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makersmakingchange.bsky.social
Makers Making Change
@makersmakingchange.bsky.social
120 followers 48 following 82 posts
We connect people with #disabilities to makers who can build affordable #AssistiveTechnology. A program of @neilsquiresociety.bsky.social
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makersmakingchange.bsky.social
Are you in Fredericton or Saint John, New Brunswick and want to adapt toys with Worlds UNBound's Go ENG Girl for our Hacking for the Holidays campaign? Sign up today!

Saint John: November 15 www.worldsunbound.ca/go-eng-girl-1

Fredericton: November 29 www.worldsunbound.ca/go-eng-girl
Images of switch-adapted toys and logos for Go Eng Girl and Worlds UNBound. Text says, "Toy adapting workshop with Worlds UNBound, Go Eng Girl"
November 10, 2025 at 11:32 PM
makersmakingchange.bsky.social
Curious about what toys are available for our #HackingForTheHolidays campaign? Shanelle gives us a sneak peek of the Peek A Boo Koala. To request a toy in Canada, check out our Hacking For The Holidays page of our website. Requests will close November 30th, 2025.

Request: buff.ly/YEyMXcw
November 7, 2025 at 10:52 PM
makersmakingchange.bsky.social
When students at Gretna Green School learned they would be building switches for kids with disabilities for our Hacking for the Holidays campaign, they felt inspired to take it one step further, taking the initiative to raise over $500 for our campaign.

Read more: buff.ly/zIz9nnd
Gretna Green students test their switches. A teacher and a student work on a switch. A student works on a switch.
November 6, 2025 at 9:17 PM
makersmakingchange.bsky.social
We want to give a huge shoutout to one of our major sponsors for this year’s Hacking for the Holidays campaign, Canada Life. Canada Life has donated $10,000 for Hacking for the Holidays, and have been a longtime supporter of our work at Neil Squire. Thank you!
An image of volunteers at a build event making switches. Text: Thank you Canada Life!
November 4, 2025 at 9:00 PM
makersmakingchange.bsky.social
Our Accessible Gaming Lead Tyler Fentie was recently on the Over Coffee podcast to talk about the GAME Kit and more.

Listen: twomaverix.com?p=33408
Tyler in his office.
November 3, 2025 at 9:20 PM
makersmakingchange.bsky.social
Happy Halloween! Check out our switch adapted Dancing Wednesday doll!

As part of Hacking for the Holidays, if you are in Canada you can request your own Wednesday through our website. Or, adapt your own with instructions provided on our Github page!

www.makersmakingchange.com/hacking-for-...
October 31, 2025 at 9:11 PM
makersmakingchange.bsky.social
We are one month into our Hacking for the Holidays campaign, and we're blown away by the impact so far.

Thank you to everyone who’s helped make this season of giving a success! Let’s keep the momentum going!

Make a difference and donate today: buff.ly/894V10U

#HackingForTheHolidays
Images of children with disabilities playing with adapted toys. Logos for Makers Making Change and Neil Squire. Text: 518 devices built, 1,360 participants, 48 events hosted.
October 28, 2025 at 11:02 PM
makersmakingchange.bsky.social
Hamza, a Kinesiology student at the University of Saskatchewan, leads volunteers as a Clubs That Care youth leader in making adapted toys for our Hacking for the Holidays campaign.

“I’ve just wrapped up my first event where my club made 30 adapted bubble machines!”

Read more: buff.ly/1jQbLZO
Hamza standing in a field holding an iced coffee.
October 23, 2025 at 5:30 PM
makersmakingchange.bsky.social
We’re already at 50% capacity for our Clubs That Care program!

Are you between the ages of 15–30 in Canada and ready to take action in your community?

Apply for our micro-grant and make it happen. Spots are limited — apply today: buff.ly/Bv3vVdc

#YouthGrants #ClubsThatCare #CommunityBuilders
Graphic showing that our Clubs That Care $3,000 micro-grant is at 50% capacity. It also notes that it is funded by Canada Service Corps.
October 21, 2025 at 6:50 PM
makersmakingchange.bsky.social
An amazing story from the University of Toronto Department of Occupational Science & Occupational Therapy on students Jacob, Tenzin, Maddy, and Tali, who helped Mike, a gamer with a spinal cord injury, design a set-up to allow him to game on his own again.

Read: ot.utoronto.ca/news/student...
Photo of current laptop gaming setup that Mike built upon using the design from the occupational therapy students.
October 16, 2025 at 11:28 PM
makersmakingchange.bsky.social
CTV Saskatoon recently did a great feature on Nicolas, one of our Clubs That Care leaders, and the great work he is doing to provide assistive technology to his community.

Watch: www.ctvnews.ca/saskatoon/ar...
An image from the CTV feature showing Nicolas doing some soldering while working on a device.
October 9, 2025 at 11:10 PM
makersmakingchange.bsky.social
We're proud to support the Cerebral Palsy Association of BC’s Gamers Club initiative, bringing accessible gaming to people with cerebral palsy in BC. Accessible Gaming Lead Tyler Fentie conducted assessments for participants, while Clubs That Care volunteers donated devices.

Read: buff.ly/H9pr8u2
Left to right: Director of Makers Making Change Justin Pezzin and CPABC Director of Operations Denzil Hunt receive donated devices from “STEM Club” Clubs That Care volunteers Jenny, Alyssa, Ethan, Joaquin, and Sandra.
October 9, 2025 at 4:30 PM
makersmakingchange.bsky.social
At École Madeleine Bergeron, a specialized school in Quebec City that serves over 120 students with disabilities from across eastern Quebec, student makers in the Adapta3D program build devices for their fellow students and staff.

