O’Hara Aging + Accessibility

Happy Holidays!✨ As we wrap up 2024, we can't help but reflect on what an amazing year it's been! Thank you to our stellar clients and partners for your efforts and collaboration. You've truly made a difference and have advanced accessibility and disability inclusion across Canada. We wish you a joyful, restful holiday season filled with magic, and we hope the new year brings you happiness and inspiration! We're excited to dive into 2025 with you and continue our meaningful and transformative accessibility journey together. Warmest wishes and lots of gratitude, Aislin & Melody Image description in comments.

Happy International Day of Persons With Disabilities! 💟 Today, I’m rocking my purple socks (with cats, of course) to celebrate inclusion, accessibility, and equity! As a person with a disability, I wear these with a lot of pride. They aren’t just a pop of colour for me - they’re a reminder that we all have a part to play in breaking down barriers. This year, I am particularly proud that I am part of a team at O’Hara Aging + Accessibility and ProHara that not only advocates for change but actively creates it every day. We’re working alongside clients who truly walk the talk—prioritizing accessibility in their workplaces and services every day. Accessibility isn’t just a checkbox but a core value. Here’s to progress, pride, and creating a future that benefits everyone. 💜 #IDPD2024 #AccessibilityForAll #WalkingTheTalk #InclusionMatters Aislin O'Hara Kell Samantha Ryan (Proulx), C.E.T., RHFAC, BCIN Image Description: This image is of a person’s feet wearing purple socks adorned with colourful cartoon cat faces in yellow, blue, red, and white. The perspective is a top-down view with a beige carpet underneath, and the person is wearing black leggings. The hashtag IDPD2024 is at the top of the image with a purple background to celebrate International Day of Persons With Disabilities 2024

On December 3rd, we join the United Nations in celebrating the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD) and amplifying its message and theme. 🌍 This year’s theme, 'Amplifying the leadership of persons with disabilities for an inclusive and sustainable future,' highlights the UN’s commitment to advancing inclusion, equality, and the rights of persons with disabilities worldwide. The theme emphasizes the essential role of individuals with disabilities in creating an inclusive and sustainable world for everyone. It also highlights the importance of their involvement in decision-making processes that affect their lives. How Allies Can Take Action: ✅ Champion the leadership of people with disabilities. ✅ Promote inclusion in your workplace and community. ✅ Amplify the voices of people with disabilities in decision-making. ✅ Celebrate the achievements of people with disabilities. ✅ Share the stories of people with disabilities to inspire change. ✅ Harness the power of social media to amplify this message. At O'Hara Aging + Accessibility, we're passionate about making the world a more inclusive place! Our mission is all about building age-friendly and accessible communities and creating inclusive experiences that everyone can enjoy. Join us in spreading awareness and celebrating this important day—because an inclusive future benefits everyone! #DisabilityDay #IDPD #EveryoneIncluded #GlobalGoals #SDG10 #CRPD #IDPD2024 #InclusiveFuture #DisabilityInclusion #AccessibilityForAll #SustainableLeadership Image descriptions in comments.

Happy World Kindness Day, everyone! 🌞 Today is a perfect reminder that kindness is a universal language that brings us all together - every act of kindness can brighten someone’s day. Remember, kindness is free so let's share it far and wide today and every day!❣️ #WorldKindnessDay #MakeADifference #BeKind #KindnessInAction #PositiveImpact #KindnessMatters Image description in comments.

November is Indigenous Disability Awareness Month (IDAM), established in 2015 by the British Columbia Aboriginal Network on Disability Society (BCANDS). Indigenous peoples in Canada experience a disability rate significantly higher than the general population, with unique systemic barriers that impact daily life for many. These include healthcare disparities, access to resources, and the impact of historical and intergenerational trauma. ❓ Did You Know?❓ IDAM is the only Indigenous disability-specific awareness initiative of its kind worldwide. Let’s all amplify the voices of Indigenous peoples with disabilities and advocate for positive change from governments, businesses, and other social organizations. Here are some learning resources for allies: 🔺 British Columbia Aboriginal Network on Disability Society (BCANDS) - https://bcands.bc.ca 🔺 Indigenous Disability and Wellness Gathering 2024 - https://lnkd.in/g2eJMWR2   🔺 National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation - https://nctr.ca 🔺 Inclusion Canada - https://inclusioncanada.ca  🔺 Inclusion BC - https://lnkd.in/gmYCwCMa Image description in comments. #IndigenousDisabilityAwarenessMonth #IDAM #Inclusion #DisabilityAwareness #Accessibility #BCANDS #Equity #Intersectionality #AccessibilityForAll About the BCANDS Logo. The BCANDS Feather was created by the late Allan Thickfoot, a self-taught, Cree artist, who was a person with quadriplegia from the Fisher Creek First Nation, located on the shores of Lake Winnipeg (Koostatak), Manitoba. Mr. Thickfoot created the BCANDS Feather in 1992 while living in BC at the request of the BCANDS founders. The eagle’s head depicted inside the BCANDS Feather represents the strength of all persons with disabilities and the red drop within the peak of the feather specifically represents Indigenous peoples with disabilities. Citation: https://lnkd.in/gr4traR

