RK Access champions barrier-free accessibility

Accessibility has been a discussion topic for decades, but there are still many obstacles that make life challenging for disabled Canadians.

Nabeel Ramji who lives with cerebral palsy and uses a wheelchair, is keenly aware of the difficulties in accessing buildings throughout Calgary. A volunteer with many committees, he’s working hard to make changes, and has become associated with a new company, RK Access, as its accessibility infrastructure adviser.

Ramji was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at nine months old, and although he could not talk until he was eight, his parents insisted he take his schooling along with his neighbours, from elementary school onward.

He went on to earn a Bachelor of Commerce, Finance degree at the Haskayne School of Business.

After graduation he was hired as a commercial analyst by the TD Bank, and was fortunate to meet Zainool Mamdani, the wife of Strategic Group chief executive Riaz. She introduced Ramji to her husband, who hired him.

Six years later, Ramji is Strategic’s manager for Strategic Atlantic & Real Estate and the founder of Accessibility For All Albertans.

RK Access came about after architect Erin Shilliday met Ramji at a Riddell Kurczaba Architecture open house. Ramji soon sold his new friend on his cause and the idea of filling accessibility gaps became an ongoing discussion.

Ramji’s commitment to public service was recognized with an Award of Excellence in Public Awareness from the Alberta Premier’s Council on the Status of Persons with Disabilities. He sits on the Premier’s Council and was invited by the federal minister of sport and persons with disabilities to be a local champion.

Ramji said Strategic has been very supportive in his consulting role and he and Shilliday were encouraged by John Riddell and Ron Kurczaba of the architectural firm to establish a new division within the firm focused on accessibility issues.

Shilliday is director of RK Access and staffer Kimberley Karn, who has 15 years of experience working with building codes and regulatory standards, has joined as its code expert.

RK Access champions safety and independence and promoting inclusivity in buildings and public spaces. It conducts audits to review and analyze proposed developments and existing buildings for accessibility and proposes improvements when necessary. A plan is to serve as a resource for international design standards for accessibility architecture, and work has already begun on writing guidelines for policy documents.

Fourteen per cent of Canadians have a disability, including about 170,000 people in this city, half who have mobility limitations.

Yet, as Ramji points out, very few wheelchairs are seen downtown. He believes that’s because many people feel leaving the house and getting around is too difficult, including challenges with transportation, steps and bathrooms.

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