“Accessibility Equals Energy” – Meet Accessibility Strategist Julie Sawchuk!

Are you looking for ways to create an accessible space to live in? In this episode, Julie Sawchuk digs into how to identify any potential accessibility issues in a building, what can be done to make the building more accessible, and how much money should be budgeted for accessibility. She also describes better practices that would be more comfortable and safe for people with disabilities. Tune in and discover how to create an accessible home for you, your family, and your future!

Julie Sawchuk is a best-selling author, accessibility strategist, and educator at Sawchuk Accessible Solutions. After sustaining a spinal cord injury in 2015, Julie turned from teaching high school science to educating everyone that accessibility matters. Julie has completed accessibility ratings for commercial and institutional buildings all across Ontario Canada, but more importantly, she has helped people see that achieving a meaningful level of accessibility benefits everyone. 

Key Highlights:

[00:01 - 06:47] Opening Segment

• Julie Sawchuck shares her background and work

Her journey as an accessibility strategist She experienced first-hand the challenges of living with a disability

• How to help people build accessible homes

[06:48 - 13:15] Giving People Independence

• How thinking about the future can save money b

Implementing universal design and accessibility

• Julie's insights about ramps

How to improve access for people with disabilities

[13:16 - 20:02] Accessibility Equals Energy

• Why accessibility equals energy

Check out Building Better Bathrooms

• Working with a professional to help you implement these strategies in your everyday life

• Realizing how important it is to have accessible housing

[20:03 - 26:47] Tips for Making Spaces More Accessible

• Julie shares her experiences as a person with a lived experience of accessibility issues

How that has helped her become an expert in the field

• The importance of reaching out to your customers to get feedback on how accessible their spaces are

People with accessibility concerns should reach out to experts in the field to make informed decisions

• Make sure to connect with other advocates for accessible spaces

[26:48 - 29:12] Closing Segment

• How to improve energy efficiency in a bathroom

Want to connect with Julie? Follow her on Instagram. Visit her website to move forward with accessibility!

Key Quotes:

"People with disabilities are problem solvers by nature, we have to be in order to basically live day to day." - Julie Sawchuk

"Accessibility adds up to give people independence, dignity, and safety, and all of those things together equal energy." - Julie Sawchuk

Please check out videos of many of the podcast episodes on my YouTube channel: Accessible Housing Matters,

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Accessible Housing Matters is dedicated to raising awareness about important issues around accessibility and housing, and getting conversations going.

I'd love to learn more about what's on your mind and get your feedback about the show.

Contact me directly at [email protected] to share your thoughts or arrange a call.