About Us
NeighbourABLE is a multi-year research study funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC). The goal of the project is to develop and test an audit tool that assesses “person-environment fit”—i.e., how well housing and neighbourhoods fit the needs of residents with disabilities.
NeighbourABLE is a collaboration between academic researchers, accessibility professionals, and community partners from Halifax, Vancouver, and Sweden. Three universities are involved in this research: Simon Fraser University, Lund University (Sweden), and Dalhousie University. We also have leading housing and disability advocacy community organizations as project partners, including the Rick Hansen Foundation, the Brightside Community Homes Foundation (Brightside) (Vancouver), Live Educate Transform Society (LETS) (Vancouver), Whole Way House Society (Vancouver) and two organizations located in Nova Scotia.
In this project, we will collect important data on housing accessibility needs, which housing providers and researchers can use to promote creation of more accessible and affordable housing. Together, we aim to show policy making bodies strong evidence of needs and clear strategies to support social housing sectors.
The NeighbourABLE Team at a workshop held in September 2024. Everyone is smiling and wearing PEACH-branded sweatshirts.
Why This Matters
We know that where you live impacts how you live. From getting in and out of your building to accessing public transit, every step (or roll!) matters. That’s why our team of researchers, urban planners, and accessibility advocates are working together to identify challenges and find real solutions.
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Our goal? To create communities that work for everyone—whether you walk, use a wheelchair, rely on public transit, or need extra support to get around.
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Picture a world where every entrance is easy to navigate, every transit stop is accessible, and every home is designed with all abilities in mind. Sounds great, right? That’s what we’re striving for!