This year, Neil Squire’s Makers Making Change program has hit another incredible milestone — 25,000 assistive devices delivered to persons with disabilities across the world.

Starting from our very first event in January 2017 with the Access Makeathon, Makers Making Change has leveraged volunteer makers to build affordable assistive devices for the people who need them.

Commercial devices can cost hundreds of dollars, which a lot of persons with disabilities can’t afford, especially when you factor in that many need multiple devices and face other financial burdens. Our model allows for devices to be built just for the cost of parts, and in many cases, even to be donated.

Some people use our devices to work. It may make an everyday task that much easier. For others, it allows them to follow their creative passions, or even just play games with their friends. For many kids with disabilities, the adapted toys they received through our Hacking for the Holidays (new window) campaign was the first time they were able to play independently. The common theme is that our devices allow people with disabilities to live their lives to the fullest.

In October of 2023, we hit the milestone of 10,000 devices, and just over two years later, we’re at 25,000 devices. This is in large part thanks to the success of initiatives like Clubs That Care (new window) and STEM With Purpose (new window), which engage youth leaders and encourage interest in STEM learning and careers, all while making these much-needed devices. In 2025 alone, we engaged 8,721 youth volunteers across Canada. Volunteers across the world amplify that impact globally.

In honour of 25,000 devices delivered, here are some fun facts:

• Largest build event: May 2023 – Skills Canada National Competition Try-A-Trade Booth (Winnipeg, Manitoba) – 643 participants
• Longest build event: November 22, 2024 – Holiday Hackathon 2024 (Burnaby, BC) – 9 hours
• First event: January 27-29, 2017 – Access Makeathon (Vancouver, BC)
• Largest country by population an MMC device was delivered to: India
• Smallest country by population an MMC device was delivered to: Saint Kitts and Nevis
• Highest elevation where devices were delivered to / event was hosted: Kathmandu, Nepal (Both)
• Number of continents devices have been delivered to: 6 (All but Antarctica)
• Most delivered device: Interact Switch (If you were to line up every Interact Switch ever delivered, it would span 102 Olympic Swimming Pools)

While 25,000 devices delivered is a great achievement, there is still lots of work to be done. In Canada, there are several ways you can get involved. If you’re between the ages of 15-30, you can help ensure more devices reach the people who need them by applying to become a Clubs That Care (new window) youth leader and host build events in your community. If you’re a teacher, we offer STEM With Purpose (new window) workshops, which engages students in STEM education all while making a real difference in the community. For more information on how you can get involved, in Canada and around the world, email us at info@makersmakingchange.com.

This post originally appeared on the Makers Making Change (new window) website.