Accessibility is a cultural shift

“If it’s not accessible. It’s not done.”

Canada’s Chief Accessibility Officer, Stephanie Cadieux

Accessibility is a cultural shift. In the world, there are 1.3 billion people with a disability, which is about 22% of the market segment. What happens when the design, innovation, and companies built exclude 22% of the market?

Chief Accessibility Officer of Canada, Stephanie Cadieux

Yes, there’s 78% remaining in the market, so your ROI may be just fine, but imagine when you infuse the values, culture, and ethics of accessibility into the foundation of the innovation. It builds for all.

Innovators can influence, shape, and level up a country's culture. Companies and businesses can drive change with their impacts on the ecosystem.

In ATS Labs 2023 Demo Day on November 30th, 11 startups from 4 countries sought investments and partnerships while Canadian legislators reflected on their priority on accessibility.

ATS Labs orange and blue pins with text “enable everyone”

What innovators are shaping the accessible markets?

1. Seleste: Smart glasses to give people with vision loss independence and freedom.

2. Spero Careers: Building employment solutions with the neurodivergent community through asking, listening and being creative.

3. Bonocle: Braille education platform that makes learning braille easier, more accessible and a lot more fun.

4. Neurodiversity Connect: The Bumble of mentorship and peer support for neurodivergent people.

5. VIBRAINT: Breakthrough brain-controlled rehabilitation robot that helps paralyzed to regain motion.

6. SignAble Vi5ion: Pioneering force in promoting inclusive communication through innovative training programs, bridging gaps and transforming workplaces and lives.

7. Capella Design: Stylish and empowering furniture and accessories for older adults.

8. Dateability: Making love accessible as the only dating app for disabled and chronically ill people.

9. 4Blind: Innovative engineering solutions to help in meeting needs of the blind and deaf-blind communities.

10. GeWinner: Smart piloting systems of electric wheelchairs for people with special needs.

11. mycrocast: Breaking barriers via audio.

ATS Labs Demo Day was one of the most exciting examples of advocacy, technology, and bureaucracy I’ve witnessed. Two parts of bureaucratic change are currently shaping Canada: government and people.

• Accessibility Canada Act

• Accessibility Canada and Accessibility Commissioner

“Innovation when we prioritize accessibility creates innovation for all.”

— Jason Brommet, Microsoft’s Head of Modern Work & Surface, America's (LATAM, US & Canada)

Jason Brommet highlighted the efforts of Microsoft AI for Accessibility that will push the markets further, not just in Canada.

To humanize the narrative, you must tell the stories of those impacted. Include people with disabilities as your talent, leaders, and change-makers. They are innovators who can shape the market and are an untapped labor market.

“People with disabilities are innovators by need, not design.”

— Canada’s Chief Accessibility Officer, Stephanie Cadieux

How can your company be more accessible and profitable?

1. The global marketplace is changing rapidly, and so are people’s needs.

2. There is no reason for the immense change of AI and innovations to exclude accessibility.

3. Build with the accessible community — not for it.

3. Accessibility needs champions.

4. Accessibility is essential.

“Nothing about us without us.”

— South African Disability advocates Michael Masutha and William Rowland in the 1990s.

Resources:

Membership - ION Neurodiversity
Are you neurominority, an ally or business seeking to champion awareness, acceptance and appreciation of neurodiversity…ioneurodiversity.org

AI for Accessibility Grants - Microsoft AI
Discover Microsoft AI for Accessibility grants. Our AI grants provide funding for those looking to improve, empower and…www.microsoft.com

ATS Labs - Access to Success Organization
Canada's first accelerator for accessibility, mental health and aging tech startupsaccesstosuccess.ca