BeLocal: Ryan Murphy Construction is committed to accessibility
Originally published September 27, 2017 on BeLocal.
Lara Murphy will never forget the moment when her friend’s daughter Piper, a three-year-old with cerebral palsy, was finally able to move freely about her home.
“The impact definitely affected me.”
Lara, who is half of the duo behind Ryan Murphy Construction along with business partner Karen Ryan, built a barrier-free floor plan for her friend’s home with Piper in mind, knocking down walls in the kitchen and widening the hallways to ensure her walker could get through.
Lara says Piper launched the company on a new trajectory in the world of accessibility. They’ve since been involved with several accessibility organizations. Piper also inspired Ryan Murphy Construction to raise funds for adaptive bikes for other children like her via the Scotiabank Marathon as Team Piper.
“We wanted to do what we could as a team to not only help other kids with cerebral palsy, but to give further awareness to everyday issues that people with limited mobility face.”
To ensure accessibility of its projects, Ryan Murphy Construction employs Universal Design principles – guidelines from around the world that make sure buildings are accessible to people of all ages and abilities.
“Europe is far ahead of us,” Lara explains. “In Ireland, you cannot install doorknobs anymore, they have to be levers. Even something seemingly small as this can be a major barrier for someone.”
For example, in July Ryan Murphy Construction worked on a project with Calgary Municipal Land Corporation (CMLC), updating the historic St. Louis Hotel washrooms. Originally built in 1914, some of the building was not accessible. A young man with cerebral palsy was not able to open the bathroom door or reach the sinks from his wheelchair.
“We fuss about having to brush snow off our car, but imagine having to coordinate transit to every minute detail. It really puts things into perspective,” says Lara. “It’s encouraging to see businesses take the lead, to do something that makes a difference. We feel fortunate to be part of that.”
“We’re here for the sole purpose of making lives easier.”
Take action:
Visit the Ryan Murphy Construction portfolio here.
Click here to learn more about Universal Design principles.
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