In the News

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Accessability mapping app now part of Ontario Parasport Games in Whitby and around Durham

January 11, 2023

Durham Region has partnered with AccessNow on an accessibility mapping app to increase inclusion confidence for residents and visitors to the 2023 Ontario Parasport Games.

AccessNow is a free app available on Google Play and the Apple App Store. It allows users to discover accessible and non-accessible pinned locations in 35 countries around the world. Residents and visitors can also search, rate and discover municipal facilities, local restaurants, hotels, shops and attractions on the app.

“As a wheelchair user, AccessNow can help give me confidence that I can access and enjoy restaurants, businesses, and recreational facilities with my family and friends. I’m proud our community is taking leadership in accessible mapping,” said Games Co-Chair Mike Frogley.

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The Daniels Corporation Partners with AccessNow to Map Accessibility of Regent Park

June 30, 2022

TORONTO — The Daniels Corporation (“Daniels”), one of Canada’s pre-eminent builders and developers, today announced a partnership with AccessNow, an accessibility technology company which seeks to make communities easier to navigate for people living with disabilities. The partnership aims to map, review and rank the accessibility of businesses and public spaces in Regent Park. Results from the reviewing and mapping process will highlight both the successes and barriers that currently exist for people living with disabilities in how they live, work and play within the community.

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TikTok user bringing awareness to the lack of accessibility at Toronto restaurants

June 7, 2022

A Toronto woman has taken to TikTok and Instagram to shed light on the inaccessibility of restaurants and other spaces in the city.

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Regent Park is a challenge for people with disabilities. A new partnership is trying to change that.

May 28, 2022

AccessNow, The Daniels Corp. teaming up with local volunteers to make Regent Park easier to navigate. Residents of Regent Park are teaming up with an accessibility app and a developer to map the neighbourhood and make it easier for people with disabilities to navigate.

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Removing Barriers and Investing in Accessibility with Maayan Ziv

May 25, 2022

“Accessibility is only touching people when they need to know about it or when it affects them personally.” 

In this week’s episode of the #StartupCanadaPodcast, Maayan Ziv shares why AccessNow is needed to look at our world through a more inclusive lens, taking her first steps into entrepreneurship and the importance of investing in accessibility.  

Headshot of Maayan Ziv. Text reads, "Maayan Ziv, Founder and CEO at AccessNow. Removing Barriers and Investing in Accessibility with Maayan Ziv." The Startup Canada Podcast logo. Presented by Mastercard and Scotiabank.
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Sask. Paralympian helps expand Trans Canada trail map for people with disabilities

March 13, 2022

A program meant to provide accessible nature trails to people with disabilities has expanded its roadmap with help from a Saskatchewan Paralympic champion.

The Trans Canada Trail introduced its Accessibility Mapping Program in 2021 alongside AccessNow, an app which shares accessibility information about parks, trails and buildings. Trail users and mappers send in information about the trails and people can gauge how accessible they are for their own use.

Lisa Franks, a prolific Saskatchewan Paralympian, as she maps out the Douglas Provincial Park trail northwest of Moose Jaw as part of the Accessibility Mapping Program. (AccessNow/Trans Canada Trail)
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International Women’s Day: Maayan Ziv, a woman inspiring change through an app

March 8, 2022

31 year old Maayan Ziv is the CEO of Access Now. Access Now is a mobile platform that allows anyone regardless of their ability to search for, rate and discover information about the accessibility of places and experiences around their city.

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Make informed decisions about safe, accessible experiences on the Trans Canada Trail

February 27, 2022

Trans Canada Trail and AccessNow announced Feb. 14, 2022, that they have expanded their successful Accessibility Mapping Program to all 13 provinces and territories. Launched in 2021, the program uses AccessNow technology to document the lived experience of trail users with disabilities.

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Confederation Trail now more accessible thanks to this P.E.I. man

February 17, 2022

A bike crash changed Alan Stanley’s life seven years ago. Now, he’s changing the lives of others.

Stanley has worked with Trans Canada Trail and AccessNow, an online platform that uses crowd-sourced information on the accessibility of public spaces and venues, to provide information on the trail’s accessibility for users with disabilities.

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Mindset Matters: Revolution 2.0 Is Making Its Mark On Entrepreneurial Thinking And Reframing The Outlook Of Business For The Digital Age

February 11, 2022

As Revolution 2.0 begins to take root and the growing Disability Economy is being recognized as a vital component for the future of business growth, we must take a moment to recognize one of the most important trendlines in these changing times, the role of entrepreneurship. There has already been a steady shift in mindset happening…

For Some Travelers, Stairs Can Ruin a Trip. This Company Wants to Fix That.

February 2, 2022

A few years ago, when photographer and avid traveler Maayan Ziv arrived at the entryway of a boutique hotel in New York City, a flight of six stairs derailed her trip.

