About Us
Meet Our Team
Our Clients.
Our Partners
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| “I had attended your training program in Smooth Rock Falls and really enjoyed it, so I thought that the staff here would also enjoy it. The workshop was an eye opener for our staff, it made them more aware of how some people may have trouble doing everyday things. You are very, very knowledgeable and confident, spoke well and made the whole experience very interesting. We will definitely be looking to have you back.”
~ Debbie Hilts, Health and Safety Coordinator, Town of Iroquois Falls |
ABOUT US
Changing Paces was the first Disability Awareness Training Firm in Ontario to have developed, tested and implemented an Accessible Customer Service Training program.
This training program, appropriately titled “PEOPLE FIRST”, was developed by Trish Robichaud in response to the AODA and the Customer Service Standard’s training requirement and has been highly regarded across the province by countless municipalities, private sector companies as well as non-profit organizations alike.
Changing Paces’ facilitators are people with disabilities, caregivers or professional advocates, people living & breathing the content in the full scope of their lives. We feel that there is no better expertise to be found on the topic of disability awareness/accessibility than that of a subject matter expert (SME) who is bringing personal, authentic perspective to the content.
A person living with disability bringing their own life experiences to the training provides a perspective based in reality that in turn deeply enhances the learning opportunity for the trainees. This positions Changing Paces head and shoulders above the competition in their field.
MEET OUR TEAM
TRISH ROBICHAUD 
is a multiple award winning Disability Awareness Coach, Maximum Life & Healthy Business Coach, Author, Facilitator, Advocate & Motivational Speaker who lives with multiple sclerosis and major depression. She is Owner and Founder of Changing Paces.
Trained in the facilitation of adult education, support counselling, self-advocacy, social action and life skills, Trish has been providing coaching, counselling and advocacy support to people with chronic illness or disability for well over a decade. She has been facilitating support groups and adult education for well over 15 years and disability awareness training specifically for over 5 years.
Trish was the keynote speaker for the accessibility conference hosted by Ontario Public Service’s Diversity Office of the Ministry of Government Services in May 2009. She was appointed to the York Region Accessibility Advisory Committee in 2003, is honoured to have served a total of 7 years on that committee, and finished her 2nd term as Vice-Chair.
Trish is a past long-term Board Member of Georgina Mobility Transit and was recognized by the MS Society of Canada in 2004 as top volunteer in Ontario as well as top volunteer in Canada, after having founded and served her local chapter for 14 years.
Her consulting services include, but are not limited to accessible event planning, accessibility education program development and providing her subject matter expertise on a variety of accessibility-focused projects. Trish’s unique background, together with her natural flair for facilitation, leadership, project management and relationship building with integrity, tenacity and humour positions her as an appropriate choice to ensure a rewarding educational experience or project development and implementation for your organization.
KELLY WEEDON
is a Disability Awareness Facilitator and brings over 25 years of experience in the business realm to her role with the Changing Paces team.
She has a BA in Office and Administrative Studies from Ryerson Polytechnical Institute, as well as her Life Skills Coaching Certification. Her 25 years of business experience include 20 years with IBM Canada Limited where her responsibilities included business practices & internal process audit and adult education facilitation on government legislation.
One of Kelly’s special interest areas is Mental Health Disabilities. Being diagnosed with concurrent mental health disorders a number of years ago, she has an intimate understanding and personal experience in this area. Today she lives a serene and happy life.
She is also a founding member of The Rose Foundation, a not for profit organization in Barrie, Ontario focused on reducing poverty and homelessness in Simcoe County. Their goal is to provide transitional housing for individuals and families facing homelessness. In addition, she is a member of the Crime Prevention Committee of the Downtown Barrie Neighbourhood Association.
Exemplary Customer Service has been a passion of Kelly’s and she thrives on building relationships while injecting humor into her daily life.
MARIE MARCHILDON
is a Disability Awareness Facilitator. Her experience advocating for people with disabilities began in her primary years, supporting family members living with developmental delays, addictions and untreated bi-polar disorder. In her late teens she began working with youth as the caregiver of a boy who had visual impairment, and at Morton House Barrie she was awarded Outstanding Volunteer Service in the Observation and Detention of Youth. Marie has advocated for people refused legal aid, acting as their agent through the appeal process.
