Team

DesignABLE Environments offers expertise through registered professionals in the areas of architecture, ergonomics and occupational therapy. This unique mix of backgrounds allows us to provide a thorough analysis of the functional/medical issues on any given project, as well as to provide input on the more traditional issues of project design and aesthetic.
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The members of DesignABLE Environments collectively have over sixty years of direct experience in the areas of barrier-free design and universal design.

Thea Kurdi
RAIC Affiliate, Dip. Arch. Tech. — ACCESSIBILITY SPECIALIST, PRESIDENT
Certified Professional in Accessible Built Environments (CPABE) - Level II Advanced (IAAP)

Thea Kurdi's email address: thea.kurdi@designable.ca, Thea Kurdi's telephone number: 905-278-0665, extention 3
Thea Kurdi has over 20 years of experience specializing in barrier-free and universal design for architectural projects of varying size and complexity. Thea has been an educator for her entire career, both with clients and for local and international conferences, but also with part-time teaching at Sheridan College where she taught AutoCAD, REVIT, Architectural History, Sustainable Design and Universal Design.. She is frequently a guest speaker at lectures for design students, including at Waterloo School of Architecture, Ryerson University School of Architecture and George Brown College Interior Design.

Thea has undertaken many facility accessibility audits including the development of audit protocols and checklists, as well as the preparation of audit reports. She is highly proficient with drawing and illustration software including AutoCAD, VIZ, Photoshop, Illustrator, and Dreamweaver. Thea has developed many different educational materials and resource information on accessibility for students and the design community at large.

Thea has been learning American Sign Language (ASL) since 2003 for both personal use when her son was an infant and to better understand the design needs of the deaf, deafened, and hard of hearing community.

Thea is registered with Global Alliance on Accessible Technologies and Environments (GAATES) and is an affiliate member of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC). She was also the host of the award-winning Accessibility Edge radio show and a member of the RAIC’s Age Friendly Housing Task Force.

Thea has focused her career on helping clients understand what usable accessibility means, how universal design is better design for everyone, and how to achieve the Human Rights Code.

Thea has presented workshops and participated in conferences around the world, educating professionals on universal design of the built environment, including at the 2018 Universal Design Conferences in Auckland, New Zealand and Brisbane, Australia presenting “Living in Place – Universal and Accessible Design, at the 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”, at TRANSED 2012 in India, at the Canadian Home Builders Association's conference in 2010 presenting about accessible housing, and as a panellist for the National Accessibility Summit.

Ryan Bui
Dip. Arch. Tech. — ACCESSIBILITY SPECIALIST
Certified Professional in Accessible Built Environments (CPABE) - Level II Advanced (IAAP)

Ryan Bui's email address: ryan.bui@designable.ca, Ryan Bui's telephone number: 905-278-0665, extention 4
Ryan Bui joined our team in the fall of 2015 after graduating from Sheridan College's Architectural Technology program. Ryan has quickly developed knowledge in the barrier-free and universal design focus over the past 6 years, working on a number of projects of varying size, scope, occupancy, and complexity.

He has participated in drawing reviews and updated accessibility standards and illustrations. Ryan has become familiar with accessibility within light rail transportation systems; providing consultation to ensure accessibility considerations have been provided for persons with disabilities. He has also conducted multiple accessibility building audits and put together recommendation plans for various facilities across Ontario, including hospital facilities, government facilities, and educational institutions.

In addition to his work with DesignABLE Environments Inc., Ryan has a strong background in Revit modelling and drafting in AutoCAD through years of educational and work experience as well as with software packages including Photoshop and InDesign, along with the full suite of Microsoft Office products.

Mark Harris
Dip. Arch. Tech. — ACCESSIBILITY SPECIALIST
Certified Professional in Accessible Built Environments (CPABE) - Level II Advanced (IAAP)

Mark Harris's email address: mark.harris@designable.ca, Mark Harris's telephone number: 905-278-0665, extention 6
Mark Harris has over 15 years of experience in architectural design, with more than 10 years working in the barrier-free and universal design focus, working on a number of projects of varying size, scope, occupancy and complexity. He also has over 20 years of experience of creating various print and web-based documents, including work on a number of design standards and guidelines.

Mark has undertaken a number of facility accessibility audits and drawing reviews including the development of audit/review protocols and checklists, and has aided in the development of a number of municipal and corporate standards, checklists, guides and manuals for universal and barrier-free design and development.

Mark has many years of experience using industry standard drawing, illustration, publishing, 3D modelling and building information modelling (BIM) software packages including AutoCAD, Revit Architecture, VIZ, 3D Studio Max, Sketchup, Photoshop, Illustrator, Premiere, and InDesign along with the full suite of Microsoft Office products. Mark maintains his proficiency by teaching the most up to date versions of AutoCAD and Revit Architecture at Sheridan College, Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning.

Samreen Sandhu
Dip. Arch. Tech. — ACCESSIBILITY SPECIALIST
Certified Professional in Accessible Built Environments (CPABE) - Level I Associate (IAAP)

Samreen Sandhu's email address: samreen.sandhu@designable.ca, Samreen Sandhu's telephone number: 905-278-0665, extention 7
Samreen Sandhu joined our team in the fall of 2019. She is a recent graduate of Sheridan College’s Architectural program. Samreen is passionate about equal rights for all and believes that an accessible and inclusive built environment is the first step forward.

Since joining DesignABLE Environments Inc., she has participated in drawing reviews, updated accessibility standards and illustrations, and completed facility accessibility audits. She also has a keen interest in accessible and affordable housing.

Samreen is well versed in several design programs and software, including AutoCAD, Revit, SketchUp, Lumion and Bluebeam.

Anika Abdullah
B.E.S — ACCESSIBILITY SPECIALIST

Anika Abdullah's email address: anika.abdullah@designable.ca, Anika Abdullah's telephone number: 905-278-0665, extention 8
Anika Abdullah has worked with our team since the fall of 2019 and has joined DE full-time in the spring of 2021. Anika graduated from the University of Waterloo’s School of Planning with a Bachelor of Environmental Studies with a specialization in land development. Her lived experience and commitment to creating an inclusive built environment inspired her interest in universal design and accessibility.

Anika has worked on drawing reviews, course development, and created design education projects and presentations for the built environment industry including our Outdoor Accessible Patios Guide. She also co-authored the “Disability justice in the city” article that was published in spring of 2021 in the Canadian Institute of Planners’ Plan Canada magazine.

Anika is experienced with many design programs and research software, including AutoCAD, SketchUp, Bluebeam, Microsoft Office, Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop, and ArcGIS.

Demi Ojomu
B.E.S. — ACCESSIBILITY SPECIALIST

Demi Ojomu's email address: demi.ojomu@designable.ca, Demi Ojomu's telephone number: 905-278-0665, extension 16
Demi Ojomu has worked with our team since the fall of 2021 and has joined DE full-time in the Spring of 2022. Demi graduated from the University of Waterloo’s School of Planning with a Bachelor of Environmental Studies. Her commitment to creating an inclusive built environment inspired her interest in universal design and accessibility.

Since joining DesignABLE Environments Inc., she has completed drawing reviews, updated accessibility standards, and participated in facility accessibility audits with the preparation of checklists and audit reports.

Demi is experienced with many design programs and research software, including AutoCAD, SketchUp, Bluebeam, Microsoft Office, Illustrator, and InDesign.

Creating truly accessible spaces

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Weekdays: 9am - 5pm

Telephone

905-278-0665

Email

information@designable.ca
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