What can the metaverse learn from accessibility leaders?

January 29, 2022

“When you design for the edges, you get the middle for free.”

Maayan Ziv (AccessNow) and Samuel Proulx (Fable) discuss the process of improving accessibility in both the real and virtual worlds.
 

Toronto’s struggles with blizzard highlight its dependence on cars

January 20, 2022

When a blizzard struck Toronto earlier this week, Greg Cooke did what he and his neighbours knew was expected of them. They grabbed their shovels and worked for hours to clear the sidewalks from snowdrifts that nearly reached their knees. Mindful of elderly residents with trouble walking, they made sure to clear all the way to the edge of the street…

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TCS Becomes Title Sponsor and Technology Partner of Toronto Waterfront Marathon Through 2026

January 18, 2022

Tata Consultancy Services and Canada Running Series to Transform In-person and Virtual Runner Experience with New Official Hybrid Race App and Boost Sustainability Efforts

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700,000 Self-Employed Disabled Workers – Thousands Could Become Successful Entrepreneurs

January 13, 2022

Being an Entrepreneur takes determination, resilience, leadership, time management, adaptability and problem-solving skills, among other crucial attributes. These traits often come naturally to disabled people making many ideal candidates for the (oftentimes gruelling) entrepreneurship journey. So why is there still such a lack of funding and resources for disabled entrepreneurs?

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Maayan Ziv is making accessibility the norm through the AccessNow app

January 1, 2022

“Accessibility is a basic human right. Period.” That recent tweet by Toronto entrepreneur Maayan Ziv succinctly summarizes her philosophy, and that of most other people of her generation living with disabilities.

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AccessNow app asks you to put Collingwood on the map

December 3, 2021
With a few clicks, you could help remove accessibility barriers in Collingwood.

While Dec. 3 marks International Day of Persons with Disabilities, the Town of Collingwood has also started a collaboration with accessibility app AccessNow, a platform that maps accessibility locally and globally, and the crowdsourced app could use the help of Collingwood residents and business owners to contribute to mapping out accessibility around town.

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Canadian startup AccessNow is a research engine for accessibility information

November 20, 2021

As a professional photographer who travelled frequently for work, Maayan Ziv was astounded by the lack of accessibility she encountered around the world. Ziv, who has muscular dystrophy and has used a wheelchair her entire life, regularly found herself arriving at sets, photo studios, and hotels that weren’t wheelchair accessible. “I have nightmare stories of showing up at hotels having done all the research ahead of time, everything and everyone says it’s accessible, and then there are five steps up to the entrance,” Ziv remembers.

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Caldwell and PWC Announce 2021 Canada’s Top 40 Under 40 Honourees

November 18, 2021

Canada’s Top 40 Under 40 independent Advisory Board, comprising 30 notable and experienced leaders from across Canada, met on October 5, 2021 to select the Honourees from a short list put together by Caldwell. A call for nominations was carried out from February to June, garnering close to 1,200 nominations from across Canada.

Maayan Ziv has been named Canada's Top 40 under 40

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10 Questions with AccessNow: A ‘Getting to Know Our Canadian Social Enterprises’ Blog

October 25, 2021

Three semi-finalists for the Social EnterPrize award, AccessNow (ON), Alinker Inventions Inc. (BC) and Living Works Education Inc. (AB), will share their unique ventures at the Pivot on Purpose Summit where audience members will have a chance to vote on which semi-finalist will receive the $25,000 POPular choice award. To help the POP audience and others get to know these social enterprises better, this blog series will have each semi-finalist answer ten questions – five basic questions and five from local funders…

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The Apps That Are Redefining Accessibility

July 29, 2021

For people with disabilities, the digital divide predates the pandemic. But new tools are opening new pathways for participation…

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Improving the Accessible Travel Industry | ACCESS ALL AREAS

July 7, 2021

n this episode of Access All Areas, Cory spoke to Maayan Ziv about improving the accessible travel industry, how she launched her company Access Now and her travel experiences around the world.

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Maayan Ziv | Founder, AcesssNow | Mapping an Accessible Future

July 6, 2021

This week, host Eva Hartling is joined by Maayan Ziv, Activist, Photographer and Founder of AccessNow, a connected, global platform with information on accessibility. Through mapping as many places around the world as possible, and with the help of users’ reviews and feedback, AccessNow makes it possible to locate spots that offer accessible resources to visitors, clients and guests…

Listen Here

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The Innovation Day Podcast | Maayan Ziv, Founder of AccessNow, Talks Entrepreneurship and Mapping Around the World

July 5, 2021

In 2005 Maayan Ziv founded AccessNow, a platform to crowdsource and share accessibility data for locations around the world. In a time when there was an app for pretty much everything, Maayan still found it difficult to find information that would help her, and others living with a disability, navigate a world filled with barriers…

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Maayan Ziv: How to be your own health care advocate

June 24, 2021

Mediaplanet spoke with Maayan Ziv about the importance of being your own advocate and what the future of health and accessibility could look like.

