Media
The Agenda with Steve Paikin - Fighting For A Barrier-Free Ontario
Twenty-five years ago, a group of 20 Ontarians with various disabilities gathered at Queen's Park with a mission: to push the province to commit future governments to make Ontario as barrier-free as possible. The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act became law in 2005 and set stringent goals and deadlines. The Agenda welcomes David Lepofsky, chair of the AODA Alliance, and Thea Kurdi, vice-president at DesignABLE Environments, an accessible-design organization, to discuss what progress has been made.
Designing Buildings to Have Full and Proper Accessibility for People with Disabilities
Lecture for the University of Waterloo Faculty of Architecture students, by David Lepofsky, Chair of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act Alliance, and Thea Kurdi, of DesignABLE Environments Inc. Accessibility Specialist for the Built Environment, on how to design buildings with full and proper accessibility for people with disabilities. Captioned with audio description.
Disability Expert Conference
What Should Canada’s Promised National Accessibility Law Include? Cutting-edge Ideas from Experts from Around the World.
See Thea Kurdi's comments (starting at about 23 min mark) about current accessibility in Canada with information about building code, the Ontario Accessibility for Ontarians with Disability Act (AODA) and the amazing leadership that has been happening in Ontario municipalities since 2001, like those from City of Mississauga's Facility Accessibility Design Standards (FADS)
City looks at making PATH system more accessible
CityNews Toronto, November 18, 2019Television
URL: https://toronto.citynews.ca/video/2019/11/18/city-looks-at-making-path-system-more-accessible/
Toronto’s downtown PATH system is supposed to be an easy way to get connected to the downtown core. Mark McAllister with concerns that it’s not accessible enough to those living with disabilities. Thea Kurdi explains how disabilities is a lot more than just wheelchair users and mobility disabilities including those with vision loss or blindness, the d/Deaf, deafened, and hard or hearing, those with multiple chemical sensitivities, autism, arthritis, cognitive and learning disabilities, assistance animals, etc.
New Accessible and Universal Design Built Environment segment on NOW with Dave Brown
AMI Radio and TV NOW with Dave Brown show, September 14, 2020Radio/Podcast
URL: https://tunein.com/podcasts/Talk-Show-Replays/NOW-with-Dave-Brown-p930896/?topicId=157267658
Introduction for a new monthly segment with Thea Kurdi from DesignABLE Environment Inc.
How to make parks and outdoor spaces more accessible for all children
CBC Metro Morning Toronto, July 4, 2018Radio/Podcast
URL: https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/1270040643832
For Canadians with disabilities, finding active, outdoor spaces can be a challenges. We talk to accessibility specialist Thea Kurdi.
What the new Accessible Canada Act means for Canada’s future
, June 23, 2019Print
URL: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/what-new-accessible-canada-act-means-canadas-future-thea-kurdi/
This new historic legislation has a name that sounds like a big promise — but will it actually address in a timely fashion the barriers that Canadians with disabilities still face?
Let’s not mince words here: the Royal Assent received Friday June 21st, making the new Accessible Canada Act (ACA) law — some twenty-nine years since the American's ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) — is far more important than the mediocre media coverage suggests and includes goals that are the next ambitious steps for creating an equal Canada.
Top insider secrets to what's stopping full inclusion in design & how you can help fix them
, January 20, 2019Print
URL: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/top-insider-secrets-whats-stopping-full-inclusion-design-thea-kurdi/
As a built environment accessibility specialist for the last 18 years, Thea's work brings her into contact with the full circle of those involved with the design and construction of new buildings from the architects design team to the contractor, to the building owner, the government policymakers, building users and of course people with disabilities. In this unique position, Thea hears what all from their unique perspectives are thinking about, worrying about, getting confused and frustrated about in the creation of accessible design. This paper, which was used as the basis for her TEDx Mississauga 2019 talk, explores the 6 insider secrets she has discovered that are holding back getting accessibility right in new and renovated buildings and spaces. Facts and examples make this an illuminating read.
Feedback:
"Congrats and thank you, Thea Kurdi for writing such a comprehensive summary of where we have been, where we are, AND where we need to go, in order to design and build usable, safe, and inclusive spaces for all." Margot McWhirter 1st degree connection 1st Accessibility & Aging-in-Place Consultant | Public Speaker & Educator | Facilitator of Change
"Phenomenal job Thea Kurdi!!! Really value the candid approach you took! Packed with education, facts and valuable takeaways for the world!" Unstoppable Tracy Schmitt BRLS, B.Ed, MBA 1st degree connection 1st #1 International Corporate Speaker with No Excuses!
"Thea Kurdi's TEDx talk is clear, interesting, and even amusing in places. It also presents a lot of useful information in actionable form. It's worth reading, even if this doesn't affect you directly, and also worth forwarding to people who may find it enlightening and useful.
From my point of view, as someone who is not involved in making these kinds of decisions, the biggest takeaway was that people in the abled(?) community takes things for granted, thinking that the problems are solved when they ain't. A real wake-up call!" Richard Worzel, C.F.A. 1st degree connection 1st As a futurist & keynote speaker
Accessible fire safety tips for property managers
Canadian Property Management part of the RMI Network, January 23, 2018Online
URL: https://www.reminetwork.com/articles/accessible-fire-safety-tips-for-property-managers/
Canada's buildings are unprepared for increasing disability rates
By Rebecca Melnyk
Buildings are unprepared for increasing disability rates in Canada, raising concerns among accessibility advocates who see the built environment as a laggard when it comes to fire safety.
Canadian children lack accessible play spaces
FC&M part of the RMI Network, January 18, 2018Online
URL: https://www.reminetwork.com/articles/canadian-children-need-more-accessible-play-spaces/
Inclusivity also supports an aging population of caregivers who need access
By Rebecca Melnyk
Despite the fact that 92 per cent of Canadians agree that accessibility for people with disabilities is a basic human right, playgrounds across the country continue to leave children on the sidelines with design and maintenance practices that are not fully inclusive.
Biography
Thea Kurdi is an accessibility specialist and dynamic speaker with over 19 years of experience in design for the built environment. She is known for her enthusiasm for both the subject and teaching. She has presented workshops, keynote addresses, and lectures at local and international events for design students, professionals, building owners, and policymakers. From the human rights code to evidence-based design and increased marketability, Kurdi shares how accessibility is fundamental to successful architecture and sustainability goals.