Make Change Virtually

A chapter map.Prior to COVID-19, Makers Making Change was well known for our exciting buildathon events, where we worked with various organizations to get people interested in making for good. Over the past 4 years, we’ve run toy hacks and switch builds as well as delivered live presentations at conferences and special events. 


But, since March 2020, things have changed quite a bit! Our staff and chapters don’t travel to events physically anymore, but the good news is, we are now hosting virtual buildathon events!  Below, we’ve outlined some of the ways volunteers in Canada and the U.S can get involved with Makers Making Change virtually.


Virtual dice spinner build through Zoom.

(Image above from the New York City Chapter’s Dice Spinner Buildathon Event: A video recording from this event is available) 


Get Involved: Join a Virtual Buildathon  

These are fun team building events where we raise awareness about the program, teach maker skills, attract new volunteer members, and find new chapter leaders, sponsors and donors. Join upcoming events here.


Two volunteers soldering and building assistive devices.


How Does A Virtual Buildathon Event Work? 

Parts can either be purchased by participants online or distributed in kits by the organizer. Distribution can be from a central location or shipped via mail. Step by step instructions are provided in advance, and during the event you’ll also have an event host and mentors in break out rooms to help you through the process.  


Afterwards, devices are dropped off by each participant at the disability partners location, or collected by the event organizer to distribute to individual with disabilities or local organizations that need them.


MMC60 switches in green and yellow.


What If I’ve Never Built Anything Before? 

Don’t worry, we teach volunteers who have no technical knowledge all the time! It’s all about having fun, trying something new and helping people! The good news is, many of our devices are easy to build virtually. Let our Makers Making Change Staff and Chapter Leaders guide you through the process of making an assistive technology device.  


Sponsor a Virtual Buildathon Event with your Workplace 

Learning to build an assistive device is a great team building activity! When you sponsor a virtual buildathon event, all the devices your team creates will be donated to individuals or organizations in your community that work with people with disabilities.  


We’ve hosted team building workshops with SAP, Google, Telus, Bell, Microsoft, and Electronic Arts to name a few! We recently hosted a virtual buildathon with Royal Bank of Canada(RBC) 


Contact Chad Leaman, our Director of Social Innovation if you've like to learn more about this opportunity: chadl@neilsquire.ca


Screen capture of a virtual build.

Chloe Ellis a light skinned woman in her 30s hold a switch with a black base and a yellow top. She is wearing a blue jacket with an RBC logo on it. She is holding her switch she built at a Makers Making Change virtual Buildathon event

(Above RBC staff participate in a virtual MMC60 Round Flexure switch build) 

Can’t Join an Event? 

Reply to a Request: Build a Device !

Events aren’t the only way to build devices! Makers Making Change also hosts an open source library of assistive devices. Users with a disability (or a disability professional) can search the assistive device library for the device they need. Once they find a device they want, they can submit a request to have it made by a volunteer maker. All requests are posted in our forum under the “Maker Wanted” subcategory. Makers can agree to help by replying to their request.


By joining our online community, the requester is agreeing to pay the cost of materials and shipping if applicable. As a volunteer, the maker agrees to donate their time and skills to build the device for a person in need.  All of our projects come with design files and step by step instructions, and you can always ask for help if you get stuck! That’s what our community is for! So sign up for the website and check out the forum to see if there’s any requests in your area! 


Participate in a Design Challenge  

If a user can't find what they are looking for in our assistive devices library, they can submit an idea. These ideas can be further developed by teams of makers like students, community groups or a company. Read more about how Hedgehog Technologies Inc employees Cale Bordreau and Muhammad Vellani engaged their workplace in an IoT design challenge. Together, they designed a IoT Silent Door Alarm for caregivers of those with dementia.  


Join a Chapter or Start Your Own! 

Currently, we have 30 chapters in Canada and the US. Our goal is to have a chapter in every province and state by 2030! Check out our list of chapters and see if there’s one near you! If this inspires you, you can even start your own Chapter!


A chapter map. A group of volunteers surrounding a table filled with toys.


Bring Makers Making Change into the Classroom 

Design thinking is a hot topic in education right now. Check out our free educational resources for use in the classroom, whether its virtual or in person.


Regardless of how you volunteer, we appreciate what you can give! This community isn’t possible without people like you! To learn more about this project and to sign up go to www.makersmakingchange.com