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Travel Penticton working to make city more accessible to all

June 1, 2021

To celebrate National AccessAbility Week from May 30 to June 5, Travel Penticton will be working to improve accessibility so more people with mobility challenges can enjoy the many great attractions Penticton has to offer.

Travel Penticton wants to make sure the city is seen as an inclusive and accessible destination for all visitors.

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Alex Smyth Previews AccessNow

June 1, 2021

When we work on a story at AMI, the process can vary depending on a number of factors. When it comes to the story on AccessNow, this is a story that has been years in the making. Starting back in 2019, we knew we wanted to profile AccessNow and Maayan Ziv, its founder and CEO.

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17 Innovators and Innovations to Celebrate 17 Years

May 30, 2021

In June of 2004, CSI opened its doors with fourteen founding members in tow to solve the “photocopier problem,” the tendency for organizations to work in silos instead of sharing resources and solutions. Enter 5,000 sq. ft. at 215 Spadina Avenue – one of the very first coworking spaces in the world! If you know us, you know our story. But, do you know our members?

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This Canadian app uses crowdsourcing to create a more accessible world

May 27, 2021

Despite the changes in infrastructure and urban planning initiatives, for Maayan Ziv, and countless others around the world still question if the destination or route is accessible. “The reality is that the world is still very inaccessible to people with disabilities,” shared Ziv, “figuring out which spaces are accessible from ones that aren’t can honestly sometimes feel like a full-time job in new spaces.”

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Paralympic athletes break down barriers on Great Trail of Canada

May 25, 2021

A group of Paralympians are on the path to making the Great Trail of Canada more accessible through a partnership that’s helping break down barriers for those with mobility issues.

Trans Canada Trail partnered with both Canadian Paralympians and AccessNow, an online platform that uses crowd-sourced information to detail the accessibility status of locations around the world.

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Shouldn’t the Great Trail be accessible to all? A new cross-Canada partnership tackles barriers

May 15, 2021

Exploring Canada’s urban and rural trails has become a welcome habit during the pandemic, a balm to mind and body. But for many, there are still barriers to appreciating these green spaces. Now, a new partnership between three notable organizations — the Trans Canada Trail (TCT), AccessNow and the Canadian Paralympic Committee — aims to increase accessibility.

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The 11 Best New Hiking Trails From Around the World

May 10, 2021

For outdoor enthusiasts and adventure travelers, there are few things better than a truly great hiking trail. Whether it is a beautiful day hike or a week-long journey on one of the world’s top long-distance treks, wandering through the remote wilderness can be a memorable, exhilarating, and sometimes life-changing experience.

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Trans Canada Trail and AccessNow unite: New partnership creates greater accessibility

April 29, 2021

Trans Canada Trail and AccessNow — a grassroots social start-up that provides a navigational resource to review barrier-free areas — have teamed up with the Canadian Paralympic Committee to document accessibility barriers along one of the longest nature trails in the world.

AccessNow based in Toronto, began with its founder Maayan Ziv’s personal experience of using a wheelchair.

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Para-athletes working with Trans Canada Trail to improve accessibility across the network

Feb 25, 2021

A new project aims to address accessibility concerns for Canadians along the longest recreational trail system in the world.

Trans Canada Trail (TCT) and AccessNow, a Canadian social startup that pinpoints the accessibility of varying spots around the world through an app, partnered with the Canadian Paralympic Committee to examine 13 stretches of trail across the country.

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5 ways to improve your accessibility offline with technology

February 15, 2021

There have been a lot of discussions around online accessibility in recent years. Happily, it seems like the awareness at most businesses and organizations to make sure their online presence is accessible for everyone – had increased dramatically. While that is great, have you ever wondered how an offline experience at the shopping center, hospital, airport, or even at the local restaurant – could be more accessible for those with sensory or cognitive challenges?

Read the blog post

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Will COVID-19 Change How We Think About Disability?

February 12, 2021

From prioritizing pedestrian spaces to proliferating online hangouts, the pandemic has made accessibility mainstream. Will it last?

Read the full article on The Walrus

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Novartis Explores the Future of Assistive Tech in Multiple Sclerosis

January 27, 2021

Technology that supports the lifestyles of people with disabilities is becoming increasingly sophisticated, but there’s plenty of room for growth. And one of the keys for improving assistive tech is a simple but often overlooked philosophy: working with those who will use the product from the very start.

