News
SPH strives to make access news available to the broader community. The following items are recent announcements and it is our intention to update this page as soon as we become aware of any relevant news, events and other initiatives that may be of interest.
E-mail us at sholten@sph-planning-consulting.ca if you have any questions about the news items listed below, if you would like to send us news or follow the links provided for more information.
Winter 2009
Universal Home: The Results After a Year of Research
In the project “Universal Home” the most different cultures,
mentalities and professional backgrounds came together. They offered a
broad spectre of experience allowing a constructive discussion. Based
on this special situation, the research work of the scholarship holders
did not so much concentrate on the question whether there might be a “Universal
Home” at all. Instead they attempted to approach the concept of
an optimised living situation as far as possible and to venture a look
into the future.
For more information, visit: http://www.universal-home.de/867.html
Shane Holten is proud to announce the publishing of a "Stroke of
Luck", by uncle Anthony Holten....along with a great new resource
discussing personal experiences of living with Fibromyalgia to raise awareness
of a wide range of issues we all need to think about - a blog developed
by long time friend Lydia Houghton......Enjoy!
Synopsis
A Stroke of Luck
"A Stroke of Luck" is the extraordinary story of Anthony Holten's road to recovery following a debilitating stroke. Originally from County Meath in Ireland, Anthony spent much of his early life travelling the world as a marine engineer. He was diagnosed with diabetes at the age of forty-eight and, due to a combination of a late diagnosis and poor control, he suffered many side effects. Severe eyesight damage led to a period of partial blindness and eventually Anthony suffered from a stroke that rendered him paralysed on the right-hand side of his body. Overnight, he lost his energy and independence, was left disabled and almost entirely reliant on others for basic human necessities. This book charts the many obstacles thrown in his way along his arduous road to recovery - most notably the Irish healthcare system and its archaic approach to post-stroke care. However, with help from family and friends, he overcame most of these obstacles and made a remarkable recovery. He shares his inspiration and experiences in a humorously written, poignant and informative book that emphasises the power of positive thinking and manages to find a glimmer of silver around the darkest of clouds.
For more information, visit the Amazon.co.uk website at:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Stoke-Luck-Struggle-Diabetes-Medical/dp/1845885953
Through the FibroFog - My Journey Living with Fibromyalgia
Lydia is 33 years old, has had Fibromyalgia for 10 years and has decided to follow her passion for writing by sharing her experiences about living with this invisible disability. Lydia's personal reflections raises important awareness and understanding not only about her experiences over the years, but it will also make readers think about other invisible disabilities as well, which often get little or no attention.
For more information, visit Lydia Houghton's web-blog at:
http://lydiahoughton.blogspot.com/2007/07/related-illnesses.html.
Universal Design Newsletter
Universal Design Newsletter, published quarterly since 1993 by Universal Designers & Consultants, Inc, Takoma Park, MD USA, is pleased to announce that Shane Holten, President of SPH Planning and Consulting Limited (SPH Ltd.), will be contributing a column to Universal Design Newsletter that will include information on international best practices related to accessibility issues, codes, standards and guidelines.
The column may also include information on “happenings” in Ontario and Canada, such as innovative case studies of projects, initiatives of Accessibility Advisory Committees (AAC’s) and issues related to the implementation of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). Universal Design Newsletter addresses a broad range of Universal Design issues that are important for designers, facility managers, municipalities, colleges and universities, public transportation providers, school boards, hospitals and the broader disability community. The first column will appear in the January 2006 issue of Universal Design Newsletter.
If you are interested in learning more information about Universal Design Newsletter go to www.universaldesign.com.
If you have suggestions or comments, e-mail them at UDandC@UniversalDesign.com.
Shane Holten can be contacted at info@sph-planning-consulting.ca or by phone at 416-488-5700 (Voice/TTY).