In her late 20’s she sustained multiply fractures to her left leg, leaving her with ongoing pain and mobility issues. While fighting to walk she began experiencing symptoms of bi-polar disorder, sought treatment and responded very well. These complicated challenges affirmed her resolve to further assist others.
She studied Child and Youth and has a diverse volunteer and employment background; from facilitating “English as a second language” for adults, to helping implement the “Out of the Cold” program in Niagara. To assist youth with learning difficulties, Marie has identified learning styles and implemented aids to enhance learning, targeted vocational strengths and procured jobs for youth with developmental delays.
JOANN LEWIS
is a Disability Awareness Specialist and Facilitator on the Changing Paces team. She has over 30 years professional experience, working with children and adults experiencing developmental and/or mental health disabilities, supporting individuals steering through the service system and in their communities. From a personal perspective, she has a parent with mental health concerns as well a daughter with multiple disabilities.
JoAnn has served as Special Education Advisory Committee Member, on the executive of Georgina Mobility Transit/Transit Georgina, and is past long-term Chair of the Georgina Accessibility Advisory Committee, and Executive Member of her Residential Co-operative.
As a parent, JoAnn has been an ardent advocate for her daughter’s equal treatment in placement determinations by her local Board of Education, up through and including an Educational Tribunal and the Human Rights grievance process. Currently, JoAnn also works as a Community Crisis Worker providing telephone and mobile support to people overwhelmed by crisis in their lives.
As a facilitator, JoAnn brings both professional and personal skills and passion ‘to the table’ when educating about the strengths, contributions, rights and needs of people experiencing disabilities and the benefit to all when participation is fully realized by all community members.
KIRSTEN HILL
is a Disability Awareness Facilitator and Advocate. She serves as a Facilitator and an Administrative Assistant on the Changing Paces team. Kirsten lives with a degenerative eye disease called Retinitis Pigmentosa, which has now left her blind in her left eye with a small amount of residual vision in her right eye. A more recent diagnosis of Rheumatoid Arthritis has given her challenges with daily mobility and pain management.
She is past long-term member of both the York Region and the Whitchurch Stouffville Accessibility Advisory Committees. She is passionate about the Accessibility Movement and the rights and equitable treatment of people living with a disability and their equal access to all aspects of society.
Kirsten is a very active volunteer with the CNIB working on Advocacy and Education. This includes facilitating an eight week Peer Support program designed to help clients newly diagnosed with vision loss. Kirsten continues to volunteer in her local school providing reading support for grade one children experiencing difficulty with reading.
CAROL CARTER is a Virtual Assistant, Professional Virtual Author’s Assistant and owner of Beyond Spellcheck Business Services. She has worked with Changing Paces for several years, providing administrative support to the team. Joining the Changing Paces team introduced Carol to the many issues and barriers experienced every day by people living with a chronic illness or disability, particularly those conditions that are “invisible” to others.
Carol launched her business after over 25 years of corporate experience working in a variety of fields, including the legal, pharmaceutical, IT and consumer product sectors. The company provides a variety of services to entrepreneurs and businesses, but Carol’s true passion is proofreading and editing. She is a member of the Canadian Virtual Assistant Connection and has volunteered in the community with groups such as the OSPCA and Inn From The Cold.
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KAREN KILPATRICK is a Disability Awareness Advocate and has served as an Administrative Assistant on the Changing Paces team for several years.
Karen initially began her working career as a Registered Veterinary Technician, fulfilling a dream to help people and their companion animals. Karen was born with a degenerative joint problem in both knees and has had multiple surgeries to help maintain as mobile a life as possible. After 20 years as a RVT Karen was forced to give up her beloved career and take on a less active role. Being dedicated to helping people and animals, it was a natural progression for Karen to become a Disability Awareness Advocate and Administrative Assistant for the Changing Paces Team.
Karen has always had a strong passion for people and animal rights, often dedicating most of her spare time volunteering at various worthy organizations such as The OSPCA, The Ontario Humane Society,
The Canadian Golden Rescue Adoption Service, COPE Dogs, Canadian Guide Dogs for the Blind, local Senior Centre’s and many more worthy organizations.
