SAVE THE DATE: OCTOBER 17TH 🗓️✨ MapMission Day is back! 🇨🇦 We’re mobilizing communities across Canada for our biggest mission yet. All you’ll need is your phone, the AccessNow app, and a passion for building a barrier-free future. Learn more at 👉 https://lnkd.in/gGP8gaTn. Key city locations and full event details are dropping soon. No matter where you are in the country, mark your calendars, you’re invited to join us! ♿ #MapMission #MapMissionDay #MMD26 #Accessibility
AccessNow
Technology, Information and Internet
Toronto, Ontario 7,255 followers
your go-to resource for accessibility information of places and experiences worldwide
About us
At AccessNow our mission is to establish a go-to resource for accessibility information. We are building a connected platform to empower all people to discover a world of accessible opportunities, make better decisions and remove barriers. Leveraging our intelligent technology, we are learning how accessible the world is and mapping as many places as we possibly can. We invite you to join us. A worldwide community, passionate about change, together we can empower each other to have access now. Every review added to our platform is one more instance of advocacy, one more experience that highlights the accessibility of a place. Every pin, every review counts. Want to learn more? Check out our website to understand how our technology works or find out how to get involved.
- Website
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https://accessnow.com
External link for AccessNow
- Industry
- Technology, Information and Internet
- Company size
- 11-50 employees
- Headquarters
- Toronto, Ontario
- Type
- Privately Held
- Founded
- 2015
- Specialties
- accessibility, advocacy, activism, community, AI/ML, AccessOutdoors, GIS, data, technology, disability inclusion, travel, tourism, navigation, inclusive design, and disability education
Employees at AccessNow
View 21 employees at AccessNow
or
Locations
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Primary
Get directions
192 Spadina Ave
Toronto, Ontario M5T 2C2, CA
Updates
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We're hiring a FUTURES Coordinator! FUTURES is our leadership platform for disabled and neurodivergent youth, and we're looking for someone to help run the day-to-day: coordinating weekly cohorts, supporting our growing alumni network, and keeping the program running smoothly. 📍 Hybrid, Toronto - in office at least once a week 📅 Contract from September 2026 to March 2027, with potential for renewal ⏰ 25-30 hours/week 💵 $25/hour We're looking for someone who identifies as disabled and/or neurodivergent, ideally with FUTURES alumni or AccessNow experience. Event coordination background and an eye for graphic design are a plus. Send your resume and a short cover letter to ratsamy@accessnow.ca. #Accessibility #DisabilityLeadership #InclusiveHiring #CommunityBuilding #AccessNow
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Theater is for everyone—but traditional theater rules aren't always comfortable for everyone. That’s why we are so excited that Mirvish Productions is hosting the first-ever Chilled Performance of & Juliet at the Royal Alexandra Theatre on Thursday, July 2! You get the exact same high-energy, full-scale production, but in an environment where you are entirely free to vocalize, stim, move around, or step out whenever you need to. No judgment. Just pure joy. Check our blog post to learn more about this Chilled Performance and grab a rare special discount link for tickets! 🎟️✨ https://lnkd.in/gdA6392t
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AccessNow reposted this
This past weekend, thousands of people gathered in downtown Toronto for AccessFest 2026. There was live music, art, sport, conversation, community, and celebration. But what we were really building was something much bigger: culture. For years, I’ve sat in boardrooms, conference halls, and on stages talking about the need for a culture shift around accessibility. We talk about moving accessibility beyond compliance. Beyond checklists and risk mitigation. We talk about accessibility as innovation, economic development, community building, and culture. The most powerful way to create a culture shift isn’t to talk about it. It’s to build it. That’s what we’re doing at AccessFest. This past Saturday, I saw that vision come to life. Instead of asking people to imagine a world where accessibility is built in from the start, we created one. For one day, accessibility wasn’t an afterthought. It wasn’t a special accommodation. It wasn’t something hidden behind a service desk or buried in an event plan. Accessibility was simply part of the culture. And when accessibility is built in, something remarkable happens; people relax, anxiety drops. The energy normally spent navigating barriers can be redirected toward connection, creativity, curiosity, and joy. People can simply be. That experience doesn’t happen by accident. It comes from hundreds of decisions, both big and small. Decisions about pathways, seating, signage, sensory regulation, audio description, ASL, sightlines, cable management, rest areas, volunteer training, and countless details most people will never notice. At AccessFest, the goal is to create an environment that meets people where they are and invites them to participate fully. To celebrate, advocate, and activate for accessibility and inclusion. What struck me most this year was the generosity that emerged from that environment. I saw disabled people sharing knowledge with one another. Families discovering new perspectives. Young people finding community. Volunteers giving their time and energy. Artists sharing their craft and collaborating with one another. Partners investing their resources. Strangers becoming friends. Accessibility made space for people to offer more of themselves. Our festival brought together people of diverse lived experiences all participating in the same culture shift, at the same time. That’s the thing about creating spaces where everyone belongs. It works for everyone. To everyone who attended, volunteered, performed, partnered, sponsored, spoke, streamed from home, or helped bring AccessFest to life: thank you. You are helping build the culture shift in real time. And together I’m so excited for this movement to grow. If you missed AccessFest this year, I hope you make the effort to join us next year. Come experience what it’s like when accessibility and inclusion drive culture. https://lnkd.in/g6pUA-mz to learn more
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Another year for AccessFest in the books! ✅ Months of hard work brought to life in one incredible day. Huge shoutout to our team and everyone who showed up to make this year so unforgettable. 🙌
AccessFest 2026 brought together community, creativity, advocacy, learning, and celebration—all in one incredible day. From accessible workshops, Unfiltered Talks to music, dancing, and an unforgettable evening, every moment was a reminder of what’s possible when accessibility and inclusion are at the heart of the experience. THANK YOU to everyone that helped make this festival so special. The energy, conversations, and connections we witnessed throughout the day are exactly what AccessFest 🟡 is all about. See you all again next year! Swipe through some of our favourite moments. ✨
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AccessFest is excited to partner with Whimble, VIA Rail Canada, and Destination Toronto to help make AccessFest more accessible for people across Canada! AccessFest is about celebrating disability culture and community - this giveaway helps open the door for even more people to be part of it. On June 6 in downtown Toronto, expect live music, art, meaningful conversations, and experiences designed with accessibility at the forefront. Huge thanks to our partners for helping make this possible. 💙 Enter the giveaway through Whimble’s original post below!
