Location: Laurentian Main campus, room C-104

1.5 ConEd Learning Hours
10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m

Panellists Julian Lum-Smith (Universal Design Lead at Arcadis IBI Group), Julie Sawchuk (Principal, Sawchuk Accessible Solutions), and Johanna Contreras (Senior Advisor, Universal Design at Metrolinx) discuss public transit and new and emerging needs of persons with disabilities, as well as opportunities for improvement. This session examines the regulatory environment surrounding accessible transportation and explores innovative and universal design solutions that serve the varying needs and abilities of all transit users.

The panellists aim to inspire architects, designers, policymakers, and transportation providers to think inclusively about accessibility in public transportation. The discussion will be a valuable opportunity to learn about how to improve the public transit experience for persons with disabilities in Ontario in a way that benefits all users.

Learning Objectives

1. Describe the current gaps in accessibility that exist in public transportation systems and infrastructure in Ontario.
   
2. Compare the regulatory environments that exist between various transportation systems within the province.
   
3. Identify innovative best practices and universal design solutions that work to improve accessibility in public transportation.
   
4. Apply the lens of persons with lived-experiences to all current and future projects.

Julian Lum-Smith is an accomplished architectural designer with six years of experience, specializing in universal design. He has worked on a wide range of projects, from civic buildings to transit facilities, all while ensuring designs are accessible and inclusive for people of all abilities. Julian's most recent role involved leading universal design efforts for his team. A part-time professor at both Humber and Sheridan Colleges, he teaches architecture and interior design, sharing his expertise with the next generation of architects and designers, helping to equip them with the skills they need to succeed. He is also a frequent presenter at industry conferences, where he shares his insights and best practices with peers and colleagues.

Johanna Contreras is the senior advisor, universal design, at Metrolinx and has been working as an accessibility and universal design professional for over 10 years. Truly passionate about design that promotes accessible environments and end-to-end customer experiences for all, Johanna oversees the development and application of design standards for Universal Design for public transit infrastructure in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area. Johanna is accountable for the continual improvement of this corporate standard, through the integration of a higher-quality customer experience and safety considerations. Johanna sits on several Technical Committees for Standardization, CSA B651 Accessible Design for the Built Environment; ISO/SC 16, 21542 Accessibility and Usability of the Built Environment; and the Design of Public Spaces Standards Development Committee under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA).

Julie Sawchuk, RHFAC Professional, is the CEO of Sawchuk Accessible Solutions. As a best-selling author, speaker, educator, and accessibility strategist, Julie is committed to forming positive, strong, and responsive relationships that help create accessible spaces. After sustaining a spinal cord injury in 2015, she became aware of the everyday challenges of living in a world not built with accessibility in mind, and so began her journey as an accessibility strategist. Julie earned the Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility Certification and launched Sawchuk Accessible Solutions, where she consults, completes accessibility ratings, and educates folks in the design and construction industry all across Canada. Whether retrofitting an existing building or starting from scratch, Julie speaks to audiences of architects, facilities managers, engineers, and builders to achieve meaningful levels of accessibility for private homes, international airports, and everything in between.
Chosen by the Province of Ontario, Julie is the Chair of the Standards Development Committee for the review of the Design of Public Spaces under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). She was also a key member of the CSA B652 Accessible Housing Building Standard Technical Committee and is the Vice Chair of the Huron County Accessibility Advisory Committee.