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JUDY PORRO, CERTIFIED ORIENTATION & MOBILITY SPECIALIST,  MIAMI LIGHTHOUSE FOR THE BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED  -- AT UMSOA

We teach Universal Design to graduate and upper level undergraduate students at the University of Miami School of Architecture – a top 50 program out of more than 500 schools of architecture. 

While much of the focus is on designing for people with mobility impairments -- we also spend a great deal of time educating future architects about design that improves lives for people with visual impairments, hearing impairments and those in the neurodiversity community.

Judy Porro is a Certified Orientation & Mobility Specialist and Certified Vision Rehab Therapist at the Miami Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired for nearly

She has been a special education teacher and assistant principal in the Virginia public schools. She has been published in Developmental Neurorehabilitation Journal.

Porro has worked as a life care planner for clients who acquired a brain/SCI and required life-long care. She has a brother with a disability.

STANDING ON THE SHOULDERS OF GIANTS

EDWARD H. STEINFELD, ARCH. D., AIA, R.A. -- UNIVERSAL DESIGN TRAILBLAZER FOR MORE THAN HALF A CENTURY -- at UMSoA

Edward H. Steinfeld is Founder of the Center for Inclusive Design and Environmental Access at University of Buffalo

Steinfeld has been a trailblazer in the field of inclusive design since the 1970’s when he led a transformational research project that established accessibility standards.

In his 50-year career, he has done award-winning research, taught thousands of students, designed many buildings, served as an expert consultant, and mentored numerous colleagues.

When he founded the IDeA Center in 1984, he believed that inclusive design was a critical component of a socially sustainable community. 

We teach Universal Design to graduate and upper level undergraduate students at the University of Miami School of Architecture – a top 50 program out of more than 500 schools of architecture.

Steinfeld's hour-long presentation, via Zoom, captivated our graduate and undergraduate students.

STANDING ON THE SHOULDERS OF GIANTS

ROSEMARIE ROSSETTI, PH.D.  LEADING DISABILITY INCLUSION EXPERT AND STAR GUEST LECTURER IN UNIVERSAL DESIGN COURSE

Rosemarie Rossetti is the perfect speaker for dozens of contexts, such as educating: architects, interior designers, general contractors, engineers and remodelers.

Her expertise is specific enough to speak to skilled technicians but it also is straightforward enough to entertain and captivate everyday lay persons.

Rossetti is an expert storyteller. She introduces Universal Design, via her dream house, with the perfect blend of details, beauty, practicality, warmth and curb appeal.

We teach Universal Design to graduate and upper level undergraduate students at the University of Miami School of Architecture – a top 50 program out of more than 500 schools of architecture.

Rossetti’s 45-minute presentation, via Zoom, had students at full attention, writing notes, typing information and nodding in approval.

Even though each of them has several design studios under their belt, you could see that those who will create tomorrow’s built environment were learning the full value of design that is universal, flexible and sustainable.

Rossetti deftly answered an array of questions, some very technical and architecture-oriented, with ease.

A lot of people (unfortunately) think the message of a person who uses a wheelchair for mobility will either be sad and drab, or focused on only inspiring without depth behind it. Rossetti busts the myth by simply presenting herself as a diverse person who learned how to expertly design, build and live in a home that accommodates all.

She convinces everyone in the homebuilding industry that there is value in aging in place and that her home is not for some fractionally small market (that means resale value is poor).

STANDING ON THE SHOULDERS OF GIANTS

KAREN BRAITMAYER, FAIA, FOUNDING PRINCIPAL OF STUDIO PACIFICA & STAR GUEST LECTURER IN UNIVERSAL DESIGN COURSE

Karen Braitmayer, FAIA, is Founder of Studio Pacifica, accessibility consulting firm recognized nationally for its focus on universal design.

She has made a unique contribution to the built environment— disability civil rights movement—by pairing professional architectural expertise with personal experience.

A policy advocate for persons with disabilities before the ADA was adopted, Braitmayer was the 2019 Person of the Year by New Mobility Magazine. 

New Mobility is an award-winning publication and the premier source for lifestyle, travel, in-depth news and other articles relevant to people with disabilities.

Spearheading designs to improve access in civic, commercial, education, hospitality, retail, health, multi-family residential projects – Braitmayer has excelled at making accessibility cool since before the ADA even existed. 

We look forward to collaborating him on many inclusive projects.

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JEFFREY MANSFIELD, LEADER OF MASS DESIGN GROUP'S DEAF SPACE AND STAR GUEST LECTURER IN OUR UNIVERSAL DESIGN COURSE

We are honored to teach a revolutionary course on Universal Design at the University of Miami School of Architecture.

In addition to our four decades of professional experience and thousands of articles of published expertise, We combine our thousands of publish articles and four decades of experience with cutting edge thought leaders live to our class via Zoom.

Jeffrey Yasuo Mansfield leads MASS’s Deaf Space and Disability Justice Lab, uplifting the lived experience of Deaf and Disabled communities to bring equity and dignity on a number of education and cultural projects.

His current research explores the formation of Deaf and Disability spaces as expressions of cultural resistance in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, for which he is a Graham Foundation grantee.

Jeffrey has been deaf since birth. He delivered a thought-provoking presentation via slides and an interpreter.

We look forward to collaborating him on many inclusive projects.

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SACHIN PAVRITHRAN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE U.S. ACCESS BOARD, STAR GUEST LECTURER TO OUR UNIVERSAL DESIGN COURSE

We are proud to teach a groundbreaking course on Universal Design at the University of Miami School of Architecture.

In addition to our four decades of professional experience and thousands of articles of published expertise, we like to use our extensive contacts to bring renowned leaders live to our class via Zoom.

Sachin Pavrithran, a scholar, advocate and blind person, spoke to our graduate and upper-level undergraduate students about the profound responsibilities of the Access Board.

The board creates all of the rules for the built environment under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Thanks to our brilliant colleague for sharing his expertise and advocacy with our students, while endorsing the need for our Universal Design curriculum at every school of architecture, planning and engineering

We look forward to collaborating him on many inclusive projects.