Chris Downey
Architect & Design Advocate | Pioneering Accessibility Innovation
About
Chris Downey is an architect whose work has transformed accessibility design. After losing his sight in 2008, Downey founded Architecture for the Blind, a nonprofit dedicated to improving the built environment for people with disabilities.
He consults on high-profile projects like the San Francisco Federal Building and the Art Institute of Chicago, applying his firsthand experience to create more inclusive spaces. Downey's TEDx talks have inspired audiences to rethink how architecture can empower those with sensory or mobility challenges.
His keynotes offer a designer's perspective on unlocking human potential through thoughtful, accessible design.
Talks1
Design with the blind in mind
What would a city designed for the blind be like? Chris Downey is an architect who went suddenly blind in 2008; he contrasts life in his beloved San Francisco before and after -- and shows how the thoughtful designs that enhance his life now might actually make everyone's life better, sighted or not.
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