Paul Murphy

Paul has spent the last 25 years involved with the transportation industry in manufacturing, design, marketing, regulatory compliance, regulatory and standards development, engineering support and litigation support.

Although knowledgeable with all types of vehicles, Paul's experience has been primarily in the commercial bus/coach, integrated accessible taxi vehicles, RV's, trailers and the specialty vehicle industries.

Paul has skills in dealing and negotiating with Municipal, Provincial, and Federal Government Agencies and Departments relating to regulations and services relating to accessibility and transportation issues. He is capable of presenting to many styles of public hearings, boards, commissions, committees, tribunals and depositions.

Paul's specialties include, but are not limited to;

• Motor Vehicle and trailer compliance for U.S. and Canadian Regulations,
• State, provincial and international compliance,
• Regulatory affairs arbitration,
• Accessibility design assessment, consulting and liaison,
• Legal affairs liaison,
• Implementation and overseeing of recalls,
• Used vehicle import/export, and
• Staff Empowerment and Motivational Seminars/Training,

Paul also has a strong background in accessibility products design/development, marketing, standards development as well as buildings access.

Paul was born in Winnipeg, March 1962 and is a survivor of the drug Thalidomide, which caused significant birth defects while being distributed/sold throughout the world in the late 50's and early 60's.

Although all the professionals determined he would grow up totally reliant on others and unemployable, he has spent the last 48 years proving them wrong.

He is the youngest of 5 children, is engaged to Barb Martin and has an 19 y.o. daughter, Brittany.

He took part in 2 CBC documentaries regarding the history of Thalidomide and was also part of the negotiations leading to a financial package for the 125 survivors from the Canadian Federal Government.

Paul's ability and life experience to speak to Accessibility and Empowerment in business, medical interaction, regulatory development and many other subjects is not only quite clear, but is done with an energy and humour that engages you. His unique situation blended with his professional knowledge gives him a perspective to assist in developing products, services, regulations and standards. It allows Paul to give consulting and advisory support in his areas of expertise and assist in product liability defence.

His seminars and presentations involve and include his audience incorporating their own life experiences to make them more personal.

Paul believes the term "accessibility" often narrowly focuses on those of us with definable disabilities, however, it better describes the degree to which a product, service or environment is accessible by as many people as possible. In fact it is time to think of the term "accessibility" in the broadest sense when developing new infrastructure and services.

"I've sat through dry, boring seminars - 'Sleepy' is what I remember most. I try to talk with people, not at them. Sarcasm, laughter and humour are the keys to surviving life. I look for them everywhere I roll!"

• March 2007 - January 2011 Board Chair - EPW - Employment Projects of Winnipeg

• January 2007 - Present: Board member - EPW - Employment Projects of Winnipeg

• 1998 - 2000 - Active participant in 49 CFR Part 38 - Docket OST-1998-3648; Transportation for Individuals with Disabilities; Americans with Disabilities Act Accessibility Guidelines for Transportation Vehicles; Over-the-Road Busses; vehicle standards

• 1998 - 2000 - Active participant in NPRM - Docket No. NHTSA-98-4511; Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards; Platform Lift Systems for Accessible Motor Vehicles

• 1999 - 2007 - member Society of Automotive Engineers

• 1999 - 2003 - Member of advisory committee for a negotiated rulemaking to develop recommendations for regulations governing the certification of vehicles built in two or more stages - 49 CFR parts 567 and 568.

• 1994 - Corresponding member of Canadian General Standards Board standards committee, 189.1 "Aircraft Boarding Systems for Passengers with Mobility Impairments"

• 1994 - Appointed by Minister of Health in Manitoba to the Home Care Appeals Board.

• 1992 - 1995: Active participant in Transport Canada - "Accessible Transportation for All"

• 1992 - 1996: President of the "Thalidomide Victims Association of Canada".

• 2004 - present Vice-Chair of the CSA D-409 Motor Vehicles for the Transportation of Persons with Physical Disabilities guidelines, sub-committee chair D-436 Accessible Over-the-Road Buses and participant in D-435 Accessible Transit Buses sub-committee

• 1990 - 2004: Corresponding member - C.S.A. D-409 - rewrite committee.