AccessNow

AccessFest is excited to partner with Whimble, VIA Rail Canada, and Destination Toronto to help make AccessFest more accessible for people across Canada! AccessFest is about celebrating disability culture and community - this giveaway helps open the door for even more people to be part of it. On June 6 in downtown Toronto, expect live music, art, meaningful conversations, and experiences designed with accessibility at the forefront. Huge thanks to our partners for helping make this possible. 💙 Enter the giveaway through Whimble’s original post below!

We followed 60 disabled young adults through an entire leadership program. The data shows exactly how they grew. It's not what we expected. We just completed a three-cohort longitudinal evaluation of AccessNow’s FUTURES Program. 60 participants. 3 surveys each. From before the program began to after it ended. Here’s what we found: ➡️ Disability knowledge grew continuously. It was the only skill to improve significantly in both halves of the program. ➡️ Leadership skills built fast in the first half, then held firm. Participants didn’t lose what they gained. ➡️ Social impact skills were dormant until the Activation Project phase, then they surged. The project isn’t supplementary. It’s the mechanism. ➡️ Belonging anxiety, the fear that you don’t fit in even among disabled peers, significantly decreased by program end. ➡️ Facilitator satisfaction was rated at 3.72 out of 4 at the midpoint. At program end: exactly 3.72. The consistency is remarkable. 93% of participants left feeling more able to contribute to communities that matter to them. That’s what evidence-based disability leadership development actually looks like. Find the full report here: https://lnkd.in/g_ZtjkUe

We are so excited to announce that Access Studio’s FUTURES Program is teaming up with the incredible disability advocate and creator Lil Gabi D for a virtual workshop you won’t want to miss! This interactive session is designed for disabled and neurodivergent young people (ages 18–30) who are interested in creating content that feels real, impactful, and rooted in authenticity. Together, we’ll explore how to show up online in ways that feel true to you, while building practical skills to bring your ideas to life. During the workshop, you’ll learn: ➡️ How to create engaging content using just your phone ➡️ Tips for making your content more accessible ➡️ How to avoid harmful narratives like inspiration porn and disability clichés ➡️ Ways to build confidence and authenticity in your online presence The Details: * 📅 Date: April 29, 2026 * ⏰ Time: 7:00–8:30 PM EST * 📍 Where: Zoom (Register via the link in our bio!) * 🤟 Accessibility: ASL interpretation will be provided. 🔗 Register for free: https://lnkd.in/gpMW8NXQ

We’re hiring! AccessNow is looking for a Social Media Specialist (Part-Time Contract) to support our FUTURES program and help grow our digital presence. This role is about building community and telling impactful stories through accessible, engaging content. From running recruitment campaigns to managing our social channels and collaborating with influencers, you’ll play a key role in how FUTURES shows up online. We’re especially excited to hear from candidates who: – Identify as disabled and/or neurodivergent – Have experience in social media marketing and advertising, content creation, and digital campaigns – Are passionate about accessibility, inclusion, and community-building About the role: 📍 Remote or hybrid (Toronto) 📅 Contract: April–December 2026 💼 $25–30/hour (10–15 hours/week, with potential to grow) 🇨🇦 Must be eligible to work in Canada (Citizen or PR) Apply now by sending your resume and portfolio to ratsamy@accessnow.ca #Accessibility #DisabilityLeadership #InclusiveHiring #CommunityBuilding #SocialMediaJobs #AccessNow

Want to be part of something amazing? We’re looking for passionate volunteers to help bring AccessFest 2026 to life on June 6 in David Pecaut Square. This is more than just volunteering—it’s about connection, community, and impact. You’ll meet like-minded people, build meaningful friendships, and help create an experience that’s truly accessible for all. Be part of something big. Apply now. 🔗 https://lnkd.in/gvpcsVH9 ➡️ Learn more about the festival here: http://accessfest.ca/ [Image Description: Promo graphic. Two volunteers wearing blue AccessFest shirts stand smiling in front of a building, next to a tall blue AccessFest flag. Bold yellow text over the image reads “Call for Volunteers.”]

🚀 FUTURES REGISTRATION IS OPEN FOR SPRING AND SUMMER 2026! 🚀 Looking for a community of like minded Disabled and Neurodivergent folks who want to make change in their communities? That’s what FUTURES is all about. Designed by Disabled leaders for Disabled, Neurodivergent, and equity-deserving youth, FUTURES invites folks to explore their identity, build communities, and move from intention to action. Learn more about FUTURES. ️⭐ PROGRAM DETAILS FUTURES Book Club April 2026 – March 2027 FUTURES Spring 2026 6 week program Online, Hybrid and In-Person (Toronto) Various Dates, May – June 2026 This is where it starts. Together. Spaces are limited, learn more & register for FUTURES by visiting our website: https://lnkd.in/evVdBHeZ Video credits: Talent: Jess Watkin Filming: Maxim Kopanygin Editing: Hot Shoe Productions - Ben Bergeron

Accessibility isn’t a feature—it’s the foundation. AccessFest 2026 is raising the bar for what festivals can and should be: inclusive, community-driven, and designed for everyone from the start. In our latest blog, we share how# AccessFest is setting a new standard—and why it matters far beyond one day in Toronto. 👉 Read more on our latest blog: https://lnkd.in/gfViSu8H #Accessibility #AccessibleEvents #DisabilityInclusion

Looking to get involved in something meaningful this summer? AccessFest 2026 is officially recruiting volunteers! Be part of the team building the world’s most accessible festival on June 6, 2026 in Toronto. Why volunteer? ✨ Gain hands-on event experience ✨ Connect with an amazing community ✨ Help lead the way in festival accessibility 🔗 APPLY NOW: https://lnkd.in/gvpcsVH9 ➡️ Learn more about the festival here: http://accessfest.ca/ [Image Descriptions: AccessFest Promotional Graphics. (1) Bold yellow text "VOLUNTEER AT ACCESSFEST 2026" on a blue and purple gradient background. White subtext reads "Be part of the world’s most accessible festival." AccessFest logo in the corner.]

We’re excited to share that Disability Visibility: First-Person Stories from the Twenty-First Century is part of the FUTURES Book Club reading list. Edited by Alice Wong, Disability Visibility brings together powerful first-person stories from a diverse group of Disabled writers. The collection explores what it means to live with a disabled identity and to be seen, heard, and understood in today’s world—revealing the depth, diversity, and complexity of disabled experiences. In FUTURES Book Club, this book helps spark meaningful conversations around disability identity, lived experiences, and what visibility means for individuals and communities. Disability Visibility is just one of the many resources featured in FUTURES Book Club, alongside podcasts, articles, and other forms of media that support thoughtful discussion and learning. 📚 Register today to join the FUTURES Book Club and be part of the conversation: https://lnkd.in/dJYpiaDu 

Today, we celebrate women of all abilities, backgrounds, and experiences—whose leadership, creativity, and strength inspire us every day. 💛 We can’t wait to gather this incredible community again at AccessFest 2026. Happy #InternationalWomensDay! #IWD2026 #IWD #AccessFest