To support emerging designers helping to improve mobility, accessibility, and daily life for people living with multiple sclerosis, Novartis recently launched the Innovation Prize for Assistive Tech. Specialist tech and accessibility judges…

Read the full article on WIRED

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The Perils of Bad Design

December 29, 2020

We’ve all experienced it at some point in the pandemic. COVID-19 has forced us to change our way of doing things, and that involves some new piece of tech. And that tech… doesn’t work so well.

Is it because it was poorly designed, or not designed for you at all?

Listen to the podcast episode

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Accessibility app wins Governor General Innovation’s award

Nov 30, 2020

[VIDEO] Activist Maayan Ziv talks to Antony Robart about her journey of making the Access Now app to being honoured with the Governor General’s Innovation award

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Maayan Ziv: An App to Map Accessibility

 

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The App Helping Make Cities More Accessible

September 26, 2020

“I can tell you from my own experience as someone using a wheelchair to get around that it’s very frustrating when you’re trying to go places and you don’t have access to information about what’s actually going to be accessible for you,” says Maayan Ziv, Founder and CEO of AccessNow. “There are countless places where I show up and there’s a step at the entrance or no accessible washroom or whatever it is. Obviously, it makes things really difficult for someone with a disability just trying to live their life.”

Read the article on Toronto Star

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Six recipients from across Canada recognized for their ground-breaking work and excellence in innovation

July 14, 2020

Ottawa, ON – Today the Rideau Hall Foundation announced the recipients of the fifth annual Governor General’s Innovation Awards. These awards recognize and celebrate exceptional Canadian individuals, teams and organizations for their excellence in innovation and their contributions to helping shape our future and positively impact our quality of life. 

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What we can learn from the disabled community during COVID-19

July 13, 2020

[PODCAST] In this episode of This Matters, Maayan Ziv, disability rights activist and the founder and CEO of AccessNow, a digital accessibility platform for the disabled, talks about the struggles and rights of Canada’s disabled community – and what we need to do to make inclusive and safe spaces for everyone in our collective experience.

Listen to this episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts or wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts.

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How Maayan Ziv is Increasing Accessibility

July 9, 2020

“There’s no denying that this pandemic has been devastating in so many ways for everyone. For people who are immunocompromised, COVID-19 has brought with it a new level of vulnerability, and increased levels of anxiety, sacrifice and isolation. For people with disabilities like myself, this time has forced us to redesign our lives, such as…”

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A conversation with Maayan Ziv on COVID and people living with disabilities

July 6, 2020

Maayan Ziv speaks candidly on the challenges COVID presents for people with disabilities — and the opportunities.

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Novartis announces winners of the Innovation Prize for Assistive Tech, rewarding new technologies that could improve mobility and independence of people living with multiple sclerosis

June 25, 2020

“It is such an honor to be awarded the Novartis Innovation Prize. Accessibility is a critical component of establishing a welcoming and barrier-free world for people with disabilities, including those living with MS,” said Maayan Ziv, Founder and CEO AccessNow. “We have come a long way, but we have so much more to do to achieve equity and inclusion. At AccessNow we believe technology plays an integral role in achieving this vision and we are so excited for the next step in our journey.”

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25 Women to Watch: Succeeding in a COVID World

June 19, 2020

Even while facing less access to capital, struggles in the start-up phase and outdated prejudices about women in leadership, women’s entrepreneurship is accelerating within Canada and beyond. In the spirit of collaboration and like-minded missions, Sandpiper Ventures from the east coast and The51 from the west, have come together to launch a new, national partnership to unlock capital and invest in women-led startups across Canada.

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How a Toronto tech entrepreneur harnessed the power of making life more accessible

March 6, 2020

[VIDEO] Maayan Ziv doesn’t have to wander far from her office in downtown Toronto to find a business she can’t visit or suddenly be stalled by a step or a door without a push button. But the 29-year-old is turning around these experiences. She’s a tech entrepreneur, who lives with muscular dystrophy.

“Living with a disability means that you’re constantly having to be creative. I have to think about all the gaps in the sidewalks, and all the missing elevators, and all the inaccessible things that could go wrong,” Ziv said in an interview with CTV News Toronto Friday.

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Podcast: The business case for accessibility
February 4, 2020

How do we make the world more accessible? And how can that accessibility add value to a business? These aren’t questions many CEOs ask, but for Maayan Ziv, who has muscular dystrophy, they’re pivotal to the success of her business, AccessNow.

[Full Transcript]

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Maayan Ziv: Making The World More Accessible

August 19, 2019

AccessNow has been live for four years now and we’ve gained so much insight from the community, from people who have directly benefited or have used AccessNow in some way to do something. They’ve contributed a lot of information through emails, social media or getting in touch in-person. They let us know what’s good and what could be better…

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3 Ways to Start Integrating Accessibility into Your Workplace (& Life)

August 7, 2019

Canada’s federal government has made significant moves to support individuals with lived experience of disability in recent months — from passing the Accessible Canada Act to investing in AccessNow, an app that maps accessible locations across the country. But how can Canadians be better advocates for accessibility on an individual level?

