Calling it the first of its kind in Canada, three levels of government inaugurated a new, technology-driven ‘smart home in Montreal’s Cote-Des-Neiges district for the intellectually disabled or on the autism spectrum. “This is innovative. My eyes are being opened today. I am very happy to see this can be done,” said Lionel Carmant, Quebec’s Social Services Minister. The $6.7-million home will house eight residents, handpicked by the local CIUSS based on factors such as individual capabilities, and compatibility with other residents. The home is arrayed with technology to help guide and prompt residents with daily tasks. Features include a fridge that indicates when produce inside will expire, recipe ideas based on what’s inside the fridge, and screens that explain how to brush your teeth, and for how long. It’s to help guide them so they can optimize how they function — getting dressed, making a meal — to give them that self-determination and feel they are successful in doing what we take for granted. Residents will live in private rooms, with shared common spaces including a kitchen, a games room, and a meditation room. The goal is to provide a safe space for people with intellectual disabilities to grow, thrive, and live an independent life. The technological aspect of the home makes it all possible. “It preserves their dignity because they can follow their steps without me being there, which at this age with me being with them in the bathroom it takes a toll on their dignity,” said smart home lead specialized educator Erica Lighter. The building was the brainchild of Le Foundation Des Petits Rois, a private Montreal foundation. The original cost of the house was pegged at $3 million, but the pandemic saw numbers skyrocket and more than double. Of the smart home’s $6.7-million cost, the federal government committed $2.2 million, while the Quebec government committed $2 million.
Societe d’habitation du Quebec is also committing to fund a rent supplement, so residents won’t pay more than 25 percent of their revenues in rent. Residents will pay a nominal rent, less than 30 percent of their revenues. The provincial government committed almost half a million dollars to fund the house annually. The first residents are expected to move in at the end of March. New research suggests nearly 60 percent of public spaces in Calgary, Vancouver and Ottawa are either inaccessible or partially inaccessible to people with disabilities. The report by the University of Calgary-led “Mapping our Cities for All” project is aimed at helping the federal government meet its goals under the Accessible Canada Act of removing barriers for people with disabilities by 2040. Of the three cities, the research found Calgary finished last with 35 percent of buildings mapped deemed accessible. That’s compared to 48 percent in Vancouver and 53 percent in Ottawa. The study used geographic data and insights from people with first-hand experience with disability. Factors taken into consideration include the ability to get into parking spots, building entrances, and washrooms, as well as general categories such as lighting, the height of tables, spaciousness, digital menus, and customer service. The 2017 Canadian Survey on Disability found more than six million Canadians aged 15 and over — 22 percent of the population — identify as having a disability.
Source: Global News Canada
