What Do You Mean There's No Ramp?! Barrier Free Design with StopGap

Luke Anderson, StopGap Founder joins the DFZ October 28th from 1-2pm for this month's installment of the the zone's ongoing Speaker Series!

"The talk will give me an opportunity to share my personal story related to my experience sustaining a life changing injury and how it introduced me to the many barriers that hold individuals and entire communities back from reaching their full potential. I will speak about how I chose to divert my frustration towards action, raise awareness about systemic barriers in our built environment, and the role I played in co-founding StopGap Foundation. Lastly, I'll share my thoughts about what can be done immediately in helping remove barriers for people with disabilities." - Luke Anderson

Luke Anderson, P.Eng. Director and Founder of StopGap

After sustaining a spinal cord injury in 2002, Luke Anderson was all of a sudden introduced to a world that's not well suited for a wheelchair user. His frustration encountering access barriers led him to co-found the StopGap Foundation, which raises awareness about the importance of a barrier free and inclusive society. StopGap works with different community leaders across Canada delivering education and resources that inspire societal perspective shifts, the removal of barriers in the built environment, and policy change. Their iconic brightly painted ramps can be found in more than 60 communities from coast to coast to coast helping ensure our society's collective understanding about the importance of accessibility and inclusion continues to advance and grow.

Luke is a licensed professional engineer, a nature lover, an avid meditator, an aspiring harmonica virtuoso, and is the recipient of a Governor General's Meritorious Service Medal.