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CSI Success Story: Maayan Ziv

August 2, 2019

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.

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AccessNow Receives $2.7 Million from Federal Government for Accessibility Platform

August 1, 2019

AccessNow, an online platform that crowdsources information on the accessibility of public spaces and venues, such as restaurants and businesses, has raised $2.7 million from the federal government. The startup, which serves as a community resource for those requiring information about accessibility, offers a TripAdvisor-like user experience that crowdsources the opinions and experiences of its users on various public locations. AccessNow will use the investment to open up the technology’s functionality, pursue community partnerships, in addition to new features that the startup plans to announce later on.

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New app literally puts accessibility on the map

August 1, 2019

[VIDEO] A Toronto tech startup has garnered the support of Microsoft and new funding by the Canadian government. AccessNow is an app available on Google Play and the Apple App Store, allowing users to discover more than 26,000 accessible and nonaccessible pinned locations in 35 countries around the world.

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Accessibility app receives cash injection to help more Canadians with disabilities

August 1, 2019

An accessibility application that aims to break down barriers facing Canadians with disabilities has received a major boost in funding from Ottawa. AccessNow, an online platform that uses crowd-sourced information to show how mobility-friendly buildings and public transit are, will receive $2.7 million in investment from the federal government. Carla Qualtrough, the minister of Public Services, Procurement and Accessibility, announced the cash injection Thursday at a news conference in Toronto. She said the investment is not only a boost for Canadians with disabilities but also for an inclusive economy. 

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How Maayan Ziv is taking over a $25B underserved market

August 1, 2019

More than four million Canadians live with a disability. Because many buildings and public spaces were built without accessibility in mind for people who use wheelchairs or other assistive devices, those four million people are unable to live life to the fullest. Maayan Ziv uses a power chair to assist her mobility and knows this problem all too well. But once she realized how many other people faced similar issues to her, she knew she needed to do something about it.

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Federal government awards $2.7 million to crowdsourced accessibility app 

August 1, 2019

AccessNow, founded by Maayan Ziv at Ryerson University’s DMZ startup incubator in 2015, collects and maps data from users about the accessibility of areas like restaurants, bars and retailers. The app has more than 26,000 locations tagged across 35 countries. The investment, announced by Public Services Minister Carla Qualtrough, was made through the Accessible Technology Program, a $22.3-million fund to be allocated over five years starting in 2017. The company plans to use the funding to grow its team from seven workers to 15 over the next couple years. (The Logic)

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Q & A: Innovating Around Obstacles

May 2019

Living with muscular dystrophy hasn’t stopped Maayan Ziv from becoming a photographer, activist, and innovator. By crowdsourcing information about physical structures, AccessNow, the app Ziv launched in 2015, allows people with mobility challenges to know what they can expect in a given location before they displace themselves. It has proved so popular that Ziv, 28, won Startup Canada’s Resilient Entrepreneur of the Year Award for 2016. Policy Magazine Social Media Editor Grace MacDonald spoke with Maayan Ziv about accessibility, technology, and where the two meet. 

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Meet 5 Canadian Women Building Apps For a Better World

March 7, 2019

These barriers to everyday activities are what inspired Ziv to create AccessNow, an app that allows users to track the accessibility of locations worldwide, from restaurants to concert halls. “It’s time to realize that inaccessible places and experiences are not just inconvenient, but they also send a signal that people with disabilities, or anyone who requires accessibility, is not welcome everywhere. To be blunt, inaccessibility, whether intentional or not, is a form of discrimination.”

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These 5 innovations show how good design can make the world more inclusive 

January 18, 2019

To expand the conversation further and raise public awareness around the surge in accessible products and services designed over the last decade, we organized a groundbreaking exhibition – ACCESS+ABILITY – which opened in December 2017 to widespread acclaim. Demonstrating how design is providing unprecedented access to a world that now includes over one billion people with disabilities, the exhibition emphasized the rising participation of people with disabilities in the design process—and how giving voice to a diversity of people results in solutions that work better for all.

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Letter from the editor: Tech’s mobility omission

January 18, 2019

Mobility is a term the tech community has co-opted to mean everything from transit-as-a-service to autonomous vehicles to what Ford CEO Jim Hackett called “a ‘catch-all’ phrase encompassing all non-traditional businesses.” At its core, mobility is about offering greater accessibility and convenience to more people. But too often that isn’t the case. After we published our story about Lime and Bird’s e-scooter expansion plans in Canada, a reader pointed me to a Twitter thread highlighting concerns over what abandoned dockless scooters mean for wheelchair users.

