RealLifeRenos's podcast

Most people who are charged with making decisions about the spaces we live and work in don't truly understand the 'why' behind accessibility. Today's podcast digs into that a bit.

Following up on our last podcast about making decisions, today's podcast is all about questions you should ask yourself about your health, how you live and how much you engage with the world.

Are decisions about your future a problem for today or are you putting them off to tomorrow? If you make decisions tomorrow's problem, someone else may be making decisions for you.

Designing for one disability can cause problems for a different disability. Dr. Mark Iantkow has spent many years of his career building on previous work that never quite captured these nuances of design. Today he joins me and Ron Wickman to explain the Dimensions of Access Design.

Have you ever considered a career in construction - whether as a contractor, architect, or plumber - but felt drawn to making homes more accessible? If so, this episode is for you!

The Canadian Helen Keller Centre (CHKC) is a leader in the deaf-blind community, providing affordable housing and training since opening its first residential building in 1992. In this podcast we talk with Jennifer Robbins, CEO of CHKC about their current project, building a 56-unit residential building with a 6,500 sq. ft. training centre. If your introduction to the deaf-blind community was The Miracle Worker, based on the life of Helen Keller, stay tuned and learn about the incredible advancements in advocacy and training for the community.

We've acquired a lot of new listeners and readers over the past year. I want you to understand why I do this work so welcome and I hope you enjoy this episode.

When the time comes to think about downsizing, many of us immediately think of condo living. While that may be a suitable option for some, it isn't necessarily the best option for aging in place or for people with disabilities. Remember that as we age, issues start to crop up like reduced range of motion, hip or knee replacements, progression in a disease as well as the unexpected. Understanding the risks and rewards involved in home renovation or downsizing to a condo is key to making an informed choice.

Thinking about who you might want making decisions for you if you can't or who gets what when you pass on is a difficult process. Even more difficult is the burden left to others if you don't make proper preparations. In this podcast we talk with William A G Simpson, a personal injury lawyer who sees the results of lack of preparation daily. Bill will explain what we need and why in plain English (his superpower!) so that our audience can make these real life renovations and then relax, knowing they're ready for any eventuality.

Carrie Anton, Paralympic Gold Medalist, joins Ron Wickman and Karen Brown to discuss everything from Goalball to setting standards for the built environment to TWISIs.

Do you ever wonder why you feel better when nature's elements are brought into your environment? Linda Kafka joins us to explain the science behind what our bodies already know - that being one with nature gives us all the feels.

Does your home contribute to your health or to your allergies, illness or discomfort? In this episode, Linda Kafka, a Well Accredited Professional, introduces us to the Well Building Standard and helps us understand how to make choices supporting wellness.

Before you pick up a hammer or call a contractor, decisions must be made. In this podcast, we talk with Aging in Place expert, Linda Kafka, about the thinking and conversations we all need to have.

Ron Wickman joins us to recap his experiences at the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada and Alberta Association of Architects conferences. Multiple people discussed accessibility! Ron also lets us in on whether or not he puts accessible design features into client projects without their knowledge.

Part two of our conversation with Robert Lipka and Ron Wickman focuses on the issues small towns have with becoming accessible. Toward the end of the conversation, we talked about words and how they matter when discussing accessibility.

Outdoor spaces must be accessible for those who enjoy gardening, socializing or sitting outside reading a book in nice weather. Some of those outdoor spaces are being reduced by the push toward infill housing. Today's podcast looks at both of these issues.

Often built in a hurry and usually an eyesore, ramps are the subject of my conversation with Ron Wickman. We'll talk about why the entry to the home needs to be given more thought, how to blend ramps in with your exterior and we'll suggest alternatives to that front yard monstrosity.

I haven't done a specific video or podcast on the very basic question of the why behind the need for all of us to think about our future in terms of access within our own homes. I'm going to talk about that today, and then I'm going to talk about the most basic action. Starting. Where do we start and how do we start?

Ron Wickman and I have lots of things on our individual lists of hopes, dreams and wishes for accessibility in 2024. Join us as we discuss the top three on each list.

Architect Ron Wickman and Contractor John Kupchenko both specialize in accessibility. They join us to discuss some of the ins and outs of building accessible homes.

As an Aging in Place and Accessibility Strategist, I am frequently asked questions by those who aren't sure where to start with planning for the years ahead. The questions vary but 6 of them are frequent flyer questions so this episode answers those 6 for everyone.

Izzy Camilleri is a world-renowned Canadian fashion designer who turned her creative talent and energy to adaptive and inclusive clothing in 2004. Izzy believes that people of all ages and abilities should have access to clothing that is well-fitting and great looking in addition to being functional.

Planning for future needs is, perhaps, nowhere more important than the bathroom. Today Ron Wickman, an Architect who specializes in barrier-free design, and I discuss building a new bathroom as well as renovating an existing bathroom. We talk about challenges, language, styles, and yes, pricing.

Our series with Architect Ron Wickman continues with a dive into making vertical movement within a house accessible.

We continue our series on accessible housing with a deep dive into making the entry to a house accessible.

