A Celebration of the Accessibility Acts of Canada and the US

A Celebration of the Accessibility Acts of Canada and the US 
Date: Thursday, March 25, 2021 
Presented by: The Royal Architectural Institute of Canada and the U.S. Embassy in Canada 

SESSION:

In celebration of the first anniversary of the Accessible Canada Act and the 30^th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the RAIC and the U.S. Embassy are coming together to present a one-hour discussion on the similarities, differences, challenges, and opportunities that these two national acts pose for architects, and those they are designing for.  

Canadian architect Annie Boivin and American architect Karen L. Braitmayer will present their experiences and insights on designing functional, accessible, barrier-free environments that are inclusive for all users. Host Bob Topping will also address the landmark legislation in both countries, the development of accessibilities codes, and the implications for the design and building industries. A moderated Q+A session will explore the similarities and differences that these two national approaches pose to accessible design.  

Continuing education learning hours: 1 credit

Live closed captioning will be provided for this event. 

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
At the conclusion of this session, participants will be able to:

1. Compare the similarities and differences between the ADA and ACA legislation.
2. Discuss the impacts of the Accessible Canada Act and the American’s with Disabilities Act on the built environment.
3. Familiarity with the diversity within accessibility and the size of the disabled population in the US and Canada.
4. Identify some of the gaps in legislation to improve best practices of accessible design in the industry.

Annie Boivin began her journey through the architectural practice in 2003 at Laval University. She then moved to the West Coast to attend the University of British Columbia (UBC), where she completed her master's degree in 2011. Upon graduation, Annie started her professional career at Perkins and Will under the guidance of Peter Busby. In addition to her work as an architect, she also contributes to a design studio for the undergraduate program of her alma mater (UBC). Having lived with a disability all of her life, Annie's unique perspective on matters of universal design is greatly sought after by her peers. She contributed to numerous articles dedicated to accessibility and the built environment. Most recently, Perkins and Will, in collaboration with Canadian Architect Magazine, celebrated her induction to the Architectural Institute of British Columbia (AIBC) with the publication of an article dedicated to her story.

Karen Braitmayer, FAIA, is the founder and managing principal of Studio Pacifica, an accessibility consulting firm in Seattle.   She and her team provide consulting services to local governments, school districts, architects, engineers, companies and individuals concerned with complying with Federal laws and State codes, as well as simply creating spaces that work for the unique needs of individual users. Karen also leads presentations and workshops around the country to further educate professionals about codes, standards, and inclusion. Early in her career, it occurred to Karen that as an architect and a wheelchair user, it was possible for her to make a unique contribution to the field.  Her professional focus on accessibility and her advocacy efforts for inclusion have certainly done that! As a registered architect, Karen was admitted to the prestigious College of Fellows by the American Institute of Architects (AIA). In 2010 she was appointed by President Barack Obama to the United States Access Board, a policy position that she still holds today. Most recently she was awarded the 2019 Whitney M. Young Jr. award by the American Institute of Architects in recognition of her leadership in civil rights for people with disabilities, social sustainability, public policy, and universal design.   Additionally, Karen was named 2019 Person of the Year by New Mobility Magazine. Karen is also an active volunteer and non-profit board member.

Bob Topping MRAIC OAA
DesignABLE Environments Incorporated l President

Bob Topping is the president of DesignABLE Environments Inc. and a regional director for the International Union of Architects (UIA) Architecture for All Work Program. He has over thirty years of experience practicing and teaching architecture with specialization and interest in the fields of barrier-free design and universal design.

Registration closes Wednesday, March 24 at 2:00 pm EST

 PRICE:

This session is free for Regular RAIC Members. 

The cost for Interns and Retired RAIC Members is $5.00, plus applicable taxes.

The cost for non-members is $10.00, plus applicable taxes.

TIME: 

Thursday, March 25, 2021 

More information, including online access instructions will be sent to you by email on the evening prior to the webinar.