Historical Timeline (Accessible)
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Follow us as we look at the History of Makers Making Change from 2016 to Present
Timeline
1980: The Accident
21 year-old university student, Neil Squire, hits black ice and crashes his car, rendering him a C1 brain-stem tetraplegic.
1981: Bill Cameron
Neil Squire begins working with his second cousin, Bill Cameron, a prolific inventor and engineer. Bill is determined to use technology to help Neil speak.
1981: Sip-and-Puff and Morse Code
Neil learns to use a sip and puff machine that Bill created from an old teleprinter to aid Neil in communication. Neil learned to use Morse code, which was converted into words on a screen through Bill’s device. This original device was soon replaced by an Apple IIe computer.
April 18, 1984: Neil Squire Passes Away
Neil passes away.
June 19, 1984: The Neil Squire Rehabilitation Society is Formed
Upon Neil’s death, donations are collected in lieu of flowers. These funds are used to create the Neil Squire Rehabilitation Society. The NSRS eventually becomes the Neil Squire Society, and later rebrands simply as Neil Squire.
1985: Research and Development
Early Neil Squire Research and Development projects include dual switches, environmental control units, computer hardware and software, and robots to do household chores and grooming tasks.
1985: The Neil Squire Foundation
The Society’s name is changed to the Neil Squire Foundation.
March 13, 1993: Bill Cameron Passes Away
Neil Squire Founder, Bill Cameron, passes away at the age of 68.
1995: Leader in Innovative Technology
Neil Squire Research and Development develops the Jouse, a sip and puff alternative to a standard computer mouse for people with limited or no functional hand control. Compusult, a well-known assistive device supplier, licensed the technology and currently manufactures and distributes the Jouse in North America.
2004: The Neil Squire Society
The Foundation’s name is changed to the Neil Squire Society.
April 12, 2016: Google.org Grant
Google.org awards Neil Squire Society an $800,000 USD grant through the Google Impact Challenge: Disabilities. With this support, Neil Squire Society is enabled to release the LipSync, a mouth controlled input device enabling people with disabilities to operate a mobile device.
May 2016: Makers Making Change is Formed
Neil Squire creates the Makers Making Change program. The first 3D printed prototype of the LipSync is developed.
September 2016: The LipSync
The LipSync debuts publicly at the Hackaday NYC Maker Meetup and Maker Faire 2016.
January 27, 2016: 1st Event: Access Makeathon
Inventors, Creators, Hackers, and Change Makers come together over 48 hours at the Access Makeathon in Vancouver. They build open source assistive technologies that directly address the needs of people with disabilities.
March 1, 2017: Web Platform
The Makers Making Change website is launched.
March 13, 2017: 1st LipSync Buildathon
The first LipSync Buildathon is held at the BC Tech Summit in Vancouver, BC.
April 2017: 1st "Homebuilt" Device
A maker downloads the instructions and builds a LipSync independently for the first time.
June 2, 2017: Expanded Funding
Minister Qualtrough announces that Neil Squire will receive approximately $750,000 from the Government of Canada for its Makers Making Change initiative “for the development of a network of groups and people with technical skills to support the identification, development, testing, dissemination and deployment of open source assistive technologies.”
June 29, 2017: RESNA Award
The Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America (RESNA) awarded the Most Disruptive Technology award to the Neil Squire Society for their LipSync, a device that was developed by the Society’s Makers Making Change initiative.
October 2017: Program Expansion
The program expands into Toronto, ON and Halifax, NS.
May 2018: Device Library
The open source assistive device library is launched.
September 2018: Western Expansion
The program expands into Calgary, AB.
October 2018: Powered to Enable Kick-off at EA
The Powered to Enable campaign is launched in Burnaby, BC with a kick-off event at Electronic Arts Canada. This marks the first of many adaptive gaming events hosted by the program.
March 2019: 500th Device Built
The 500th device — a Round Flexure Switch — is built at the BC Tech Summit in Vancouver, BC.
April 2019: Community Chapters
The volunteer community chapter program is launched, where disability advocates bring Makers Making Change into their city.
May 2019: 50th Device in the Library
The 3D printed nail clipper holder becomes the 50th device added to the open-source device library.
July 2019: 1,000th Device Built
The 1,000th device — a Mounting System — is built by a volunteer Maker in Philadelphia, PA.
