berlin (2025), where she strengthened her understanding of how disability manifests and marginalizes in conflict zones. Most recently, she has collaborated with the International Disability Alliance to host a webinar on the resulting GDS Youth Call to Action (2025).
In her free time, Fox loves birdwatching, kayaking, documentaries, and thermotherapy – and is basically a volunteer bouncer at Ottawa’s mainstay music festivals. While she’s trying pretty hard to not burn out (again) and (hopefully) complete her graduate studies, she’s a little too happy to still make time for advocacy causes near and dear to her heart.
Selected Work
Canadian Human Rights Commission Consultation on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights
Throughout a 2-day virtual consultation, Fox emphasized improving post-secondary education accessibility across all provinces and accessible entry-level employment for youth with disabilities.
Council of Canadians with Disabilities 50th Anniversary
Alongside Ben Akuoko, Carly moderated the CCD 50th anniversary at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights.
GDS Webinar on the Youth Call to Action
Following her time at the 2025 Global Disability Summit, Carly was invited to moderate an international panel on the GDS Youth Call to Action.
Accessible Media Inc’s Got Game Season 2
On the second season of AMI’s Got Game, Carly joined 6 other disabled youth to candidly discuss coming-of-age with disabilities in a board game café. Her episode explores her disability rights advocacy, chronic pain, and balance between life and work. Features include Frank Smith from the National Educational Association of Disabled Students (NEADS), Judith the Arthritic Dinosaur, and her 2025 graduation party.
Leadership in Canadian Disabled Youth Advocacy: Pathways and Intersections with Dr Laverne Jacobs
Collaborating with the University of Windsor’s Law, Disability, and Social Change Centre, Carly co-developed this virtual panel discussion to highlight the incredible depth of young disabled talent across Canada, and how the wider disability community can better include the next generation of leaders.
To Adulthood
and Beyond: Navigating
Transitions to Adult
Health Care, Post-
Secondary Education, and
the Work Force (Beyond Limits)
Carly was invited by Winnipeg’s Beyond Limits Conference to speak on the transitions disabled youth navigate across healthcare, employment, and education.
Celebrating Success, Challenging Systemic Ableism and Inspiring the Future of Accessibility (IDPD Keynote for the Manitoba Accessibility Office)
To celebrate the International Day of Persons with Disabilities with the Manitoba Accessibility Office, Carly delivered a keynote exploring Manitoba’s success as arguably the most accessible province.
Neurodivergence with Hyundai Canada
This one-hour presentation explored neurodiversity in an authentic and compassionate environment with Hyundai Canada employees to address common misconceptions, identify opportunities, and empower neurodivergent-inclusive workspaces.
Disability in Health & Phys Ed with OPHEA
Speaking to students, educators, and school board personnel, Carly shared her experience navigating gym class with an invisible disability and provided helpful class modifications embedded in Universal Design Learning.
COSP CRPD 16 Side Event on Economic Security
This side event will offer the opportunity to explore modern approaches towards building accessible and disability-inclusive support systems, employment opportunities and economic stability for persons with disabilities.
Minister Carla Qualtrough’s IDPD Youth Townhall
Placeholder
Disability 101 Workshop with UOSU’s Feminist Resource Centre
Hosted by UOSU’s Women’s Resource Centre, Carly delivered a presentation covering everything from types of disabilities to the cycle of inaccessibility to wrap up Disability Pride Month.
Self-Advocacy Instagram Live with Take A Pain Check
Carly was invited by Take A Pain Check and Canadian Arthritis Patient Alliance to speak on the importance of self-advocacy as a young adult with a history of Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) and Psoriatic Arthritis. To read Carly’s accompanying blog post, click here.
Systemic Nature of Inequity at uOttawa’s IDW ’22
Carly was once again hosted by uOttawa’s International Development Week, where she spoke on the systemic nature of ableism and how it intersects with other oppressive forces. Fox was joined by Alyy Patel of QSAW Network, Anjum Sultana from Plan International Canada, and Jasleen Kaur!
Take A Pain Check Podcast
Hosted by Natasha Trehan and joined by her twin Makayla Fox, Carly discusses her experiences being diagnosed with JIA, the unique experience of having a twin with the same chronic illness, and additional considerations taken when moving out with an invisible disability.
Equity x Design Documentary ’21
As a first year international development student at the University of Ottawa, Carly was fortunate to be given a platform to share how her disabilities impacted her experiences in the performing arts, and how they now shape her experiences in development academia and practice.