The Dis/Usability monthly cross-disciplinary speaker and workshop series looks at the intersection between technology and disability justice.
On Friday, August 18, 2023, 11am – 12pm, please join us to learn about the Makers Making Change (MMC) from Stephan Dobri from MMC.
This is the first of a two-part event. In the second, hands-on session we will build an assistive switch and switch adapt an off-the-shelf toy.
Talk description: Makers Making Change (MMC) is a program of the Neil Squire Society, a Canadian non-profit that uses technology, knowledge, and passion to empower Canadians with disabilities. At MMC, we design affordable, open-source assistive technology to meet a variety of end-user needs. This series will start with an online presentation to introduce MMC. We will discuss the history of the Neil Squire Society and MMC, why we create assistive technology, and how we connect volunteer makers with people with disabilities. We will then have a second, hands-on session where we will build an assistive switch and switch adapt an off-the-shelf toy. Switches and toys will be donated to people with disabilities in the community.
Speaker bio: Stephan has always been interested in using engineering to help improve the lives of other people. The desire to help others lead him to complete his Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering with the Building and Designing Assistive Technology (BDAT) Lab at Queen’s University, where he learned more about universal and user-centred design, and assistive devices. Through the BDAT Lab and subsequent teaching at Queen’s, Stephan learned about MMC and he jumped at the opportunity to join the team as an Engineering Intern. Stephan is excited to help grow the MMC community in Ontario, create new devices, and improve existing designs.
Time: Friday, August 18 · 11am – 12pm EDT
Location: This is an online event on Zoom.
Dis/Usability is a collaboration between STREET Lab, the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Unit (EDIU), DSA Accessibility Committee, and MISC Accessibility Interests Working Group at the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Information.
Dis/Usability is made possible by the generous support of the Knowledge Media Design Institute (KMDI), the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Unit (EDIU), and the Centre for Global Disability Studies (CGDS).
