ShareVision Blog

I’m not sure how many of you that read the Sharevision Blog follow us on social media, but a few weeks ago – around the time when the Sedin twins played their last game in Vancouver (a memorable time for us hockey fans!) – I shared a news story on Rogers Arena in Vancouver, BC, where Managing Director of the group that owns the arena, Paulo Aquilini, spoke in this video about the venue being the first designated ‘autism aware’ arena in Canada. 

Recently I have become fascinated and fully inspired by Kitchener, Ontario’s first integrated fitness, yoga and hockey training centre.

For most of my working life, I have been involved in visual design. Suffice it to say, I am interested in all aspects of it – though I’m a bit embarrassed to admit that universal accessibility was never really on my design radar. 

That is until my friend became an accredited Access Consultant through the Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility Certification Program.

And wow, there is a lot to assess.

“Machine learning and AI have the power to transform our lives and to empower every person and organization around the world. It’s crucial that as these technologies develop they are designed to include people with disabilities”

~ Jenny Lay-Flurrie, Chief Accessibility Officer, Microsoft

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The potential for artificial intelligence (AI) seems so amazing – I mean, robots I can talk to and ask to activate functions in my home? Yes please! 

Being a lover of all aspects of design leads me down some really interesting paths.  There are some super cool ideas floating around out there and I love seeing what is being designed to make the world more accessible. When design intersects with technology, there are so many possibilities. So the announcement of the launch of the first online platform for digital accessibility really piqued my interest.