News and Media
Press Release
-Winnipeg, MB, May 28, 2023
Could “Incluzia” be our future world? This is the vision of a new accessibility company from Winnipeg, Canada.
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Acknowledging that our current society is one rife with barriers to accessible spaces and experiences for older adults and people with disabilities, Incluzia’s Founder, Marnie Courage, is working on reaching for something out of this world!
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​“We are working toward achieving a world that is fully inclusive and accessible to older adults and people with disabilities. One which is created from the integration of diverse perspectives, lived experience, policy makers and innovative problem solvers, all working together.” Says Courage.
The burgeoning demand for more accessible and inclusive experiences is a result of increased public awareness and the rapidly growing demographics. According to the World Health Organization, an estimated 1.3 billion people experience significant disability. [1] In Canada, more than 6.2 million people live with some form of disability. [2] Over the next 20 years, Canada's senior population — those age 65 and older — is expected to grow by 68%.[3]
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National Accessibility Awareness Week (#NAAW) May 28-June 2, 2023
Responding to public need and aligned with Canada’s National Accessibility Awareness Week, May 28-June 2nd, Incluzia launches with a promise to increase accessibility and inclusion with positive local, national and global impacts.
Incluzia’s focus on accessibility, universal design, and the impacts of aging and disability on the human experience is infused into their public accessibility, digital accessibility, and accessible housing training, tools and consultation.
Responding to the Accessible Housing Crisis and Aging in Place
Creating more accessible and affordable housing options is at the forefront of Incluzia’s work. “We are addressing the intersection of the disability experience in the context of the home environment, living (aging) in place, accessing community-based health supports, and the existing inadequate housing stock.”, shares Courage.
“Marnie and her team have shared valuable knowledge and expertise in accessibility which has informed our business plan, grant applications, and design of the space we are developing. She continues to collaborate with our team in each phase of this project to help us realize our inclusive community dream!”, says Incluzia client, Margy Nelson of CoHabit. https://www.cohabit.ca
Disability Community Engagement
Incluzia’s work is informed by 20 years of clinical healthcare expertise and the shared lived experience of clients and community along the way. The company engages older adults, people who are Deaf, disabled, and neurodivergent in the development and testing of their training, tools and consultation. Incluzia also partners with other businesses, government, disability and older adult organizations to reach shared outcomes.
Accessibility Standards in Canada
Courage is an accessibility and inclusion strategist, occupational therapist and educator whose technical contributions to the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) and Accessibility Standards Canada (ASC) are included in the publications of the Accessible Dwellings and Accessible Outdoor Spaces Standards. Working with the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists, The Canadian Home Builder Association, provincial and federal governments, Marnie and her team are influencing the future state of accessibility in Canada.
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Incluzia was founded as a sister company to Winnipeg-based Enabling Access Inc., which continues to provide occupational therapy services supporting people with disabilities and older adults. http://enablingaccess.ca
For more information:
Visit www.incluzia.com
Media contact:
Marnie Courage, Founder
204-201-2500 ext. 1
[1] World Health Organization Disability-Key Facts
[2] Accessibility Findings Canadian Survey on Disability
http://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/89-654-x/89-654-x2021002-eng.htm
[3] Canadian Institute for Health Information, Seniors population Infographic