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Creating a More Accessible World: Q&A with Maayan Ziv, Founder and CEO AccessNow

December 3, 2018

We are inspired by our community every single day. We have the privilege of working alongside Canadians who are using technology to make the world more accessible and inclusive for everyone. One of these remarkable people is Maayan Ziv, Founder and CEO of AccessNow, a mobile app and website that collects and shares information about the accessibility status of places worldwide.

Recently named one of WXN’s Most Powerful Women in Canada and one of Microsoft’s #MSFTChangeAgents, Maayan is a shining star in our community. To celebrate her work, Microsoft’s Ricardo Wagner – Accessibility Lead Canada, hosted an engaging Q&A with Maayan which we have shared below.

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Taking the road less known: Three women who found success by following their passion

November 22, 2018

For some people, following an established career path is the way to find workplace success and satisfaction: You get a degree, get a job, and rise through the corporate ranks, with promotions and salary increases along the way. For others, a linear career in a highly structured organization was just never in the cards.

Maayan Ziv is a perfect example of the latter. “I wanted to throw the rule book out the window and figure it out from scratch,” says Ziv, founder and CEO of AccessNow, a for-profit social enterprise that maps the accessibility of places and experiences worldwide.

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Is it accessible? Spotlight on Maayan Ziv

September 28, 2018

“Imagine going to an establishment, only to find out that it has three steps.”

For most, this statement means merely climbing those few steps to reach the entrance. For Maayan Ziv, founder of AccessNow, those words not only represent the lifelong challenge she confronts daily—but also an opportunity to seize.

“Growing up, I always had a disability. I face challenges that other people don’t. Naturally, we tend to look at adversity as a bad thing, but I look at it as one of my greatest assets.”

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Accessible City Design

June 13, 2018

Melbourne, Australia has held the number one spot for the past several years followed by Vienna, Vancouver, Toronto and Calgary and Adelaide who have tied for 5th place. After careful analysis, it became apparent that this seemingly diverse and in depth report does not take one critical factor into account: accessibility. As comprehensive as it may be, the report does not examine how livable cities may be for people with disabilities. What exactly has to transpire in order for the lives of people with disabilities to be considered alongside the lives of those without?

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Growing advocacy and awareness bringing accessible design to more people than ever

June 2, 2018

[VIDEO] Years of advocacy in the disability community along with technological advances have spurred the creation of more products for people with a range of abilities. NewsHour Weekend’s Megan Thompson talks to New York City’s Digital Accessibility Coordinator about the importance of accessible design and tours an exhibit at the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum that highlights these advancements.

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Meet 8 of Toronto’s most inspiring changemakers

April 8, 2018

Social justice, gender equality, inclusion and accessibility — these are just a few of the things these eight unstoppable women are fighting for. Best of all, they’re living proof that you can make positive change at any age. Prepare to be inspired! 

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Here and Now Toronto with Gill Deacon: Maayan Ziv on the possibility of new accessibility emojis

March 26, 2018
Maayan Ziv on the possibility of new accessibility emojis Apple has proposed a set of accessibility emojis, including a guide dog and an ear with a hearing aid. Disability advocate Maayan Ziv explains why that’s a big deal, and how she might use those emojis.
 
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Designing for Access

December 14, 2017

Many recent technological advancements seem more ominous than optimistic: Alexa eavesdropping on water cooler conversations at work, automation taking our jobs, autonomous vehicles crashing into taco trucks. Or they’re more frivolous than helpful (for example, automated dental floss dispensers). But “Access+Ability,” an exhibition opening Friday at the Cooper Hewitt design museum in Manhattan, fills one with real optimism: It highlights the beneficial ways design and technology are transforming the lives of people with different physical, cognitive and sensory abilities.

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20 top Canadian tech startup founders to follow on Twitter

November 30, 2017

The roster of Canadian tech startup founders is endless. To shine a light on this emerging community, we have created a list of 20 names from across the country who are helping to define the Canada’s startup narrative on Twitter. With this list, we aimed to highlight a diverse range of voices from coast-to-coast and from ventures of varying sizes. The one unifier: all 20 individuals are using Twitter exceedingly well to grow their business and be part of the conversation worldwide.

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Advocates demand Lyft meet same accessibility standards as rival Uber

November 21, 2017

Local advocates who pushed Uber to up its game on accessibility are urging Lyft, which enters the Toronto market in December, to do the same. “Whether it’s Uber or a competitor, looking hard at accessibility is a vital component for any business,” said Maayan Ziv, founder of accessibility-based tech firm AccessNow. “Regardless of who you are, you should not be restricted from a service.”

