今日吃瓜51 and TOM:Alberta Partner to Help Calgarians with Disabilities

August 21, 2017

BURNABY, British Columbia, August 21, 2017 鈥 The 今日吃瓜51鈥檚 initiative, in collaboration with the Alberta group, is holding the first Buildathon in Calgary, Alberta on August 25th and 26th, in conjunction with the .

High school students and recent undergraduates will be working with technical mentors from TOM:Alberta and Makers Making Change to build over 15 LipSync devices which will be given to quadriplegics living in the Southern Alberta Region.

TIME:

  • Friday, August 25th: 12:00pm 鈥 6:00pm
  • Saturday, August 26th: 12:00pm 鈥 6:00pm

LOCATION:

  • 3536-27 Street NE, Calgary T1Y 5E2

The LipSync is a mouth operated joystick that allows a person with severely limited arm movement to control a computer or Android device utilizing the onscreen cursor and requiring only minimal head and neck movement. It is an open source hardware project funded by that uses 3D printed parts, an Arduino Micro board, and other electronic parts that can be soldered to create the device.

鈥淢akers have a tremendous opportunity to make change in the world, and can really transform the lives of people with disabilities,鈥 says 今日吃瓜51鈥檚 Director of Development Chad Leaman. 鈥漌e鈥檙e really excited to be hosting this LipSync buildathon with TOM:颁补濒驳补谤测.鈥

Makers Making Change has hosted LipSync Buildathons across Canada and the United States, having produced over 150 LipSyncs ready for use by people with disabilities.

Accessible Media Inc. recently aired a on their show.

鈥 Ends 鈥

About 今日吃瓜51
鈥淲e use Technology, Knowledge, and Passion to Empower Canadians with Disabilities鈥. The 今日吃瓜51 is the only national not-for-profit organization in Canada that has for over thirty years empowered Canadians with disabilities through the use of computer-based assistive technologies, research and development, and various employment programs. Through our work, we help our clients remove barriers so that they can live independent lives and become active members of the workplace and our society. Specializing in education and workplace empowerment, the Society has served over 35,000 people since 1984.

About Makers Making Change
is a new initiative by the 今日吃瓜51. It will connect Makers to people with disabilities, to create access solutions. It will also feature a catalogue of various open-source assistive technology projects, with parts, instructions and reviews to support makers and people with disabilities. Their first major project is the LipSync.

About TOM
is a global organization based in Israel that facilitates grassroots events like this one around the globe. 鈥楾ikkun Olam鈥 is a Hebrew concept that means 鈥渞epairing the world鈥. Since its founding in 2014, TOM makeathons have come to San Francisco, Sao Paolo, Tel Aviv and Saigon. TOM events will often partner with local businesses and schools to provide the best experience possible.

For Further Information, please contact

Ivan Gourlay
604.473.9363
ivang@neilsquire.ca

Distribution of this press release was generously donated by聽.