You want to buy a house but you already know that anything you buy will need renovations to accommodate your needs. Ron takes us through the first blush of assessing homes.

Ron Wickman, an Architect specializing in barrier-free design, joins us for the first of a series on accessible housing. Today we review the history of accessibility in the residential space.

Spring is coming and with it comes the need to make sure that independence, safety and dignity can be maintained throughout the spring and summer seasons. Join us to review the 'honey do' list.

We're welcoming Ron Wickman back with us today to take a deeper dive into exactly when and how a barrier-free entrance to a home can be achieved. It's a complicated process. We'll also take a look at a few different housing developments and see what it takes to put accessible design on the map.

Diane has a Master of Arts in Leadership and has put that to good use working in government administration at the municipal and provincial levels before accepting her current position as President, CNIB Guide Dogs and VP, International Affairs also for the CNIB. Her role involves national and international advocacy, a responsibility she has undertaken on behalf of other organizations as well. Diane's appetite for adventures that few of us would undertake is what caught my eye. To say she is a daredevil is something of an understatement! Diane has rappelled down the side of a 29-story building, skydived and driven a race car.  She is passionate about exercise and in 2017 completed the Ironman Mont Tremblant. It will not shock our listeners to hear that Diane is the recipient of numerous awards for advocacy, excellence and leadership and not surprisingly, that she is a motivational speaker. What may come as a surprise is that Diane is blind, a process that began when she was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa at the age of five. By the age of 10 she was legally blind and in her 30's she lost all sight. Diane occasionally consults with accessibility architect Ron Wickman on his projects. Designing buildings for accessibility often focuses on wheelchair access however Diane's advocacy for the blind has proven useful in Ron's work by allowing him to integrate design that meets the needs of those with diminished or no sight and that is the subject of our conversation today.

Ron Wickman was born and raised in Edmonton, Alberta. He graduated from the Technical University of Nova Scotia with a master of architecture degree. Like many in professional fields, Ron specializes, and his interest was very clear in his master's thesis, which was entitled Beyond the Ramp. It has since been published and is available through his website now. I ordered a copy of it and I was just so mesmerized by it. I found it very thought-provoking because it not only identifies the problems, but it helps us understand the process that went into finding solutions.

Are you a glass half full or glass half empty kind of person? As we dive into the holiday season, not to mention winter, it matters.

Tread matters! It will keep you on your feet or fail to prevent you from falling. Falling can often be a serious thing for older adults so check that tread.

We all need people to support us but not everyone can identify who that might be.

Are you a grandparent? I need your advice.

It's time to make a list and check it twice! Let us help with suggestions for older adults.

Decision-making is a process with many shades of grey.

Time to get real about the place you hang your hat

Our own health and wellness is often not paid attention to until something happens. The air in our homes can often be more polluted than the outdoor air, as an example.

Moving forward in life is always the goal but how often have you been sidetracked by jogs in the road?

No is a complete sentence but it doesn't come without obligations and consequences.

Time to clean out your medicine cabinet. Medications that aren't needed can affect balance and quality of life potentially leading to loss of independence.

Want to know the best money I've spent lately? For my health, independence and ability to live my life the way I choose.

Boundaries are a critical part of all relationships. We teach people how to treat us and now may be a good time to review your boundaries.

Veterinarian Dr. Ellen Shapiro joins us to discuss both sides of aging and pets. Pets get older and need special care. Humans also get older and find great comfort in the company of pets but there are some lessons to learn about choosing pets, keeping them happy and providing for their care in the event that life throws us a curveball.

Sergeant Andrew McIsaac of the Ontario Provincial Police is our guest today as we learn about Project Lifesaver. A premier search and rescue program, Project Lifesaver is operated internationally and is strategically designed for at-risk individuals prone to wandering.

Reverse mortgages can make use of the equity in your home to help with modifications to help your home work with you and whatever challenges you and your family face. Yvonne Ziomecki from Home Equity Bank joins us today to explain the possibilities.

Our guest, Lesay Dyk, is an Occupational Therapist. An OT can be your best ally when you need home modifications in a hurry but can also help you stay in the home of your dreams.

Today Melissa and Karen are at the Stratford and Area Builders' Association Picnik where they are joined by contractors and renovators who work with consumers looking to transition into a physical space that is better suited to the years ahead. Join us and meet Larry Otten of Larry Otten Contracting; John Meinen of Pinnacle Quality Homes who is also the current president of the Ontario Home Builders' Association and incoming president of the Canadian Home Builders' Association; Brett Bickell of Bickell Built Homes; and Courtney and Chris Teahen of Teahen Construction Limited, Plumbing and Design Group.

Our guest, Gary Sharp, is the Director of Renovator Services at the Canadian Home Builders' Association. On this episode, Gary talks about renovations including what consumers should consider when hiring and what certifications a renovator or contractor should have.  

Welcome to the first episode of Real Life Renos! Today Karen and Melissa introduce themselves to you. Learn why they are so passionate about renovations to buildings and to the way we think about how to move forward successfully.