YXC Makerspace — a community makerspace located within the Ground Floor Coworking space in Cranbrook — is hosting a "Hacking for the Holidays" event on Saturday, Nov. 23, the first time an event of its kind has been held in the Kootenays.
Hacking for the Holidays is a campaign where battery operated toys are adapted to add an alternative switch input, making them more accessible for children with disabilities.
The campaign is spearheaded by Makers Making Change (MMC), a Neil Squire program, based out of Burnaby, B.C.
Neil Squire is a Canadian non-profit that connects people with disabilities with technology, knowledge and employment services.
They also provide assistive technology solutions, skills training and advocacy to help these individuals achieve greater independence and inclusion. Learn more at neilsquire.ca
MMC works to connect people with disabilities to volunteer makers who create cost-effective, do-it-yourself assistive technology. They host a library of designs for DIY assistive technology that are all available for free. Once details are confirmed for the Cranbrook event, registration will be available at this link, under the Upcoming Events tab: makersmakingchange.com
Each winter, MMC partners with different community organizations, such as the YXC Makerspace, to train volunteers how to adapt battery-powered toys to have alternative switch inputs, to then donate to children's hospitals, childhood development centre and families who have children with disabilities.
The Cranbrook event will be taught by Jake McIvor, Engineering Lead for Makers Making Change.
"We are fortunate that the Engineering Lead for a national non-profit is based locally in Kimberley," said YXC Makerspace coordinator Marie Bullock.
Bullock added this event is open to all residents from Kimberley and Cranbrook and the surrounding area. Come out and hack toys for the holidays, helping out families in need.
The plan is to adapt around 25 toys, and the hope is to have the toys distributed throughout the Kootenays.
The presenting sponsor for this local event is StellerVista, through their Stellar Impact grant.
