About me
Gary Malkowski graduated from BA in Social Work and Psychology and MA in Counselling at Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C., currently the only accredited university for the Deaf in the world. Gary works as Director, Sign Language Institute Canada at Deaf Culture Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Gary teaches as a part-time Civics and Career teacher at the International Yeshivas High School for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing in Toronto. Gary is H3 DEAFWIRE Regional Reporter for North America and he works voluntarily as Manager, Outreach and Government Relations with H3 DeafDots Project. Gary serves on Ministry of Education American Sign Language (ASL) Curriculum Expert Group. Gary served on AODA Standards Development Committee(s) on Transportation and Information & Communications. Gary currently serves on the David C. Onley Award for Leadership in Accessibility Selection Committee. Gary served on Canadian Transport Agency Accessibility Advisory Committee. Gary was Vice President, Community Development and Outreach, Vice-President, Stakeholder & Employer Relations, and Special Advisor to President, Public Affairs at the Canadian Hearing Society (CHS). Gary was President of the Toronto Association of the Deaf (TAD) and a chair ARCH Disability Law Centre. Gary served as a member of the Law Commission of Ontario’s Advisory Committee on the project titled Framework for the Law as It Affects Persons with Disabilities: Advancing Substantive Equality for Persons with Disabilities through Law, Policy and Practice.
Gary is a provincially and nationally recognized leader with an extensive track record of human rights, anti-discrimination, Deaf and disability advocacy work. He serves as advisor to a number of human rights and ombudsman organizations on issues related to anti-discrimination, anti-audism and anti-ableism, guidelines, policy, legislative and regulation developments. Gary serves on Elections Ontario Accessibility Advisory Committee on Elections Ontario. Gary was a member of Board of Directors of Broadcasting Accessibility Fund (BAF), and Vice-Chair, Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) Alliance. Gary served as a member of the City of Toronto’s Disability Issues Committee.
Gary has a number of accomplishments to his credit, including his involvement with the Federal and Provincial Ministries of Citizenship; Education; and Colleges, Universities and Training in policies and legislation related to employment equity. He has worked tirelessly on such issues as anti-racism, access and ethno-cultural equity, and access to professions and trades initiatives. He has made invaluable contributions to legal community services, including Osgoode Hall Law School and the Law Society of Upper Canada, and has provided legal strategies and advice to lawyers who have successfully reached several important rulings at the Supreme Court of Canada. These legal developments led to the successful introduction and implementation of Federal and Provincial Employment Equity Acts, the Anti-Racism Education Directorate, the Ontario Human Rights Commission’s Duty to Accommodate Policy, the Mental Health Services Act, and the Literacy and Life Skills Program.
Prior to joining CHS, Gary became the first elected Deaf politician in the world. During his term as NDP Member of Provincial Parliament for the riding (District) of York East (1990-1995), he was the Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Citizenship. He was also Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Education and Training. He served as a member on numerous standing committees, including the Administration of Justice, Finance and Economic Affairs, Social Development, Resource Development, General Government and Public Accounts as well for the Select Committee on Confederation of Ontario. In 1994, he introduced a Private Member’s bill for the Ontarians with Disabilities Act. This action led to the introduction and implementation of the AODA in 2005.
Gary has been awarded as one of Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (ADOA) 10th Anniversary Champion recipients (2015), an honourary doctorate degree from Gallaudet University (the L.H.D. Doctor of Humane Letters Degree), 2011, the Canadian Association of the Deaf’s Henry Vlug Award for Political, Legal, and Advocacy Action (July 2010), and the Queen’s Golden (2002) and Diamond (2012) Jubilee Medals in recognition of his community service. Ernest C. Drury School for the Deaf designated its library the Gary Malkowski Professional Library, 1998. He has also received the 1996 Canadian “Who’s Who” Award, the 1989 Ontario Government Community Action Award, the Ontario Federation of Community Mental Health and Addiction Program’s Outstanding Contribution to Mental Health Communities Award and many other honours provincially, nationally and internationally. He has been featured on TV, radio, and in newspapers and magazines nationally and internationally, including the CTV, Global and CBC. He has been the subject of a BBC documentary and a biographical play and book. He is currently writing his Memoirs book. Gary Malkowski graduated from BA in Social Work and Psychology and MA in Counselling at Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C., currently the only accredited university for the Deaf in the world. Gary works as Director, Sign Language Institute... (more)