What happens when organizations truly committed to accessibility come together? 🎉 A giveaway to AccessFest 🎉 We’ve partnered with VIA Rail Canada and Destination Toronto to send one lucky winner to AccessFest — a first-of-its-kind celebration where accessibility meets culture. Taking place in the heart of downtown Toronto on Saturday, June 6, AccessNow is bringing together music, art, conversation, and community in a space designed for everyone. The lineup is empowering, thoughtfully curated - and fresh AF. ✨ What you’ll win: • Round-trip business class travel for two with VIA Rail Canada • A 2-night stay at the Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel courtesy of Destination Toronto ✨ Ready to go? Here’s how to enter: 1️⃣ Get 5(!!!) bonus entries by visiting Whimble’s booth at THIS WEEKEND's Adapt Expo + Ottawa Inclusive & Para-Sports Expo here in Ottawa ** Saturday, May 9th ** 2️⃣ Comment 'escape' on this post 3️⃣ Subscribe to Whimble’s newsletter here: https://lnkd.in/eVJ8Xsk8 4️⃣ Share this post to your Instagram story (& tag @whimble_care) for a bonus entry ❓Questions? Comment below! No purchase necessary. Ontario residents 18+. Enter by May 15, 2026. 1 Prize available to be won: a trip for 2 to AccessFest Toronto, including VIA Rail tickets and 2 nights at the Sheraton Centre hotel. Odds depend on the number of eligible entries received. Math or alternate skill-test required. See contest rules at: www.whimble.ca/escape.
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We followed 60 disabled young adults through an entire leadership program. The data shows exactly how they grew. It's not what we expected. We just completed a three-cohort longitudinal evaluation of AccessNow’s FUTURES Program. 60 participants. 3 surveys each. From before the program began to after it ended. Here’s what we found: ➡️ Disability knowledge grew continuously. It was the only skill to improve significantly in both halves of the program. ➡️ Leadership skills built fast in the first half, then held firm. Participants didn’t lose what they gained. ➡️ Social impact skills were dormant until the Activation Project phase, then they surged. The project isn’t supplementary. It’s the mechanism. ➡️ Belonging anxiety, the fear that you don’t fit in even among disabled peers, significantly decreased by program end. ➡️ Facilitator satisfaction was rated at 3.72 out of 4 at the midpoint. At program end: exactly 3.72. The consistency is remarkable. 93% of participants left feeling more able to contribute to communities that matter to them. That’s what evidence-based disability leadership development actually looks like. Find the full report here: https://lnkd.in/g_ZtjkUe
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We are so excited to announce that Access Studio’s FUTURES Program is teaming up with the incredible disability advocate and creator Lil Gabi D for a virtual workshop you won’t want to miss! This interactive session is designed for disabled and neurodivergent young people (ages 18–30) who are interested in creating content that feels real, impactful, and rooted in authenticity. Together, we’ll explore how to show up online in ways that feel true to you, while building practical skills to bring your ideas to life. During the workshop, you’ll learn: ➡️ How to create engaging content using just your phone ➡️ Tips for making your content more accessible ➡️ How to avoid harmful narratives like inspiration porn and disability clichés ➡️ Ways to build confidence and authenticity in your online presence The Details: * 📅 Date: April 29, 2026 * ⏰ Time: 7:00–8:30 PM EST * 📍 Where: Zoom (Register via the link in our bio!) * 🤟 Accessibility: ASL interpretation will be provided. 🔗 Register for free: https://lnkd.in/gpMW8NXQ
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We’re hiring! AccessNow is looking for a Social Media Specialist (Part-Time Contract) to support our FUTURES program and help grow our digital presence. This role is about building community and telling impactful stories through accessible, engaging content. From running recruitment campaigns to managing our social channels and collaborating with influencers, you’ll play a key role in how FUTURES shows up online. We’re especially excited to hear from candidates who: – Identify as disabled and/or neurodivergent – Have experience in social media marketing and advertising, content creation, and digital campaigns – Are passionate about accessibility, inclusion, and community-building About the role: 📍 Remote or hybrid (Toronto) 📅 Contract: April–December 2026 💼 $25–30/hour (10–15 hours/week, with potential to grow) 🇨🇦 Must be eligible to work in Canada (Citizen or PR) Apply now by sending your resume and portfolio to ratsamy@accessnow.ca #Accessibility #DisabilityLeadership #InclusiveHiring #CommunityBuilding #SocialMediaJobs #AccessNow
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Want to be part of something amazing? We’re looking for passionate volunteers to help bring AccessFest 2026 to life on June 6 in David Pecaut Square. This is more than just volunteering—it’s about connection, community, and impact. You’ll meet like-minded people, build meaningful friendships, and help create an experience that’s truly accessible for all. Be part of something big. Apply now. 🔗 https://lnkd.in/gvpcsVH9 ➡️ Learn more about the festival here: http://accessfest.ca/ [Image Description: Promo graphic. Two volunteers wearing blue AccessFest shirts stand smiling in front of a building, next to a tall blue AccessFest flag. Bold yellow text over the image reads “Call for Volunteers.”]
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