IT’S MORE THAN A RAMP! The Comprehensive Accessibility Enhancement Package (CAEP) for Public Spaces

Urban environments quite often do not meet accessibility requirements. This thesis examines how Cities can make their built environments accessible, inclusive and welcoming. Using a design and research science approach this thesis developed a response in the form of the Comprehensive Accessibility Enhancement Package (CAEP). CAEP consists of two key components: the Accessibility Enhancement Framework and the Accessibility Growth Model. The framework guides cities in setting accessibility goals, crafting policies, and establishing necessary procedures and tools. The model enables them to assess progress through three defined stages—Fundamental, Developing, and Advanced. CAEP was developed with expert feedback from accessibility experts, city officials, and disability advocates via two rounds of interviews. A case study conducted with the City of Mississauga demonstrates how CAEP can be applied for structured evaluation, continuous improvement, and benchmarking of accessibility and disability inclusion. CAEP is intended to be an institutional aid to help advance accessibility within urban built environments. With CAEP, cities can integrate strategic planning, cultural transformation, and innovative methodologies into their built environment-making process, thereby fostering spaces that are truly inclusive.

Name thesis:degree_name

Doctor of Design (DDes)

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Environmental Design

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

Graduate Studies

Year dc:date.issued

2025

Author dc:creator

• Al-Zubaidi, Taghreed

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Wylant, Barry

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Macedo, Joseli
• Chandrashekar, Sambhavi

• Accessibility
• Inclusive design
• Built environment
• Universal design
• Strategic goals
• Policy integration
• Accessibility procedures
• Tools for accessibility
• Accessibility growth model
• Fundamental level
• Developing level
• Advanced level
• Early-stage planning
• Public space
• Equity
• Continuous improvement
• Accountability
• Barrier removal
• Wayfinding
• Signage
• Visitability
• Stakeholder engagement
• Professional training
• Budget alignment
• Enforcement
• Legislation compliance

Statement dc:rights

• University of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission.

Language dc:language.iso

en

DOI

https://dx.doi.org/10.11575/PRISM/49058

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:ucalgary.scholaris.ca:1880/121468