Vienna, 8 December 2001
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Due to my person I want to introduce myself.
I am acting as an expert consultant in the Design for All sector.
The Design for All approach is one of the most important aims to guarantee equal opportunities for people with special needs all over Europe.
It allows disabled people to develop their potential and to contribute to the development of a non-discriminatory society in which they can be perceived as, treated as and considered themselves as full and equal citizens.
This approach is a main emphasis in my daily work for humanitarian architecture since more than 10 years.
Therefore I hope that I can contribute my experience, which I developed in the cooperation with the disabled experts, in this project.
Also my contacts to relevant European disability initiatives had been a good basis in the past European projects an will support me in this specific Design for All project.
Curriculum vitae:
Born 10. 09. 1962 in Vienna
Primary School 1969 -1973 in Tamsweg, Salzburg
Grammar School 1973 -1978 in Tamsweg, Salzburg
School leaving certificate 1983 in Saalfelden, Salzburg, for structural engineering
Start at university 1983 ,study of architecture , Technical University of Vienna
Since 1992 living together with Bernadette Feuerstein, who has a muscular distrophy and is confined to a wheelchair.
During the years at university cooperation with several architects offices in Vienna
Further activities in the field of Barrier-free Design, Design for All. Initiative for Disabled Persons in Austria and Europe
Working groups and collaboration focussed on Barrier-free Design and Design for All "Bizeps" ( Zentrum für selbstbestimmtes Leben) ,1990 , 1997
Project leader, designer and constructer of especially designed and adapted restrooms for refurbishment of old buildings ,1992
Consultant for disabled students - "Vienna University and Uniability" 1994-1997
Since 1995 cooperation , "Austrian Institute for Standardization"
Since 1995 cooperation in the "Austrian Network for Barrier-free Design"
In charge of working groups emphasized on "Cultural Activities without Barriers"
(Viena Festivals)
Building construction and adaptation for cinemas and theatre for disabled persons
Cooperation "BIS" ,Barrier Info System ,1998 ,1999
In charge of students` groups "Barrier-free Design - since 1998
Advisory function ,"Independent Living Initiative Vienna" and Association for Independent Living Austria".
1996 , 1997 : representative for EIDD (European Institute for Design and Disability)
Member of the organization group "Integrationsball" an annual event for "All" disabled and non disabled persons since 1997.
Project leader, designer and constructer of especially designed working place in the historical plenary-hall -"Austrian Parliament" 2000
Publications:
Leaflets dealing with technical information an "Living and Design for All"
Articles in periodicals focussed on "Barrier-free Design" ,"Domino", "Objects"
Since 1996 cooperation "ORF medium wave radio" and editor of the "Freak Radio"
Study tours :
Columbia 1992
Portugal 1994
France 1995
Spane 1996
Hungary 1997
Cuba 2000
Washington 2000
Croatia 2001
With the best regards
Bernhard Hruska
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