November 2019: Accessible Gaming
Makers Making Change partners with Electronic Arts to host an accessible gaming competition in Burnaby, BC.
November 2019: 100th Build Event
The 100th build event is held at Saint Mary's University in Halifax, NS. Makers build various low-cost switches like the Light Touch Switch and Raindrop Switch.
December 2020: 100th Device in the Library
Ken Hackbarth, a long time contributor to the device library, shares his customizable head pointer to the library.
December 3, 2021: #ATWorldRecord
On International Day of Persons with Disabilities, 1,816 people from 35 countries help set a Guinness World Records for "the most people to take an online DIY assistive technology course in 24 hours."
March 2022: STEM With Purpose
The STEM With Purpose programming supports STEM training for youth under 30 in Canada, promoting design thinking and 3D printing for social good.
August 2022: Adaptive Gaming
In collaboration with various gaming partners, we released an in-depth resource for gamers with disabilities and occupational therapists.
December 2022: Hacking for the Holidays
The annual Hacking for the Holidays campaign launches for the first time. Over 540 adapted toys and 800 switches were delivered to kids with disabilities in the inaugural campaign. Over 100 events were held across Canada where students and volunteers built and adapted the devices.
January 2023: 200th Device in the Library
The switch adapted Peppa Pig toy becomes the 200th device in the AT library. This device was adapted for the 2022 Hacking for the Holiday campaign.
January 2023: 1st GAME Checkpoint
The GAME Checkpoints program launches, with Stan Cassidy Centre for Rehabilitation in Fredericton, NB becoming the first Checkpoint. This is a network of organizations across Canada with accessible gaming spaces where people can try adaptive gaming devices and assistive technology with support from trained professionals.
January 2023: Build Events in All 10 Provinces
Outreach staff hosts a build event in Prince Edward Island, hitting the milestone of hosting a build event in all 10 provinces.
September 2023: Launch of OpenAT Template
The R&D team publishes the OpenAT Templates, resources designed to help people design and share open-source assistive technology.
October 2023: OpenAT Joysticks
The R&D team unveils a line of cost-effective and customizable joysticks. The joysticks increase digital access by making phones, tablets, and computers, and adaptive gaming.
October 2023: 10,000 Devices Built
10,000 devices are built by volunteers and community members. The milestone was celebrated with a joystick build with Electronics Arts (EA) in Burnaby, BC.
October 2023: A Whole New Web Experience
A new website is launched, prioritizing the assistive device library and connecting people with disabilities to volunteers.
February 2024: The LipSync Levels Up
Based on feedback from users, clinicians, and makers, a new generation of the Lipsync is released. It is now easier to use, easier to build, and provides greater user independence.
June 2024: Neil Squire Turns 40
2024 marked the 40th anniversary of Neil Squire. Our offices across Canada celebrated the milestone with barbecues and open houses, opening our doors to the community and sharing the work we do with pride.
July 2024: 3D Print Jobs
The 3D Print Jobs page launches in various cities in Canada, allowing people to 3D print device parts and contribute to build events efforts.
September 2024: MMC Live
MMC Live is launched, a monthly live stream where staff shares resources and projects and exciting updates in our community.
September 2024: MMC on Discord
The Makers Making Change Discord launches, bringing together community chapters and members to discuss anything and all things AT related.
March 2025: OpenAT Design Guide
The R&D team releases the OpenAT Design Guide, a collection of best practices and resources for designing OpenAT.
March 2025: Clubs That Care Micro-Grant
With funding from the Government of Canada, the Clubs That Care program launches, providing youth aged 15-30 with $3,000 to build and deliver assistive technology in their community.
September 2025: GAME Kit
The GAME Kits become available for organizations and clinicians to order a curated box of adaptive gaming equipment.
October 2025: 1,000th Build Event
The 1000th build event is held during the 2025 Hacking for the Holidays campaign.
December 2025: 40,000 volunteers engaged
Makers Making Change reaches a milestone of 40,000 volunteers engaged, including 23,000 youth makers, during the 2025 Hacking for the Holidays.
January 2026: 25,000 Devices Built
Makers Making Change volunteers build 25,000 assistive devices.
March 2026: 100 Countries
The Makers Making Change website reaches user sign ups from over 100 countries.
May 2026: 10 Years Old
The Makers Making Change program proudly celebrates its 10-year milestone.