Centrally located in the Faculty, it serves as a clearinghouse for expertise on cognitive accessibility. Open connects researchers with persons living with cognitive disabilities, to co-create inclusive solutions by and for the latter.
Open serves as a bridge between persons living with cognitive disabilities and businesses, public sector organizations and researchers focused on cognitive accessibility. The new enterprise offers a range of services, including accessibility testing of technologies, websites and built environments, and training on cognitive accessibility. At the same time, Open helps researchers develop and implement genuinely inclusive research and assessment methodologies.
Thanks to its innovative approach, Open has gained the trust of many Canadian and international businesses. “We’re working with Open to develop a cognitively accessible medication management app. The business has provided us with invaluable expertise on cognitive disabilities and accessibility, while making sure we receive direct feedback from people living with these challenges,” says Dinis Cabral, CEO of JLG Health Solutions. Other partners, such as the Bank of Canada and Deloitte Canada, have also sought out Open’s expertise to overcome their cognitive accessibility challenges.
One key element in Open’s approach is directly including persons with cognitive disabilities in its research and development. Today, between 10 and 25 percent of adults in Canada live with a cognitive handicap, along with millions more around the world. Seeing them as a genuine resource helps create a more inclusive world for all. With this in mind, Open employs over 30 advisers, who bring their own lived experience to inform the creation of numerous innovative solutions.
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