Technical committee on outdoor spaces
Role
The role of the technical committee for standards for outdoor spaces is to:
- identify where persons with disabilities may face barriers in the outdoor environment
- develop a national standard or standards that will try to remove or prevent these barriers
This standard or standards will apply to all private and public sector organizations in the federally regulated sector.
Compensation for individual members
We are adopting Canadian and international practices to develop accessibility standards. We will recruit experts from various backgrounds. These are volunteer roles as most members will represent organizations. If an individual with a disability is not paid by an organization, we will compensate them for their role as an expert on a technical committee.
Travel directive
If members need to travel, Accessibility Standards Canada covers expenditures, as per the Government of Canada travel directive.
Areas of focus
A few areas where persons with disabilities may face barriers in outdoor spaces include:
- outdoor paths:
- recreation trails
- paths to beaches
- sidewalks and walkways
- lack of accessible parking
- outdoor public use eating areas
- outdoor play spaces
- services (for example service counters)
- maintenance (fixing things)
Committee members
Find below our technical committee members, title, and organization, grouped by stakeholder category.
Academic and research bodies
Dr. Patricia Longmuir, Senior Scientist, CHEO and CHEO Research Institute
Dr. Alison Novak, Scientist, KITE Research Institute, Toronto Rehabilitation Institute – University Health Network
Dr. Keiko Shikako, Associate Professor, School of Physical and Occupational Therapy, McGill University
Maria-Jose Aguilar-Carrasco, Researcher, PARCOURS Project, University of British Columbia and Universitat Politècnica de València, València (Spain)
Dr. Atul Jaiswal, Research Operations Manager, Bruyère Research Institute
Government and authorities having jurisdiction
Yoland Charette, Chief, Landscape Architecture and Industrial Design for National Capital Commission
Robert Lipka, Principal Urban Designer, City of Edmonton
Dr. Nicole Yantzi, Coordinator, Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, City of Belleville
Touria Chraibi, Program Agent, Natural Resources Canada
Non-governmental Organizations
Haley Flaro (Chairperson), Executive Director, Ability New Brunswick
Isabelle Ducharme (Vice-Chairperson), Chair of the Board of Directors, Kéroul
Marnie Courage, Member/Representative, Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists (CAOT)
Kevin Ng, Director of Technical and Program Content, Rick Hansen Foundation
Standards users
Ivy Smith, Associate Landscape Designer, LEES+Associates Landscape Architecture and Planning
Andrew Ashby, Manager, Accessibility Services, Human Rights & Equity Office, Queen's University
Peter Stapper, Outdoor spaces consultant
Denis Baribeau, Public works technician, Inventory and Planning Department, des Transports et de la Mobilité durable
Standards Development Organizations
Stephanie Singh, Project Manager, CSA Group