Current building and accessibility codes represent basic, minimal standards that are often not accessible for all. By incorporating the lived experience of persons with disabilities, the Canadian Society for Civil Engineering (CSCE) is working to identify infrastructure issues that are often overlooked in design, make adjustments that can be done easily at low cost, and establish flexible design approaches that can be readily modified in later use.
Alan Perks, Engineer-in-Residence at the Department of Civil Engineering, University of Ottawa and Past CSCE President will share examples of the work of the CSCE’s Task Force on Accessibility, which aims to accelerate accessibility and integrate Universal Design principles in engineering practice and education across Canada.
Tracy MacDonald, Senior Bridge Engineer with the New Brunswick Department of Transportation and Infrastructure, will speak about her experience navigating the built environment with a mobility disability and using her engineering background and lived experience to advocate for Universal Design.