Read more: buff.ly/YCI73BB
Students at École Madeleine Bergeron in Adapta3D.
September 29, 2025 at 7:03 PM
makersmakingchange.bsky.social
Make play accessible this holiday season.

We're excited to launch #HackingForTheHolidays, and we're looking to raise $200,000, donate 2,000 toys and switches to families and clinicians across Canada, and engage 2,000 volunteers.

Donate today and give the gift of play: buff.ly/II2aXkV
A young boy plays with bubbles from a switch adapted bubble blower, which is held by a pair of clinicians.
September 26, 2025 at 4:53 PM
makersmakingchange.bsky.social
The GAME Kit was built together with an incredible group of collaborators, from @tisseranddavid.bsky.social at @ubisoft.com, to clinicians at @set-bc.bsky.social, educators at @norquestcollege.bsky.social, and clinical game accessibility expert @kaitlyn-jones.bsky.social. [6/6]
An image of a young gamer with a disability and switches and joysticks. Text: "Ordering a GAME Kit helps provide more Canadians with disabilities access to gaming."
September 18, 2025 at 4:02 PM
makersmakingchange.bsky.social
Note: GAME Kits are available for order by persons & organizations in Canada. All proceeds from GAME Kits will support our adaptive gaming programming for Canadians with disabilities. These kits complement our volunteer-based model, & all devices remain requestable through our device library. [5/6]
Text: "Explore the three tiers of the GAME Kit to find the perfect fit for your organization's adaptive gaming needs. Find compatibility tables for adaptive controllers and Kit comparisons on our website."
September 18, 2025 at 4:02 PM
makersmakingchange.bsky.social
Use the kit to host build events, create demo stations, and take a hands-on approach to learning about assistive technology. [4/6]
Text: "New to adaptive gaming? (Or gaming in general...) Don't worry! Our guide includes everything: adaptive gaming basics, best practices, and 5 example setups for showcases."
September 18, 2025 at 4:02 PM
makersmakingchange.bsky.social
The GAME Kit is designed for:

• Universities and Researchers studying accessible tech
• Game Studios and Esports Organizations
• Libraries and Community Centers hosting workshops
• Non-Profits supporting gamers with disabilities
• Corporations seeking impactful team-building activities [3/6]
Text: "Who is the GAME Kit for? ESports Orgs, Community Centres, Disability Orgs, Game Industry, Researchers, or anyone who wants to have adaptive tools and resources for their community to use. Please note: GAME Kits can be ordered by orgs and persons in Canada. All proceeds support gamers with disabilities in Canada. These kits complement our volunteer-based model, and all devices remain requestable through the Assistive Device Library."
September 18, 2025 at 4:02 PM
makersmakingchange.bsky.social
This versatile kit contains adaptive gaming gear and an easy-to-follow guide to help your organization set up engaging adaptive gaming showcases. Choose from three tiers to meet your specific needs. [2/6]
Images of joysticks and switches. Text: Introducing a new way to get accessible gaming to your community.
September 18, 2025 at 4:02 PM
makersmakingchange.bsky.social
We're excited to launch the GAME Kit, a new initiative to expand accessible gaming across Canada. [1/6]

Explore the GAME Kit: buff.ly/ygYlbj5

#MakersMakingChange #GAMEKit #AccessibleGaming #AssistiveTechnology #InclusiveGaming #DisabilityInclusion #AdaptiveController #GamingForAll
Images of the GAME Kit, featuring joysticks, switches, and the GAME Kit guides. Text: GAME Kit - Adaptive Gaming Essentials.
September 18, 2025 at 4:02 PM
makersmakingchange.bsky.social
Do you love 3D printing? Here's a chance to use it for good!
Join Makers Making Change's Clubs That Care program! You can print, build & deliver assistive devices to your community while refining & perfecting your skills - layer by layer. Apply today: www.makersmakingchange.com/clubs-that-c... [1/2]
September 11, 2025 at 7:57 PM
makersmakingchange.bsky.social
Our friends at the Cerebral Palsy Association of BC are currently accepting applications for their Education Bursaries for people with cerebral palsy in BC!

Apply: buff.ly/VeRGXz8
The graphic includes an image of a student in a wheelchair studying with two other students. Text notes that bursary applications are open from July 15th to September 15th, and that if you have questions while applying, contact 604-408-9484 or info@bccerebralpalsy.com. It also notes that this bursary program is funded by the Kinsmen Foundation and the Cerebral Palsy Association of BC. The rest of the information is in the post.
September 4, 2025 at 11:00 PM
makersmakingchange.bsky.social
He also led the campers in a prototyping session, where the young campers brainstormed designing an adaptive guitar pick. [2/3]
Adaptive guitar pick designs modeled using popsicle sticks and Play-doh.
August 28, 2025 at 4:51 PM
makersmakingchange.bsky.social
Recently, Tyler Fentie, our Accessible Gaming Lead, led D-Camps campers at Camp Jean Nelson in presentations about our program and in building 23 low profile switches that will be donated to people with disabilities. [1/3]
Tyler presents to a full room of campers at Camp Jean Nelson.
August 28, 2025 at 4:51 PM
makersmakingchange.bsky.social
Hannah is an occupational therapist at a pediatric clinic in Collingwood, Ontario. She’s also a Clubs That Care youth leader, making assistive devices for the clinic and her community.

Read more: buff.ly/jyJ40rh

#NeilSquire #MakersMakingChange #ClubsThatCare #Volunteer #Youth
Hannah working on a print on her 3D printer.
August 21, 2025 at 5:03 PM