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Amy Francis-Smith

Accessible Architectural Designer

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For #DisabilityHistoryMonth, I partnered with @sam For #DisabilityHistoryMonth, I partnered with @samsunguk and @l_d_f_official as part of their #DEI commitment to openly address gender equity, diversity, and inclusion in the UK’s tech industry. The goal: actively encourage getting comfortable with the 'uncomfortable' and make inclusion a priority. This research highlights that accessibility isn’t just the right thing to do; it’s a powerful driver of loyalty and growth. There’s still work to be done, and it’s promising to see Samsung pushing the agenda. The #TechSector has long been a pioneer in empowering disabled individuals and creating transformative innovations that simplify life for us all like voice recognition software, electric toothbrushes and keyboards. Smart devices and #AssistiveTechnology have been a game changer in making people's lives easier. Yet, with over half of consumers questioning mainstream brands' commitment to accessibility, advocates like #Samsung championing this cause are more vital than ever. By prioritising inclusivity through empathetic design and considerate practices, we can set a new standard that fosters a more inclusive #tech industry - and a more accessible society - for everyone. Check out the research and further insights: https://news.samsung.com/uk/ #AD #InclusiveDesign #SamsungUK #DEI #DesignForAll #AccessibleDesign #DisabilityInclusion #PurplePound
I married the love of my life PART 2?! Too many t I married the love of my life PART 2?! Too many things to list out about how amazing our celestial, summer harvest, sun goddess vibing, loved-packed wedding day was! We're still too much in a blissed-out, loved-up bubble to go into full details, but some key highlights were: People (always the most important), Fire, Dancing, Poems, Tug of War, Sun, Singing, Meat, Pizza, Whisky, Capes, Wigs and DINOSAURS?! More wedding spam is impending while we take time to process just how epic the whole weekend was. But for now, a deepest, heartfelt thank you to everyone who made this whole thing be possible. Your help, love and support through it all has filled our hearts and really is appreciated. AND please let me introduce you to my HUSBAND. The kindest, silliest, most thoughtful man and undoubted love of my life @a_carolan_ Genuinely being married to you is going to be the best and I can't wait to go on loads more adventuresplores together! And a huge thanks to Venue: @tipisatwhattonhouse Photographer: @shootitmommaphoto @amanda_forman_photography Dress: @evieyoungbridal Headdress: @carbickovacrowns Suit: @hockerty_official Hair: @plaits_and_pin_curls Makeup: @alex_archer.makeup Celebrant: @trudimoloneycelebrant Flowers: @theenglishroseflowers Catering: @big_ds_bbq Drinks: @shakethespirit Cake: @marksandspencerfood !! DJs: @Thebestmendjs Moon Backdrop: @bobbiwrenevents #tipisatwhattonhouse #tipiwedding #wedding #justmarried #rocknrollbride #alternativebride #alternativewedding #unconventionalwedding #outdoorwedding #dinosaurwedding
Did a marriage, got a husband (😳?!) PART 1 Glo Did a marriage, got a husband (😳?!) PART 1 Glorious day in Birmingham, going full circle by having a drink right by the flat Adrian lived in when we first met in 2016! Loved up, very grateful and still slightly weirded out by being a legal wife (what the actual fk?!) Thank you to our beautiful friends Ant & @beingmarina for being our support crew and paparazzi for the day! Plus expertly and not at all aggressively throwing the homemade confetti I've been lovingly collecting/drying for over a year. Also very much enjoyed being extra and living out my gothic bridal fantasy! 🖤🦇👰‍♀️🤵‍♀️ #wedding #gothbride #gothwedding #hubbses
I wrote a thing! It's in a book?! #InclusionEmerg I wrote a thing! It's in a book?! #InclusionEmergency recently printed by #RIBAPublishing is an anthology of voices from a whole range of backgrounds covering some key topics in the industry. My chapter 'Nothing About Us, Without Us' looked at how to bring my disabled people into design, the richness it would add and the current issues both within academia/employment that disabled people face. (Currently only 1% of Architects declare a Disability) Thanks to the ever-awesome @grace_choi_journal and @_hannahdurham_ for asking me to contribute alongside and hearing all of the cats to make this into a reality! And of course to Amanprit Arnold, @poppy_levison @jordan_k_wn @sumitasingha_riba and @zoe.partington for contributing their lived experiences for my chapter as well! 💥 Featuring some seriously strong voices and contenders in Architecture inc. @pastearchitects @charlie_edmo, Dannielle Jennifer Kerr, Darren Bray, Hannah Day, Professor Igea Troiani, Indujah Srikaran, @lanre_gbolade, @maybeitsnotmaryam Nick Walker, Rob Hyde, @saraheackland, Savannah Williams and Tobi Sobowale. Check out @kumaconltd's review in #BuildingDesign https://lnkd.in/eDAtPg5T or alternatively - buy the book here! https://lnkd.in/erd687Jq #InclusionEmergency #RIBAPublishing #Architecture #Disability #DisabilityInclusion @riba @ribawestmids
I am too lucky!! Spent the most perfect sunny Summ I am too lucky!! Spent the most perfect sunny Summer Solistice weekend frolicking/dino stomping round our own corner of paradise for my hen do! Lets be real it, it was probably the most unhen hen do - minus those token pink bride glasses which are classy AF, but it was for sure the most 'AFS'! The most ridiculous eclectic ‘all the themes’, ‘all the things’ of 'tits & black', 'pagan may queen Pre-Raphaelite babes', drumming circle, dressing up, capes, MORE capes, fire pits, candles, MORE 🔥, full moon magic ✨, flower crown crafting, organised fun, silent disco, delicious treats, singing really loudly, bats 🦇, nipple tassels, goth shit, kate bush, stevie nicks, dancing 💃, leather harness, natures, BATS!, interpretive dance, woodland rites, arts and of course, a motherfckin INFLATABLE DINOSAUR TREX COSTUME?!🦖 Had the absolute time of my life with nearly all my most favourite people in a yurt in Oxfordshire at the foothills of the ancient Ridgeway with the #UffingtonWhiteHorse in view. My cup has fully overflowed from all the love and thought and organisation that went into this surprise from my dear bridebitches – finally got to cash in some of my former bridesmaids duties..! Thank you forever @jozefalewi_ @gnarly_.charlie_ @tempesthey @beingmarina @jezmondy & Jess Hardy! Just got to do a wedding now...😬
