ACCESSIBILITY
JAIME BLENUS – ACCESSIBILITY HEALTH CONSULTANT, IWK HEALTH; JEFF HARDING – DIRECTOR OF REDEVELOPMENT SPACE AND LEASING, IWK HEALTH; MITCHELL TOUESNARD – PROJECT MANAGER AND ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGIST, IWK HEALTH, CANADA
Breaking down barriers toward accessibility
Jaime Blenus, accessibility health consultant, Jeff Harding, director of redevelopment space and leasing, and Mitchell Touesnard, project manager and engineering technologist, all of IWK Health, explain why barrier-free access to washrooms is a fundamental human right that upholds individual dignity and is vital for maintaining self-respect and autonomy for all.
IWK Health is located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada and serves as a crucial women’s and children’s hospital and children’s trauma centre. The IWK primarily serves three Canadian provinces, offering essential care to families across Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and beyond. In 2017, the government of Nova Scotia made a significant commitment to inclusivity with the passing of the Accessibility Act that aims to create a barrier-free province by 2030, recognising accessibility as a fundamental human right. IWK Health provides care to a diverse population of children, youth and families. Guided by the values of making things better and fostering a sense of belonging, IWK Health strives to create an accessible environment for all. This is, in part, done by acknowledging biases and actively reducing barriers, while embracing the responsibility to co-create equitable inclusive spaces where everyone feels welcomed and can thrive.
Beyond compliance: a values-driven approach ‘Making things better and fostering a sense of belonging’ – these are not just buzzwords at IWK Health but guiding principles that have shaped every accessibility initiative. The organisation’s approach goes deeper than meeting regulatory requirements, focusing instead on integrating accessibility into all redevelopment initiatives and approaching projects with curiosity. Often, significant impacts can be made, with low cost, by simply making spaces adjustable with features such as dimmable lights or careful paint colour selection. This is the concept of universal design in action. This philosophy has materialised most visibly in the recent redevelopment of two fully accessible washrooms (also known as bathrooms, toilets or lavatories elsewhere in the world) on the main floor. These are
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Angled mirror allows use from seated position. Insulated pipes beneath the sink prevent burns. Fire alarm includes strobe for visual alert.
Jaime Blenus
Jeff Harding Mitchell Touesnard
•Jaime Blenus is a doctoral candidate in Dalhousie University’s Faculty of Health, where she explores the impacts of ableism in healthcare and education through the lens of lived experience. With 22+ years as an occupational and recreation therapist, she serves as accessibility health consultant at IWK Health, leading accessibility initiatives and advancing systemic change across healthcare, education, and employment sectors. •Jeff Harding is the director of redevelopment space and leasing at IWK Health, managing over one million square feet across Nova Scotia. An industrial engineer, he specialises in Lean Six Sigma, project management, and analytics, and was recently honoured with Dalhousie, School of Health Administration – Outstanding Contribution Award. •Mitchell R. Touesnard is a project manager and engineering technologist with 25+ years of experience delivering construction, utility, and mechanical/electrical projects across Canada. Currently with IWK Hospital, he is recognised for his safety-first leadership, technical expertise, and ability to deliver results in complex and remote environments.
IFHE DIGEST 2026
Photos by: Ryan Wilson, Medical Photographer, IWK Health
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