Cities striving to become more inclusive must consider how housing, policy, and land use systems can better serve disabled residents. As part of the Cities for All series, this session will introduce disability-forward housing—an approach that integrates design, policy, and practice to create environments where people with disabilities can live in the communities of their choice with the supports they need to thrive. Presenters from The Kelsey will outline core components of disability-forward housing and strategies for how cities can expand accessible, affordable, and inclusive housing supply. Participants will gain actionable guidance for applying disability-forward housing principles to their work to create cities for all.
The Kelsey is a development and advocacy organization whose work in affordable housing falls at the intersection of disability justice and trauma-informed design. As they describe on their website, the organization engages with the disabled community to design affordable housing that is accessible and meets the needs of people with disabilities.
Allie Cannington - Managing Director | From the Bay Area, Allie Cannington is a white, Jewish, queer, disabled activist and organizer. Since gaining access to movements for disability rights and justice over ten years ago, Allie has organized people with disabilities on local, state, and national levels, always centering on people with disabilities who live at the margins, including LGBTQIA, Black, Indigenous, people of color, low/no income, and youth with disabilities. As Managing Director, Allie leads The Kelsey’s policy and advocacy efforts to advance disability-forward housing solutions at the state and federal levels. Across all policy change efforts, Allie works to ensure that the change we create is co-led by diverse and multiply marginalized disabled people. Within and outside of The Kelsey, Allie’s work is ultimately dedicated to unveiling everyone’s proximity to disability and to fueling justice movements that are intersectional, sustainable, and intergenerational.
Kyle Seem - Manager, Inclusive Design | Kyle Seem is The Kelsey’s Inclusive Design Manager and is proud to be a part of The Kelsey’s mission to create a disability-forward housing future. Kyle spent 5 years working as an architectural designer with a specialty in Inclusive Design, and is committed to creating inclusive spaces for everyone to share and enjoy. Kyle has a varied background and previously worked as a software engineer and a data analyst in Upstate New York. Kyle currently lives in Bellingham, WA, with her partner, their cat and dog, and their many houseplants. In her spare time, she likes to kayak, crochet, and play video games.
AICP CM credits pending