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What Canada can learn from Israel’s entrepreneurial ethos

November 21, 2017

In the heart of the Old City of Jerusalem sits a ruined citadel called David’s Tower. Fought over by King David himself, Romans, Arabs, Crusaders, Ottomans and Israelis, it’s now a museum spanning 4,000 years of history. But the castle is soon to assume another identity: as home to a startup accelerator specializing in virtual reality.
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maayan smiles on stage at the startup canada day on the hill event. behind her is a large screen that reads "Announcement: Startup Jerusalem Competition Canada" in red
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Entrepreneur Heads To Israel To Share Accessibility App

November 7, 2017

Maayan Ziv has been something of an entrepreneur her entire life. Not necessarily the “develop a product and bring it to market” sort of entrepreneur; more the “see a problem, find a solution” type of entrepreneur. Ziv, 27, was born with muscular dystrophy and has used a wheelchair since she was a child.
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Maayan Ziv – Advocating for Accessibility

November 6, 2017

SN: What inspired you to become an entrepreneur? MZ: In many ways I feel I have been learning to be an entrepreneur since I was very little. From being a young girl with a disability to today.  I often have to problem-solve through challenging situations because the reality is that the world just isn’t built for people with disabilities in mind.
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Advice to entrepreneurs: Be willing to admit when you don’t know

October 27, 2017

Maayan Ziv s a photographer turned tech entrepreneur with a creative story to match. From solving her own problems to changing the conversation about accessibility, Maayan is a trailblazer who is unafraid to admit when she doesn’t know something. AccessNow recently won the inaugural #MoveTheDialPITCH competition, winning $10,000 cash on top of mentorship from an experienced panel of judges.
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Maayan ziv, left, Jodi Kovitz, right, pose with a cheque for AccessNow.
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Bend family asks you to crowdsource accessibility

October 24, 2017

Bella Beare has muscular dystrophy and will likely never walk. But recently, she’s learned to roll, and her mother, Jessica Beare, says it’s given Bella a new lease on life. “As soon as you put her in that and she has the freedom of getting around, she just — she lights up,” the mother said Tuesday.
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AccessNow receives $10,000 from #MoveTheDial pitch competition

October 23, 2017

This past weekend in Toronto, five women founders pitched to a room of 100 people for the first-ever #MoveTheDial hackathon. In the end, Ziv took the top prize of $10,000 for AccessNow. “Within a very short time, #Movethedial has already created meaningful impact for my journey as a female founder building my first tech company,” said Ziv.
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Toronto continues to ‘lag behind’ on making city accessible, councillor says

September 27, 2017

As hundreds of athletes with disabilities compete in the Invictus Games this week in Toronto, a push is on to make the city’s businesses more accessible….Maayan Ziv, who has muscular dystrophy, is a champion for furthering accessibility in Toronto. She created a website and app to showcase areas around the world that are accessible — and those that aren’t.
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AccessNow’s Maayan Ziv: Accessibility is the key to tech innovation

September 1, 2017

Maayan Ziv is a photographer turned entrepreneur who found her passion by working to solve the accessibility challenges she faces in everyday life. Now, she’s an advocate for accessibility in tech through her company, AccessNow. Read on to see her global idea for tech and innovation.
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Empowered by technology, young people set out to create greater inclusion.

August 17, 2017

The Jetsons promised us flying cars. Star Trek made teleportation seem a graspable dream. And people are still waiting eagerly for Back to the Future’s hoverboards to make their way to sporting goods stores. While many technologies remain elusive, today’s generation of tech savvy change-makers are dreaming up a new era of accessibility with inclusion at its core.
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How accessible is the Pan Am Path? One group is mapping the trail to find out

July 8, 2017

One Toronto group is en route to making outdoor trails more accessible. AccessNow is mapping the Pan Am Path to find out how easily people with mobility devices can use the trail. Maayan Ziv, founder of AccessNow, an advocacy organization, said that people often forget about lifestyle and recreational activities in the conversation about accessibility. 
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Pan Am Path mapping project aims to make trail accessible for all

July 7, 2017

Anthony Lue is a cyclist and Paralympics hopeful, but this summer he is taking on a new project — biking and mapping the 85-kilometre Pan Am Path. Using a streetview camera mounted on an off-road wheelchair, Lue will be photographing and exploring the path in the initiative with AccessNow, Icon Wheelchairs and Google.
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Bringing AccessNow to Toronto Trails

July 5, 2017
For Maayan Ziv, accessibility means a lot more than the availability of ramps to get into a government building or restaurant.
The 27-year-old founder of the social enterprise AccessNow, who uses a wheelchair, has turned her attention to accessibility for trails and parks. “When we talk about accessibility, often we forget about recreational activities,” she said.
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New CN Tower windows offer a view with no limits

June 26, 2017

If you’ve been wondering why a section of Toronto’s iconic CN Tower has been covered in a tarp for the past month — wonder no longer. New floor-to-ceiling windows were unveiled on Monday on the lookout level of the tower, offering a better view for everyone, including people who use wheelchairs.
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Toronto needs new plan to be barrier free as accessibility becomes law, says advocate

