On November 22nd, 2024, the Neil Squire Society in collaboration with the organization’s Makers Making Change program hosted a Holiday Hackathon that tasked volunteers with adapting toys; providing them with assistive switches that would make them accessible for children with disabilities. The Neil Squire Society is a disability services and support organization based in Burnaby, BC, that utilizes innovative technology to empower the lives of Canadians with disabilities.
The event was open to all members of the public, and only required a 20-minute training session before volunteers were able to hack the toys provided.
CJSF attended this event and spoke with Chad Leaman, the Neil Squire Society’s Director of Innovation and Co-Founder of the Makers Making Change program. During our conversation, Leaman spoke on the organization’s goals for the event, how the toys used in the hackathon were decided on, and how members of the public are able to become involved with this initiative.
