2025 was a big year at AccessNow – it marked our 10-year anniversary, a milestone that gave us space to reflect on how far we’ve come and where we’re headed next.
Throughout the year, we experienced moments of learning, collaboration, and growth that moved accessibility forward in meaningful and innovative ways. From groundbreaking accessibility festivals in Toronto to empowering over 100 Disabled youth across Canada to explore their identity, and from advancing our technology to collaborating with local organizations. Every win felt even more significant as part of a decade-long journey.
This year reaffirmed what we’ve always believed: accessibility is built by the people, for the people. And as we mark ten years of AccessNow, it feels like the beginning of a new era.
Here’s a look at some of the moments that shaped 2025 at AccessNow.
Tech Grounded in Real Experiences
Technology continued to play a key role in how we support accessibility.
In 2025, we released AccessNow App 3.0, bringing improvements designed to make accessibility information easier to access and use. Later in the year, we introduced our AI Assistant, expanding how accessibility data can support better decision-making and exploration.
These were important updates that complimented our on-the-ground mapping efforts including the AccessNow Verified program, and represented what our community needed most from accessible technology.
We are continuously working to improve our tools and knowledge by actively building with and learning from the disability community.
Designing Joyful, Accessible Experiences
If there was one moment where all of AccessNow came together, it was AccessFest.
AccessFest was more than a festival. The AF team wanted to create something that was real, full of joy, and centered accessibility first. The goal was to create a space where everyone felt welcomed and like they belong. On-site was therapy dogs, hip-hop ASL performances, sensory-friendly art installations, local MapMission events, Unfiltered AF panel discussions, free mobility device fixes from Motion, and much more to show what is possible when accessibility is built into the experience from the start.
The energy, creativity, and collaboration that defined AccessFest reminded us that accessibility isn’t just about removing barriers – it’s about creating spaces where access and inclusion is at the very core of how we connect and celebrate.
AccessFest returns on June 6, 2026. Get involved:
AccessFest wasn’t just a one-day event. It was a movement in motion. A real-time learning space where accessibility was expected, not exceptional. Where disabled people weren’t “accommodated” – we were celebrated, centered, and leading.
The FUTURE Looks Good on You
One of the most meaningful threads throughout 2025 was our continued investment in Disabled leadership and community through FUTURES.
The FUTURES team created a space where people could connect, learn, and imagine what accessibility can look like when lived experience is centred. Through intentional facilitation sessions, the FUTURES team built a space rooted in shared purpose, creativity, and joy.
As the year progressed, the program began to include multiple cohorts, and opportunities to get involved and build a community were expanding. Events like Access Files and the FUTURES Fair created unique spaces to celebrate individuals and collective progress within the community.
FUTURES in 2025 wasn’t just about programming and facilitation – it was about building genuine confidence, forming meaningful relationships, and growing a network of people actively who really care.
🚀 FUTURES is accepting applications for the Winter 2026 cohort! Click here to learn more and apply.
Accessibility Strengthened Through Partnerships
In 2025, we continued to form new partnerships with organizations committed to making their spaces more inclusive. Our ongoing work and training with organizations such as Metrolinx and LCBO through AccessNow Verified continued to grow, alongside several new and exciting collaborations (more to be shared soon!). The work we do with our partners goes beyond checklists – they reflect a shared commitment to accurate, trustworthy accessibility information.
Through the AccessNow Verified program, we continued to hire and work with people with lived experience to ensure accessibility information is reliable and rooted in real-world experiences.
Here are some examples of verified listings:
- Attraction – CN Tower and Sea to Sky Gondola
- Museum – Museum of Contemporary Art Toronto
- Restaurant – Steam Whistle Brewing
- Venue – Princes of Wales Theatre
- Trail – Saigeon Trail
- Transit – Markham GO Station
These partnerships remind us that real accessibility improvements are possible when organizations actively listen, learn, and collaborate with the community they’re trying to serve.
Leading the Conversation
Another defining part of 2025 was showing up in rooms, on stages, and in conversations where accessibility needed to be part of the conversation.
Throughout the year, AccessNow was represented by our CEO and Founder, Maayan Ziv, at conferences, forums, and industry gatherings, contributing to conversations on accessible air travel, small business inclusion, and the future of accessibility in Canada and much more.
Moments of recognition, including receiving the King Charles III Coronation Medal and speaking at the City of Toronto Small Business Forum, highlighted not only the power of Maayan’s powerful leadership, but also the impact of the collective work behind it all at AccessNow.
Looking Forward
As we step into the New Year, our focus remains the same: creating spaces, tools, and experiences that are shaped by Disabled voices and grounded in real needs. Our work ahead is exciting, and we’re so grateful to everyone who has been part of this journey so far.
Here’s to the next era of AccessNow, and to continuing to move accessibility forward, together.
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