So.. it appears I may have gone a bit viral... Wh So.. it appears I may have gone a bit viral... When I initially shared my health/remission journey, I had absolutely no idea it would be of interest to anyone, let alone become a news story around the world! In all honesty, I have been feeling pretty shocked and overwhelmed at how far it has reached. Even with the clickbaity headlines, I never thought what I had been through would resonate with people! I debated about being so open and vulnerable publically, especially when sharing some of the more gory details. However, the outpouring of messages and emails I have had off the back of it, especially from people suffering from the same or similar conditions, has reinforced to me why it's important to talk about these things. If you have messaged, DM'd or emailed asking for help, advice or guidance, please know I'm not ignoring you; I only have so much capacity to handle it at this time! I will, however, be putting together a free cheat sheet overview of all the different modalities and methodologies I found helpful in regaining total health over the past few years. (not medical advice!) Thank you all for your unwavering support and well wishes. They really do mean a lot, and I only hope I will be able to use my voice to help others in need. (Oh and no I wasn't safe in petrol stations or around vapes, both of those put me in hospital too) The Independent Daily Mirror Yahoo MSN LaVanguardia New York Post News18 India LeicestershireLive Birmingham Live Birmingham World Wales Online AOL #MastCellActivationSyndrome #Crohns #IBD #EDS #PTSD #BrainInjury #FoodAllergies #Anaphylaxis #LimbicSystemImpairment #ChronicIllness #EMDR #Neuroplasticity #DNRS
Never thought I'd say this... I AM IN FULL REMISSI Never thought I'd say this... I AM IN FULL REMISSION🔥 Life for the last decade++ has been inexplicably difficult at times. I have suffered, been pained, cut open without anaesthetic and almost lost my life several dozen times. To come so close to the edge is a fearful place. My life was so restricted, bedridden for several years, unable to work and at one point in A&E with anaphylaxis so many days in a row they wanted to section me. I was reacting to the whole world – foods, drugs, fragrances, medicines, stress, cold, heat, my own hormones, because it was a Tuesday.. Only able to eat 4 foods that wouldn’t kill me (unsurprisingly 6 months of courgettes, rice, pears & beef gives you malnutrition!) I was sh*tting blood x15 a day, visceral ulcers in my bowels, twice daily enemas, systemic immunosuppressants, close to a bowel resection and inflammation tests came back so off the charts they thought there'd been a system error. Pretty much every organ shut down and I visited almost every department in the hospital. Gastro, neurology, haematology, cardiology, dermatology, gynae, rheumatology, ENT, respiratory, ophthalmology, pain management, psychiatry, orthopaedics, brain, spleen, kidneys, thyroid etc. the works! And yet ineligible for disability benefits, I sold all my belongings on eBay, with just £400 to my name. Completely reliant on the kindness and generosity of my parents and partner. Even gambling buying half used bottles of supplements off eBay because I couldn’t afford them sealed (don’t recommend!) I could go on for a long time recounting the inexplicably long list of traumatic events, procedures, Drs, diagnosis/misdiagnosis, the several volumes of medical notes, medical abuse and downright negligence I have endured. Like that time a Dr laughed in my face whilst my airways closed or professionals too scared to give me anaesthetic when they biopsied my colon/nerves out of my leg/root canal etc.. CONT in comments Excuse the face glitch! #MastCellActivationSyndrome #Crohns #IBD #EDS #PTSD #CPSTD #BrainInjury #FoodAllergies #Anaphylaxis #LimbicSystemImpairment #ChronicIllness #Disability #DNRS #EMDR #SomaticTherapy #DynamicNeuralRetrainig
December We made it! Met some more babies, made December We made it! Met some more babies, made a wreath, went to some burlesque @trestrescabaret, sang Fleetwood Mac with my best @gnarly_charlie1991 Did some of the best ever karaoke with @leishyquiche as independently adjudicated by 5 separate people(!) Bought some mistletoe - my own has just started to shoot after 2 years! Also had a surprise Sparrowhawk visitor in the garden for the Winter Solstice
November To Canary Wharf for the big @purpletuesn November To Canary Wharf for the big @purpletuesnov event (re. amazing sunset) and teaching Undergrads about Disability, Access and Inclusive Design at @mybcu @bcu_bsoad Back up to the Lakes for stones & sherry ft. @sineateruk t-shirt and first venture to @kkssteelmill for @greenlungband! 🔥 Threw in a cheeky trip to @triumphuk as well - trying out my new Bonneville!!
October She's still being an Architect. Very almo October She's still being an Architect. Very almost got the £15mil multi-phase project I've been running for the NHS over the line..! Spent a lot of time in forests, going on shroom-hunts and hanging out in pubs. Made friends with more neighbourhood cats. Apparently I'm not allowed to steal them?! (Sorry you got cropped @ihatechairs!)
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