I've always been confused. How do we define who a person is in this country? Under the Canadian charter, we say that people with disabilities are equal citizens, yet our national building code fails to create or even exempts, in many cases, housing from having to be accessible. That doesn't seem to align for me, especially as the human rights code specifically—and I'm paraphrasing—says that buildings and spaces shall not discriminate against people with disabilities.
As mentioned before, if we want to talk about intersectionality with any of the groups represented here today and any of the conversations we've had, disability is the only thing that doesn't discriminate against everybody. A hundred per cent of us are going to need to have accessible housing. Even more than that, if you're going to live in a community and not be isolated, you need to be able to have people visit you in your home and also be able to visit others in their homes.
The idea of visitable design is creating a level entrance into a home and access to a bathroom with a transfer space and turn circle. We look at the space impacts, and we look at the cost impacts. Most of what we need when we teach designers well how to do this doesn't cost a lot more. It's not hard to do. It's not rocket science. It just is a different way of thinking.
From a human rights perspective, I think that just makes more holistic sense, because it reduces the pressure for long-term care, and it reduces the impact on health care. There are so many benefits, and it fundamentally doesn't discriminate against any one of us at any time in our lives.
I hope that helps.