Project Reach is a concept for a community-based initiative aimed at destigmatizing disability and improving accessibility in my neighbourhood, North York, Toronto.
What is Project Reach?
Project Reach : North York is a community-based project designed to eliminate the stigma around disability and in turn change how the city is designed. The initiative will do so by supporting locals with disabilities, removing physical obstacles, and by spreading knowledge about disability. Project Reach recognizes not only the difficulties of navigating the city as a person with a disability, but also the feelings of isolation and separation that are a result of those difficulties.
Project Reach will do so by collaborating with local businesses and by hosting community events to de-isolate the disabled community in North York.
Partnerships with Local Shops
One of the many common obstructions in North York are A-frame signs on the sidewalk used as a form of advertising. Project Reach will partner with Print2Go and Toronto Art School, both local businesses in the area, to create 3D displays that would adhere to the shop window to replace the A-frames on the sidewalks. These 3D displays would be, at most, 2-3 inches off the window, making them significantly safer for pedestrians with disabilities. All the logos from the three collaborators, Project Reach, Toronto Art School, and Print2Go, are stamped on all displays as a way to advertise all three organizations.
Hosting Events
Project Reach will hold events in Mel Lastman Square, the neighbourhood’s park and outdoor amphitheater, in order to socialize people with disabilities and form a strong sense of community. Project Reach will host talent shows in the amphitheater to show off the talents of people with disabilities who otherwise would not have received the opportunity to do so.
Project Reach will partner with Konstantine, the founder of SidewalkChess, a chess community in North York that hosts chess nights at Mel Lastman Park. Project Reach would collaborate with SidewalkChess to host chess tournament nights where everyone is welcome. The project would also employ catering local businesses that do pro bono catering for local causes and would benefit from the publicity they would receive from both SidewalkChess’s and Project Reach’s social media and website.
Project Reach will partner with Konstantine, the founder of SidewalkChess, a chess community in North York that hosts chess nights at Mel Lastman Park. Project Reach would collaborate with SidewalkChess to host chess tournament nights where everyone is welcome. The project would also employ catering local businesses that do pro bono catering for local causes and would benefit from the publicity they would receive from both SidewalkChess’s and Project Reach’s social media and website.
