@makersmakingchange.bsky.social
We connect people with #disabilities to makers who can build affordable #AssistiveTechnology. A program of @neilsquiresociety.bsky.social
A presenter delivering a presentation in a conference room
@neilsquiresociety.bsky.social's AT Summit is underway! Dive into the full schedule of sessions and exhibitors for today and tomorrow: www.neilsquire.ca/at-summit/
18.02.2026 19:02 — 👍 0 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0
A graphic with the blockly prompts. Above is the text "Help us make block-based coding more accessible"
A graphic with the text: eligibility: comfortable using a computer with a screen reader, ages 10+ (priority for youth under 18), located in Canada, interest in block-based coding.
With support from Google.org, we're making Blockly (a block-coding app) more accessible, and you can help!
We are looking for screen reader users or AT professionals who can provide feedback through user testing session. Compensation will be provided to testers. Sign up by Feb 28: buff.ly/VxmXXRH
Close up of a hand soldering the interact switch.
“It helped our students see that there are different ways to give back to their community and to be a volunteer."
In December, 350 students at West Bedford School in Bedford, NS worked together to adapt over 60 toys and build 200 switches for children with disabilities.
Read story: buff.ly/k8ZOtFU
Students are seated around a table, and a girl in safety glasses raises her left hand
Secondary school aged students have a fun opportunity to attend Neil Squire's AT Summit! While conference requires paid registration, youth can attend the "Build Your Own AT" session free of charge.
📅 Thurs, Feb 19 from 9-11:30am EST
📍 Moncton, NB (in person)
➡️ Register: buff.ly/nlfXDxH
A woman presenting at a podium. Beside her in a large projector screen displaying various adaptive gaming equipment.
Neil Squire is hosting the AT Summit, a two-day event showcasing impactful partnerships in Assistive Technology. It takes place in-person from Feb 18-19, 2026 in Moncton, NB (or attend virtually)
There will be presentations from leaders in AT, vendors, and community partners. Register: atsummit.ca
A young boy in a wheelchair. In the top left corner is the text "Youth Assistive Technology". On the bottom is the Technology For Living logo.
Our friends at Technology for Living have funding to provide youth with disabilities in #BritishColumbia (aged 9 to 18) with automatic door openers through their Youth Assistive Technology initiative. Apply here: buff.ly/mFsGURR
04.02.2026 18:02 — 👍 1 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0Did you know you can #volunteer to #3dPrint device components to support our build events in Canada? Choose from over a dozen parts, and print as little or as many as you wish!
Sign up to be a MMC 3D Printer today: buff.ly/Egk3nvw
14 clinicians standing together smiling at the camera
A staff holding and pointing to the Xbox Adaptive Controller with clinicians standing around
Two clinicians in front of a PC, with one holding a PS5 controller
A staff holding and pointing to the Xbox Adaptive Controller with clinicians standing around
We had a blast running a GAME Checkpoint Power Up Session at G.F. Strong Rehabilitation Centre yesterday. Clinicians "leveled-up" their #AdaptiveGaming knowledge with the latest in software and hardware innovations.
30.01.2026 18:10 — 👍 4 🔁 2 💬 0 📌 0
Child in a wheelchair with a blue shirt using assistive devices. Below is the text "4200 Devices Delivered"
A youth volunteer maker adapting a stitch toy. Below is the text "including 5300 youth volunteers"
4 volunteer makers holding adapted toys. Below is the text "7062 Volunteer Makers"
Three MMC staff behind a pile of adapted toys. Below is the text "$142500 fundraised"
On the tails of our 2025 Year In Review, we reflected on our #HackingForTheHolidays season.
We owe a huge thanks to each and every one of you — our volunteers, community, and supporters — we couldn’t have done it without you!
Read more: buff.ly/6CrzQL3
2025 was a record breaking year for us! In all, we delivered 6,528 devices to people with disabilities, and hosted 397 events engaging 12,294 volunteers.
Take a look at our highlights from last year: buff.ly/luUJsyD
Sadly other plug-and-play / of the shelf options tend to be spendy, but there are adaptors to use Wii Nunchucks with the XAC, and in general @makersmakingchange.bsky.social has a great collection of models that people can make. I reviewed a number of the last year: caniplaythat.com/2025/09/18/m...
22.01.2026 17:54 — 👍 2 🔁 1 💬 1 📌 0
Justin Pezzin, Director of Makers Making Change, sits down with the LivingUN-broken podcast for a conversation about the impact of affordable AT on society.
Listen: www.youtube.com/watch?v=gsma...
A 3D printer in action.
The MMC R&D Team has recently published the OpenAT Design Guide! This guide is a collection of best practices and dimensions for designing using common MMC components. The guide is always evolving, and we encourage the community to add to it as well.
Read the OpenAT Design Guide: buff.ly/HiXUkAn
Mark your calendars, #GAconf is happening on January 29th at 10am PST. Catch our Accessible Gaming Lead, Tyler, as he presents the Best Assistive Technology award.
15.01.2026 21:42 — 👍 7 🔁 2 💬 0 📌 0
a lightbulb with gears in it
Staff across all Neil Squire departments work together to provide personalized, practical support to all of our participants.
Read our latest article on the importance of collaboration across our programs: buff.ly/UKZmKSF
#NeilSquire #Collaboration #MakersMakingChange #Solutions #HearingSolutions
Justin Pezzin, Director of Makers Making Change, holding adapted toys and switches.
