OUR TEAM

Executives

Darby Lee Young

Founder, Principal Accessibility Strategist

One of Canada’s Top 40 under 40 2018

“The moment there is the slightest barrier, my independence is gone.”

Darby’s ultimate goal has been to combine her lived experience with her professional life as an Accessibility Consultant. As a person born with mild cerebral palsy, Darby has been able to utilize this unique experience to her advantage, and her previous political appointments and competitive career as a para-alpine skier have provided her with an impactful perspective when approaching projects.

Darby’s previous political appointments and achievements include serving on the City of Calgary’s Advisory Committee on Accessibility (ACA) from 2011-2015, serving as the co-chair for two years. Darby also represented the City of Calgary at the International Summit on Accessibility in 2014. In June of 2017, Darby was appointed to a three-year term on the Premier’s Council on the Status of Persons with Disabilities. In 2018 Darby was selected as one of Canada’s top 40 under 40.

LPF has allowed Darby to offer her expertise to a wider range of clients. By incorporating universal design features in new builds and conducting accessibility reviews on proposed and existing facilities, Darby’s work continues to make a significant difference for many people living with disabilities and puts her team at the forefront of accessibility consulting. Through this work LPF has successfully contributed to the removal of barriers at the municipal, provincial and national levels, ultimately establishing inclusive environments.

Patrick White

Lead Accessibility Strategist, RHFAC Professional

Patrick is the lead accessibility strategist and an RHFAC Professional at LPF and has 18 years of lived experience as an advocate for accessibility and universal design principles. He is currently studying Architectural Technology at the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology and is committed to constantly developing his current expertise in the evolving field of universal design and accessible best practices. Patrick is well versed in the City of Calgary Access Design Standards, Alberta’s Barrier-Free Design Guide from the Safety Codes Council.

In his role at Level Playing field, Patrick has gained expertise with wayfinding, interactive technologies and adaptive spaces that foster inclusive environments. He is passionate about athletics, and enjoys down-hill skiing, hand-cycling and playing competitive sledge hockey in his spare time. As well, Patrick enjoys travelling, with the next bucket list destination Tokyo, Japan.

Associates

Shane Holten MES, MCIP, RPP

Lead Accessibility Strategist

Shane Holten is a member of the Canadian Institute of Planners (MCIP) and is a Registered Professional Planner (RPP). He has over 15 years experience in the construction industry and planning field, starting his career as a partner in family-owned residential contracting and pipeline construction businesses.

Working alongside a variety of architects, designers and contractors has provided Shane with extensive hands-on experience and understanding of construction methods and project management skills. Shane has a master’s degree in Environmental Studies and has focused extensively on inclusive and accessible design principles. Shane has worked in both the public and private sectors as an urban planner and accessibility consultant on a variety of equal access projects and other policy development initiatives.