Founded in 1986, the National Educational Association of Disabled Students (NEADS) has the mandate to support full access to education and employment for disabled and neurodivergent post-secondary students and graduates across Canada. NEADS is a by-and-for, cross-disability charitable organization, focused on responding to the diverse and intersectional needs of disabled and neurodivergent students and graduates. NEADS’ work is grounded in three strategic areas: disabled student debt reduction; improving disabled student experience in class and on campus; and supporting student and graduate employment.  

NEADS works alongside federal, provincial and territorial governments, community-based organizations, and other entities to improve opportunities for disabled and neurodivergent persons within post-secondary education and the labour market. For example, NEADS sits on the National Advisory Group on Student Financial Assistance and is a member organization of both the Council of Canadians with Disabilities (CCD) and Canadian Accessibility Network (CAN).