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| “Changing Paces did a great job facilitating our Accessible Customer Service Train-the-Trainer program. The material was presented in an effective and appropriate manner that made learning and understanding the information fun and successful for everyone. Would we consider engaging Changing Paces in the future to facilitate other workshops? Absolutely!”
~ Heather Rosevear, Human Resources Assistant, County of Elgin |
OUR CLIENTS
Changing Paces launched their PEOPLE FIRST Accessible Customer Service Training program in November 2007, which was actually prior to the January 1, 2008 effective date of the AODA Accessibility Standard for Customer Service. We were the first disability awareness training firm in Ontario to have an Accessible Customer Service training program developed, tested and implemented in the field.
Organizations that have contracted Changing Paces to deliver training include but are not limited to:
- Town of Perth
- Town of Smooth Rock Falls
- Township of Black River-Matheson
- Town of Iroquois Falls
- Town of New Tecumseth
- Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury
- Township of Springwater
- Township of Adjala-Tosorontio
- County of Simcoe
- Georgian College – Barrie
- Township of Georgian Bay
- City of St Thomas
- Township of Muskoka Lakes
- Municipality of Central Elgin
- District of Nipissing Social Services
- County of Elgin
- Family Transition Place
- Town of Bracebridge
- Township of King
- City of Thunder Bay
- County of Lennox & Addington
- Prince Edward County
- City of Oshawa
- Town of Parry Sound
- Ontario March of Dimes
- University of Toronto – Career Centre
- Town of Georgina
- Town of Newmarket
- City of Brantford
- Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville
Curriculum Services Canada
In 2010, Trish Robichaud was contracted by Curriculum Services Canada to provide subject matter expertise on the development of a series of accessibility videos for the Ministry of Government Services. Trish developed the content, created storyboards and wrote the scripting for six videos on:
- How to create an accessible document using Microsoft Word,
- When and how to use PDF documents (including ensuring alternate formats when using PDF documents),
- How to create “Braille ready” documents,
- How to use a TTY and the Bell Relay System (BRS),
- Demonstrations of how to interact with sign language interpreters, intervenors and other support persons, and
- Demonstrations of how to guide a person with a service animal or visual impairment.
Three60 Communications
In 2010, Trish Robichaud was contracted by Three60 Communications to provide subject matter expertise on the development of an accessibility video for the Ministry of Government Services. Trish developed the content, created storyboards and wrote the scripting for a video covering considerations for creating “quiet” rooms at Ontario Public Service workplaces.
Ministry of Government Services
Trish Robichaud was recruited to deliver the keynote address for the Ministry’s Accessibility Expo held at Queen’s Park in 2009. Her presentation featured an inspirational speech titled “Accessibility Empowers All”. Delegates included 300 representatives from across the Province who work on accessibility efforts within their own Ministries.
Ministry of Community Safety & Correctional Services, Emergency Management Ontario
Together with ministry staff, Trish Robichaud planned, hosted, facilitated and recorded a series of interviews on emergency preparedness for people with disabilities.
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| “Trish was the consultant working with a company we hired to produce educational videos on a number of accessibility topics. Trish was very knowledgeable and responsive to our input. We ended up with a great product that informs people how to interact with persons with disabilities in appropriate, respectful ways – from producing accessible documents to guiding someone who uses a white can or has a dog guide.”
~ Tracy Odell, Director, Accessibility Program Design and Delivery, Ontario Ministry of Government Service |
OUR PARTNERS
CANADIAN MANAGEMENT CENTRE (CMC)
CMC has been one of the leading Canadian corporate training firms since 1963 and are a Vendor of Record for the Ontario Public Sector and the Broader Public Sector. They contracted Changing Paces to be their exclusive service provider of Accessible Customer Service Training.
ASSOCIATION OF MUNICIPAL MANAGERS, CLERKS & TREASURERS OF ONTARIO (AMCTO)
AMCTO is the industry leader in designation training for senior municipal management They contracted Changing Paces to be a service provider of Accessible Customer Service Staff Training for municipalities across the province.
ONTARIO MARCH OF DIMES
Being the largest community-based rehabilitation and advocacy organization for people with physical disabilities in the province. They partnered with Changing Paces to deliver Accessible Customer Service Training in northern Ontario.
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