KITE is a new member of the Accelerating Accessibility Coalition (AAC), a group dedicated to creating a more accessible Canada. Deepening relationships with design and development-related industry partners is critical for ensuring insights and best practice around accessible design is top-of-mind for city builders at the frontlines of city and community building. As such, KITE is pursing long-term collaborations with planning, design and building industry partners to help ensure inclusive design is embedded across all aspects of the built environment. Sample activities to date include:
- KITE hosted the ACC for an evening of discussions guided by our scientists where we toured members around our Challenging Environment Assessment Labs to demonstrate the various pieces of the accessibility puzzle, including built environments, accessible design, and emergency evacuations.
- KITE’s International Conference on Aging, Innovation & Rehabilitation featured Heela Omarkhail, and AAC member and Vice President of Social Impact at The Daniels Corporation.
- KITE/AAC are jointly pursuing an Accessibility Standards Canada Grant Application to help inform the Accessible-Ready Housing Standard (CAN/ASC 2.8), which provides a framework for designing homes that can be adapted to meet future accessible needs with minimal structural modifications, cost or effort.