“One of our core values is ‘nothing for us without us,’ that’s front and centre for our entire team. [. . .] Every step along the way, we’re considering the end user and having real people engaged in the process.”
Read our latest article on one-off customization and fabrication: buff.ly/Uow1mME
Priscilla, a young girl in a mobility device, uses a switch on her tray, as her mother Ashley holds her hand.
Priscilla's ornaments.
Priscilla, who is five years old, received an adapted paint spinner from our #HackingForTheHolidays campaign. The adapted paint spinner allowed Priscilla to press a switch to paint Christmas ornaments for her family.
Read Priscilla's story: buff.ly/as4EahE
Donate: buff.ly/c0C5QLi
Accessible Gaming Lead Tyler Fentie and Alvin Buckwold staff pose with adaptive gaming accessories.
We recently welcomed aboard our latest GAME Checkpoint, the Alvin Buckwold Child Development Program. Last week, we trained 15 clinicians at Alvin Buckwold in adaptive gaming, and we’re excited to bring in another GAME Checkpoint focused on pediatrics.
19.12.2025 17:01 — 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
Giulia holding a toy from her boxes of toys and switches on a cart.
It’s that time of year again! Our team has been hard at work, delivering toys across Canada to families and clinicians like Giulia from the BC Centre for Ability (pictured), ensuring that kids with disabilities get the toys in time for the holidays.
There's still time to donate: buff.ly/hIGqhe1
A clinician holds a sensory toy, while a kid with a disability uses a switch to activate it.
Help make play accessible this holiday season! Donate to #HackingToHolidays to give the gift of play to kids with disabilities across Canada. Just $5 can provide the parts for a toy hack, while $60 gives us everything included to provide an adapted toy to a child.
Donate: buff.ly/hIGqhe1
The Creative Employment Options team building devices in the Makers Making Change office in Burnaby.
On Friday, our @makersmakingchange.bsky.social program hosted our Burnaby Creative Employment Options team for a device build. A great example of collaboration across our organization. The adapted toys and switches will be donated to families and clinicians as part of #HackingForTheHolidays.
09.12.2025 20:00 — 👍 0 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0
Air Canada staff hold up the toys they are working on.
Air Canada staff adapt toys.
Chad helps an Air Canada staff member adapt a toy.
Air Canada staff adapt toys.
On Thursday, we had a great time adapting toys with @aircanada.bsky.social staff. The Air Canada Foundation has been a huge supporter of our #HackingForTheHolidays campaign, having donated $30,000 to help make play accessible for kids with disabilities. We are incredibly grateful for their support.
09.12.2025 00:08 — 👍 0 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0
Dante in a wheelchair, in front of his group of volunteers in a classroom.
For #IVD2025, we wanted to share a great story on Dante, a Clubs That Care youth leader, who teamed up with his alma mater, the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT), to host a #HackingForTheHolidays build event, making 150 low profile switches.
Read: buff.ly/vr98Fn4
Two makers work on a device.
Today is International Volunteer Day! We owe a huge thank you to all of our volunteers —our tutors, makers, computer technicians, and more — who truly make a difference in the lives of Canadians with disabilities. We couldn't do it without you! #IVD2025
05.12.2025 19:12 — 👍 0 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0
A boy plays with a switch adapted bubble blower, as adults watch. Text: "International Day of Persons with Disabilities."
Today is the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. Our @makersmakingchange.bsky.social program is honouring the day with a number of #HackingForTheHolidays build events, including in Burnaby, Calgary, and Fredericton. [1/2]
#IDPD #InternationalDayOfPersonsWithDisabilities #IDPD2025
Adapted Toys being delivered to The Centre for Child Development.
This Giving Tuesday, help us give the gift of play to children with disabilities by making a donation to our #HackingForTheHolidays campaign: buff.ly/4KZmLde
A donation of $60 can cover the cost of a toy and a switch, giving a child everything they need to play with a new toy this year.
An image of volunteers at a build event adapting toys. Text: Thank you Air Canada Foundation!
We want to give a huge shoutout to one of our major sponsors for #HackingForTheHolidays, the @aircanada.bsky.social Foundation. Their incredible donation of $30,000 goes a long way in helping make play accessible. We also look forward to hosting a build with Air Canada staff in December. Thank you!
27.11.2025 17:02 — 👍 1 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0
A boy with a disability plays with an adapted toy using a switch, while an adult watches.
We need your help to raise $200,000 to make play accessible. With over a month to go, you’ve already helped us raise over $78,000. $5 covers cost of parts, while a donation of $60 can cover the cost of a toy and switch for a child with a disability. #HackingForTheHolidays
Donate: buff.ly/MAlz4Tj
Handyman Cameron with his son on the left, and Cameron David running a marathon on the right.
Cameron David, a personal trainer in the Lower Mainland, and his friend, a handyman also named Cameron, have started their own #HackingForTheHolidays fundraising page and pledged to run a kilometre each for every $50 raised, with the goal of raising $2,000 and running 40 km.
Read: ow.ly/UN8S50XvZ69
Students and teachers at École Anna-Malenfant with staff from Neil Squire and Place aux compétences.
A student from École Anna-Malenfant hands Lianne a box with the assistive technology inside.
The final result, the client using the 3D printed angled wrist support, with the rest of her ergonomic set-up.
A successful collaboration between Place aux compétences, École Anna-Malenfant and our @makersmakingchange.bsky.social and Solutions programs resulted in the creation of a simple yet effective 3D-printed adaptation for a Neil Squire client preparing to return to work.
Read more: buff.ly/4H0GNYL
