The Neil Squire Society has been supporting individuals with disabilities since 1984. One of its most innovative programs, Makers Making Change, connects “makers” to people with disabilities who need assistive technologies. The “makers" - engineers, STEM students, or simply volunteers who enjoy tinkering with gadgets - then engage with disability professionals to create solutions.

“People often don’t have an understanding of what assistive technology is,” says Courtney Cameron, regional coordinator of Makers Making Change. She explains that it can be as high tech or low tech as one might imagine, from a mouth-operated joystick that allows a person to control a computer cursor with minimal head and neck movement to a switch that makes a toy easier for a child to play with.

Examples of some assistive technology made through Makers Making Change.

In Fredericton, the society often partners with the Stan Cassidy Centre For Rehabilitation to determine what assistive technology is needed in the region.

The Fredericton Community Foundation supported Makers Making Change in 2020-21 with a $5,000 grant through the Jim & Beth Clark Fund, a Field of Interest Fund. The grant supported the purchase of materials required to make assistive technology along with community outreach efforts to build a base of volunteer makers in the Fredericton region. The Neil Squire Society held a maker event in the summer where a team of volunteers built dice spinners to enable people with mobility challenges to play board games.

“Funding is always a challenge,” says Courtney. “Being able to secure funding for assistive technology at a local level has been very difficult, so we are extremely grateful for this support.”

If you would like to support projects such as Makers Making Change, please visit fredfdn.ca/donate or contact us at info@fredfdn.ca to learn how you can help.

Creating Change With Technology