   📢 Exciting News! 📢   We’re thrilled to announce that our very own Randi MacAlpine, Technical Accessibility Consultant at ABE Factors, will be presenting "Neurodiverse Design in the Built Environment" for this months APN Webinar hosted by the Rick Hansen Foundation on November 28th!     Randi will dive into the world of neurodiverse design and share insights on how thoughtful, inclusive environments empower individuals with neurodivergent abilities.  While highlighting the importance of designing spaces that support everyone, and broadening our knowledge of accessibility beyond physical barriers.  Be sure to tune in, as we continue to contribute to paving the way for a future where accessibility includes all minds.  Stay tuned for more updates!      #NeurodiverseDesign #CognitiveAccessibility #SensoryDesign #AccessibilityForAll #RickHansenFoundation #APNWebinar  #InclusiveDesign #ABEFactors#AccessibilityMatters #InclusiveDesign #TechnicalConsulting #BarrierFreeDesign #ABEFactors #AccessibilityConsulting #BuildingAudits #InclusiveSpaces #AccessibilityReviews #DrawingReviews #BuildingAssessments #RHFAC #TechnicalEducation #MLI Select    

We're honoured to have recently had the opportunity to present to a major Canadian transportation sector audience in Ottawa, sharing the current and emerging importance of dementia-friendly travel options. In collaboration with our age-friendly and seniors services partner, HelpAge Canada, we advocated for people with dementia and their care partners while sharing data, lived experience insights, and meaningful ways to enhance comfort and safety for this often underrepresented disability group. Thank you to everyone who attended and participated in this discussion recognizing the value of accessibility and disability inclusion in transportation and beyond. Together, we're creating a more compassionate and inclusive future for everyone! #DementiaFriendly #Accessibility #InclusiveTravel #AgingAndAccessibility #TransportationInnovation #Canada #AgeFriendlyTravel Image Description: A graphic on a dark blue background with green graphical elements for Ohara Aging + Accessibility, showing work advocating for people with dementia and their care partners in Ottawa. It includes photos of presenters speaking to a group, the Ottawa sign in autumn, and three women posing together. The text reads: "Advocating for People with Dementia & their Care Partners in Ottawa." The logo and website, "www.oharaconsult.com," are displayed at the bottom.

We loved spending a day at Edmonton International Airport (YEG) last week celebrating the completion of the Departures Roadway Project.👏 The roadway opened (ahead of schedule!) on October 31 and now features enhanced accessibility, upgraded infrastructure, improved aesthetics, new safety elements, and better traffic flow. It took over 91,000 hours to complete (the equivalent of travelling around the world 1,900 times)!! 🌍 The event included a powerful Indigenous program with a drum circle and singing, traditional dancing, and a blessing, adding a deeply meaningful element to the celebration.🧡 While there, we spent time with our friends from the YEG Accessibility Advisory Council and toured some of the newest facilities post-security. These include the universal washroom (featuring an adjustable-height adult-sized change table and ceiling lift) and the new Sensory Room, developed in partnership with Autism Edmonton—coming soon! 💓 These improvements can be read about in more detail in the YEG Accessibility Plan and Progress Report we helped develop and publish: https://lnkd.in/g7K-_tZv Congratulations to YEG and your partners on this momentous occasion! Your commitment to accessibility and inclusivity always inspires us. Sarah Cox Gerry West Carmen Donnelly Aislin O'Hara Kell Samantha Ryan (Proulx), C.E.T., RHFAC, BCIN Sarah Yemane Image description in comments. #YEG #EdmontonInternationalAirport #Accessibility #InclusiveDesign #CelebratingAccessibility #IndigenousCulture #AccessibleFacilities

Welcoming you Alberta Municipalities to our Free Info Session on: Accessible Customer Service Training Host: Aislin O’Hara Kell, Co-Founder ProHara This info session will cover: 1) Types of legislation impacting accessibility in your province now and in the future 2) Training certification levels 1, 2 and 3 3) How to assess your training needs 4) Why training involving people with lived experience matters 5) Other accessibility-related services Free Link to Join: Zoom: https://lnkd.in/gGHPYsF4

We're honoured to have recently had the opportunity to present to a major Canadian transportation sector audience in Ottawa, sharing the current and emerging importance of dementia-friendly travel options. In collaboration with our age-friendly and seniors services partner, HelpAge Canada, we advocated for people with dementia and their care partners while sharing data, lived experience insights, and meaningful ways to enhance comfort and safety for this often underrepresented disability group. Thank you to everyone who attended and participated in this discussion recognizing the value of accessibility and disability inclusion in transportation and beyond. Together, we're creating a more compassionate and inclusive future for everyone! #DementiaFriendly #Accessibility #InclusiveTravel #AgingAndAccessibility #TransportationInnovation #Canada #AgeFriendlyTravel Image Description: A graphic on a dark blue background with green graphical elements for Ohara Aging + Accessibility, showing work advocating for people with dementia and their care partners in Ottawa. It includes photos of presenters speaking to a group, the Ottawa sign in autumn, and three women posing together. The text reads: "Advocating for People with Dementia & their Care Partners in Ottawa." The logo and website, "www.oharaconsult.com," are displayed at the bottom.