About AccessAbility Advantage

Our Organization

In 2009, two industry leaders with more than 75 combined years of experience in making organizations accessible to people with disabilities joined forces to offer you AccessAbility Advantage. We offer specialized consulting services to help organizations improve accessibility and comply with the AODA.

March of Dimes Canada has improved the lives of Canadians with disabilities since 1951. Award-winning Quadrangle Architects Limited has achieved excellence in architecture, barrier-free and universal design for Canada's residential, commercial, media and hospitality industries since 1986.

Your job is to run your business. Ours is to save you time and effort. Let us:

What's the "advantage"? Five reasons to hire AccessAbility Advantage.

Our Team

AccessAbility Advantage consultants are the foremost industry experts. Chose a consultant to view their short biography.

Frequently Asked Questions

Monica Ackermann, - P.Eng., MA

Accessibility Consultant

Monica was a member of the Accessibility Directorate of Ontario, AODA Employment Accessibility Standards Development Committee. She has extensive experience with assistive devices and accessible software and web design as well as job accommodation. She is a professional engineer, with a Bachelor of Applied Science from the University of Waterloo and Masters of Arts, Critical Disability Studies from York University.

 

Nicole Cormier

Accessibility Consultant and Trainer

A dynamic public speaker and trainer, Nicole brings years of experience developing and delivering business education on AODA legislation requirements for Accessible Employment and Customer Service. Her passion includes helping businesses gain commercial advantage through becoming accessible to customers and employees with disabilities.

Elaine Darling

Accessibility Consultant

Elaine has 25 years of experience in industrial design and in managing accessibility audits. Elaine runs DesignAbility at the Ontario March of Dimes, a program that matches skilled volunteers with consumers facing unique barriers, in order to create or modify devices to increase independence. She holds a diploma in industrial design from the Ontario College of Art & Design. 

Amy Farkas

Accessibility Consultant and Trainer

Amy has 14 years experience in Education and Project Management both in Canada and abroad. From 2005-2010, she worked as a Program Coordinator and Material
Developer for English as a Second Language (ESL) courses in Japan. She has also been a Child and Youth Worker and Instructor for children and teenagers with disabilities. Amy holds a bachelor of Psychology from the University of Windsor.

Shirley Marie Garcia - MM, CHRP, RPR

Accessibility Consultant

Shirley was a member of the Accessibility Directorate of Ontario, AODA Employment Accessibility Standards Development Committee. She has extensive human resources management experience, and currently works as the Senior Manager of Human Resources at the Ontario March of Dimes. She holds a Masters degree in Management from Asian Institute of Management, and is a Certified Human Resources Professional, and Registered Professional Recruiter.

Frances Jewett - B.A.Sc., P.Eng.

Business Development Manager 

Frances has 13 years of experience in business, account and project management. For the last eight years, she has worked with the Ontario Telemedicine Network and Philips Lifeline to improve customer service. Frances holds a bachelor of applied science and engineering from the University of Toronto.

Jesse Klimitz - Hon.B.A, M.Arch, MRAIC

Accessibility Consultant

Jesse brings passion for and experience in universal design and accessible environments from both his studies and his work background. His areas of expertise include architectural design, research, training, building safety issues and overall accessibility for seniors and those with disabilities. Jesse holds a Bachelor and Masters of Architecture from the University of Toronto.

 

Lesley MacDonald, BA, MA

Accessibility Consultant

Lesley is an industry leader in accessible design for people with vision loss. She is the author of three books on Universal Design and the built environment: Clearing our Path 1, Clearing Our Path 2 and Going Places. She sat on the Accessibility Directorate of Ontario, AODA Transportation Standards Development Committee. Lesley has been working with the CNIB for over 28 years providing accessible design services. She holds a masters in blind rehabilitation from Western Michigan University. 

Gail Mores - B. REC DEG, DIP Adult Ed.

Accessibilty Consultant

Gail has 32 years of experience in leadership positions for the Ontario March of Dimes (OMOD), Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation and Canadian Red Cross Society. She is a graduate of Dalhousie, McMaster and British Columbia universities, with degrees and diplomas in recreation administration, human resources and adult education. Gail is an accessibility expert with AccessAbility Advantage and has been delivering Accessible Customer Service training, to staff and other trainers, with OMOD for over ten years.

 

Amy Pothier - I.D.D.

Interior Designer (ARIDO Intern), Accessibility Specialist and Building Code Specialist

Amy has a strong passion for designing enjoyable spaces that all people can easily access. She enjoys creating user-friendly spaces and combining her expertise of building and accessibility codes with architectural and interior design. 

Susan Ruptash - B.Arch., OAA, FRAIC, AIA

Accessibility Consultant

Susan has 22 years of experience in specialized consulting and project management in the areas of barrier-free and universal design. She has been with Quadrangle Architects Limited since 1988 and was appointed a principal of the firm in 1999. Susan sat on the Accessibility Directorate of Ontario, AODA Accessible Built Environment Standards Development Committee. She holds a bachelor of architecture from Carleton University.

 

Ronny Wiskin

Ronny has over 20 year's experience in Renovation and Construction Project Management. He is the founder of ReliAble Independent Living Services® a company established in 2003 that specializes in the assessment, design and installation of barrier free environments. In 2008, ReliAble was awarded the Provincial Award of Recognition for creating barrier free environments and for their dedication towards providing innovative accessibility solutions in the Province of Ontario. Ronny brings his knowledge of the residential built environment to the AccessAbility Advantage contractor training programs.

 

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Where does AccessAbility Advantage provide services?

How long does it take to comply with the AODA Customer Service Standard?

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Accessible ramp outside building AODA Ontario Disabilities ActFive reasons to hire us as your accessibility consultant

AccessAbility Advantage has

  1. An in-depth understanding of the AODA accessibility standards and how they specifically apply to your business sector and workplace.
  2. A long-standing reputation for meeting the accessibility needs of people with disabilities. 
  3. A track record of designing practical and innovative solutions related to physical, technological and other necessary upgrades. 
  4. Business acumen in conducting accurate accessibility assessments, customized action plans and staff training that help you achieve compliance in stages, on budget, by the government's deadline. 
  5. Testimonials from satisfied customers. 

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