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CSI Success Story: Maayan Ziv

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Audra Williams

Audra Williams

In 2016, Maayan Ziv was part of the Agents of Change: Community Health cohort for AccessNow, her crowd sourced mobile/web platform the shows accessibility information for locations worldwide. Along with the other Agents of Change, Maayan received a $10,000-grant, a one-year membership to CSI, acceleration supports from leading advisors and educators in organizational and business development, and took part in special programming such as Peer Circles and special events.

Yesterday — just three years later — it was announced that AccessNow will receive $2.7M from the federal government, as part of the $22.3-million federal Accessible Technology Program.

Excerpt:

The money will help the Toronto-based company to expand its reach across Canada and allow more people to share information in both English and French about the accessibility of public spaces.

Users can add information to a location on AccessNow, choosing to give a building one of four designations: accessible, partially accessible, patio access only, or not accessible. They can also add descriptions.

“By supporting the full participation of persons with disabilities in their communities and workplaces, we are creating opportunities so that every Canadian has a fair chance at success,” Qualtrough said.

It will enable AccessNow to “directly address systemic barriers” to engage in the digital economy.

Maayan Ziv, founder and CEO of AccessNow, said the company was set up to use the “incredible potential” of technology to empower people of all abilities.

“Our goal is to develop a platform which will invite all people, with and without disability, to engage and share info about the accessibility of their own experiences, and overall, to help people get on with their life,” she said.”

(Full piece here.)

We are incredibly proud of Maayan. After finishing her Agent of Change year, she stayed part of CSI first as a Community Member and then a Space Member until July of this year. We so thankful to have played a role in her world-changing work.

If you have an idea that could change the world, become a CSI member today. If you want to help CSI keep supporting phenomenal entrepreneurs like Nadia, consider making a donation to the Social Innovation Institute’s Community Fund.

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