Thea Kurdi
Thea Kurdi (née Anthea Browne) is a Canadian accessibility specialist located in Mississauga, Ontario. Thea Kurdi studied architecture technology at Sheridan College, earning her Architecture Technologist Diploma in 2001. Kurdi is the vice president and co-owner of DesignABLE Environments, a universal design architecture consultation firm.
Professional life[edit]
Kurdi taught AutoCAD, REVIT, architectural history, sustainable design, and universal design with a specialized focus on fulfilling the Ontario Human Rights Code at Sheridan College for over a decade. She retired from teaching to dedicate her career to universal design at DesignABLE Environments, beginning as an accessibility specialist and code consultant in 2001 to vice president in 2018[1].
Kurdi has presented at conferences globally, sharing knowledge about the built environment and universal design to industry professionals.
- 2018 Universal Design Conferences in Auckland, New Zealand and Brisbane, Australia presenting “Living in Place – Universal and Accessible Design
- 6th Universal Design Conference in Seoul, Korea presenting “Designing for the Future – Universal Design in Urban Planning”, at IIDEX 2016 presenting “How Smart Green Design Choices Create Accessible Spaces”
- TRANSED 2012 in India
- Canadian Home Builders Association's conference in 2010 presenting about accessible housing, and as a panelist for the National Accessibility Summit.
- 2018 TEDx in Mississauga, Canada[2]
She became a Certified Professional in Accessible Built Environments (CPABE) - Level II Advanced (IAAP)[3] in 2020 and is also a member of ArtsBuild Ontario's Board of Directors since 2019[4]. Kurdi is an affiliate of the International Association of Accessibility Professionals and the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada, she is a member of the institute's Age-Friendly Housing Task Force. In 2019, Kurdi developed a universal design course for architects and designers in partnership with the RAIC. First of its kind, the course provides a background on accessibility in the built environment and addresses common gaps in legislation and how they can be overcome[5].
Kurdi is a frequent commentator and consultant regarding universal design and accessibility for projects across Ontario. Including the CNIB's proposal for a fully accessible neighbourhood where she is quoted saying, "If you said to a person with vision loss, ‘your phone is going to take care of it, you’re going to bring the solution with you,’ that does allow the user to pick the right solution for themselves, but it’s also kind of akin to telling a person who uses a mobility assistive device,’ you bring your own ramp[6].'” She has also commented on the Yonge Street Bike Lane Project proposed in 2020, "It’s more sustainable to be accessible, rather than having to go back and change it, build it right the first time.[7]” In 2020, Kurdi became an advocate for the inclusion of public health measures supporting people with disabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic.[8]
Social media presence[edit]
Kurdi has developed a social media presence on Twitter and LinkedIn where she facilitates industry knowledge-sharing and connects with architects, planners, interior designers, and consultants. In 2020, she appeared on AXSChat[9], and became a regular contributor to the Now with Dave Brown Show[10].
References[edit]
- ↑ "Team at DesignABLE Environments Inc". designable.ca. Retrieved 2021-01-22. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "Prestigious TEDx Event Returning to Mississauga". www.insauga.com. Retrieved 2021-01-27.
- ↑ "CPABE Certification". www.accessibilityassociation.org. Retrieved 2021-01-22.
- ↑ "board of directors | ArtsBuild Ontario". www.artsbuildontario.ca. Retrieved 2021-01-22.
- ↑ "Introduction to Successful Accessible Design". raic.org. Retrieved 2021-01-22. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "CNIB aims to create 'most accessible' neighbourhood in Toronto". Global News. Retrieved 2021-01-27.
- ↑ "How Toronto's hidden bars and speakeasies have changed since the pandemic hit". TRNTO.com. 2020-10-01. Retrieved 2021-01-27.
- ↑ Duggal, Sneh (July 4, 2020). "ADVOCATES TURN TO ONLINE FORUM TO HIGHLIGHT CHALLENGES PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES FACE DURING COVID-19 CRISIS". Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ AXSChat (2020-07-03), #AXSCHat with Thea Kurdi, Vice President at DesignABLE Environments, retrieved 2021-01-22
- ↑ "Listen to NOW with Dave Brown on TuneIn". TuneIn. Retrieved 2021-01-22.
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