June 19, 2017

As the city seeks to renew its accessibility plan, those who want to eliminate barriers say some Toronto small businesses are putting them up instead of tearing them down. Maayan Ziv, founder of AccessNow, an app that finds and rates accessibility of restaurants and stores, recently found out that a place where she used to buy shawarma on Spadina Avenue is no longer barrier free.
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AppTV: Interview with AccessNow App Creator Maayan Ziv

August 2, 2017

Not knowing which restaurants, hotels, bars and stores were accessible frustrated Maayan Ziv​. So she built an app for that. AppTV’s Richard Harlow speaks to Ziv about AccessNow​, which uses crowdsourcing to rate the accessibility of businesses.
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App TV: AccessNow App Walkthrough

June 14, 2017

AccessNow aims to share accessibility information around the world. Search for specific places like a restaurant, hotel or store, or browse the map to see what is nearby with the accessibility features you require. Filter the map by category and tags and find the access that you need now.
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Startup Canada Podcast: Accessing Entrepreneurship with AccessNow’s Maayan Ziv

May 2, 2017

Overcoming adversity is not for the faint of heart. Maayan Ziv, founder of AccessNow, an app that finds and rates accessible restaurants, stores, hotels, and more worldwide, is working tirelessly to bring accessibility to the forefront of everyone’s minds. “The idea is to actually build an inclusive community where we can all relate to what accessibility means.”
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This 25-year-old is creating a global roadmap for accessibility

April 11, 2017

There’s an app for everything — almost.  Maayan Ziv noticed that while it’s easy to use your phone to figure out when a restaurant is open or what’s on the menu, it was almost impossible to look up whether those places were wheelchair accessible. 
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CBC’s We are Canada looks at country’s future not its past

April 10, 2017

Show co-created by Ken Dryden celebrates innovative Canadians like Toronto’s Maayan Ziv. Maayan Ziv in Toronto, one of the subjects of the CBC-TV series We Are Canada, has created an app that rates businesses on how accessible they are to handicapped people.
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AccessNow: How Maayan Ziv’s App Discovers Accessibility Anyplace, Anytime

April 7, 2017

Maayan Ziv is a twenty-five-year-old fashion photographer turned accessibility advocate and app developer. Born with muscular dystrophy, Ziv plans to map the world with her app, Access Now, which uses crowdsourcing to pin-point the accessibility status of locations.
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We Are Canada: The people who will help forge our future

April 3, 2017

Maayan Ziv zips around downtown Toronto. She is in a wheelchair, but that doesn’t matter hugely to her, nor that she has a form of muscular dystrophy, nor that she is young, nor that she is tiny. “I’m not thinking small,” says the 25-year-old photographer. “I want to go big.” The only thing that really gets in her way are the stupid little barriers the rest of us don’t think about.
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#NotableWomen in Tech: Maayan Ziv, Founder of AccessNow

March 8, 2017

AccessNow is mapping as many places around the world as possible and building a community of people passionate about change in the process. AccessNow is all about empowering people with accessibility challenges with access to all the places they want to go…now!  
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This Photographer’s App is Globalizing Accessibility

February 15, 2017

Maayan Ziv is a 26-year-old self-taught professional photographer from Toronto, Canada. After earning her bachelor’s degree in Radio and Television Arts, she went on to pursue a career that focused mainly on black and white emotive portraiture, editorial fashion and gritty street scenes.
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Meet Maayan Ziv. Her Mission? To Make Cities Accessible to All

December 14, 2016

The Torontonian is the creator of AccessNow: a website—and now an app—that crowdsources the accessibility of everyday places. We talked to Ziv, who uses a wheelchair, about the lightbulb moment behind her idea and finding opportunity and strength through disability. 
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The 10 Best Product Designs of 2016

December 9, 2016

Best Product for Social Good: AccessNow app for iOS
The purpose of AccessNow is simple: provide information about whether restaurants, bars, shops, cultural institutions and other places of business and commerce are accessible to those with physical disabilities.
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Human rights activists honoured at Toronto city hall

December 7, 2016

The city of Toronto handed out its 2016 Access, Equity and Human Rights Awards Tuesday evening to activists who are working to break down barriers to equality in the city. “We need to make sure that each person is seen, that their voices are heard, and that each person feels that they have the rights to different spaces in Toronto,” said Ziv, founder of the mobile app AccessNow and winner of the Award for Disability Issues.
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This Toronto Photographer’s App Is Remapping Accessibility Around the World

November 22, 2016

Maayan Ziv was born with muscular dystrophy which she says has helped her build up a sense of resilience. “People assume that I’m a sweet little girl who has nice dreams,” she says wryly, “watch me kill that assumption.” A passionate photographer and entrepreneur, she is working to change expectations of how people with disabilities access public spaces.
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March 19, 2016       Toronto Star – Building an app that empowers people