Meet the Honeycomb Team: Dennisse
Meet Dennisse Bonanno, Senior Access Consultant and Honeycomb Advisory Panel member.
Dennisse’s journey into access consulting is a personal one. After experiencing a stroke caused by a brain aneurysm at a young age, she turned her lived experience into a driving force for change, helping to shape a more inclusive world.
With a decade as an Access Consultant, her interest in the built environment has also seen her involved with groups such as Architects for Peace and the Stroke Association Victoria.
We caught up with Dennisse to chat about her career, insights, and passion for accessibility!
1. What inspired you to become an Access Consultant?
After acquiring a physical disability from a brain aneurysm and stroke in my last year of completing an architecture degree, I decided to study to be an Access Consultant.
2. What is the most surprising accessibility element in any public space you've visited?
The most surprising accessibility feature I’ve seen was a moving walkway travelator on a cruise ship leading to its uppermost level. The only other way to access this level was via a very steep ramp. From afar, it seemed impossible for wheelchairs or strollers to reach this level, but the travelator made it accessible!
3. If you could design an accessible feature for any famous landmark, which would you choose and why?
The Great Wall of China, so that all of it is accessible. Currently, only a few sections are wheelchair friendly.
Dennisse doing a site inspection for an event at Flemington Racecourse
4. What’s your favourite thing about working in access consulting?
Seeing a project through from start to finish, knowing that my input will improve the space and make it more functional and enjoyable for everyone, including people with and without a disability.
5. What's one small change that could make a big difference in accessibility that people often overlook?
A small but impactful change is ensuring footpaths align and kerb ramps are installed consistently across the network. A single missing kerb ramp can force someone onto the road, compromising safety and independence.
6. Can you share a memorable moment when your work significantly improved someone's experience?
One job that stands out is retrofitting an office after a staff member acquired a disability. The building’s constraints made the upgrades challenging, but finding solutions that improved their independence and comfort was incredibly rewarding.
7. What’s a common misconception about accessibility that you often encounter?
A common misconception is that accessible toilets and car parks are only for wheelchair users. In reality, they support a wide range of disabilities, including mobility limitations, chronic pain, balance issues, and invisible conditions.
8. How do you explain the importance of accessibility to someone new to the concept?
Accessibility is important because everyone will need it at some point - whether it is as we age, push a pram, or find ourselves with a temporary injury and need a mobility aid such as crutches after a fall. Therefore, it needs to be considered in all scenarios and for a range of people.
To follow/contact Dennisse, find her on LinkedIn here.