When people talk about innovation, they usually jump straight to technology, medicine, or finance. Faster systems. Smarter tools. More efficient ways to do things. But one of the most important and often overlooked forms of innovation is accessibility. Because what’s the point of progress if large parts of the population can’t actually move through the world it creates?
This is why I love the work that AccessNow is doing.
AccessNow focuses on mapping accessibility in public spaces and building awareness around inclusive design. And that matters more than most people realize. Disability is one of the only minority groups that anyone can “join” at any point in their life. Whether it’s through injury, illness, aging, mental health, or sudden changes to mobility. Accessibility isn’t niche. It’s universal. It’s future-proofing humanity.
Disabled people deserve to be able to traverse the world the same way able-bodied people do. That shouldn’t be radical. That shouldn’t require endless planning, phone calls, or anxiety before leaving the house. Yet for so many people, something as simple as grabbing coffee, meeting friends for dinner, or going to a new neighbourhood involves calling ahead to every restaurant, double-checking entrances, bathrooms, seating, lighting, or noise levels. It’s exhausting. And it shouldn’t be on individuals to constantly advocate for themselves just to exist in public.
This is where AccessNow’s innovation really shines. Their app allows people to share and find accessibility information about real places, in real cities, based on lived experience. Instead of guessing or calling ahead, users can check a map designed specifically to answer the question: “Can I actually get in here?” This is really important. It saves time, plus reduces stress. And most importantly, it gives people agency over their own lives.
To be clear, the goal isn’t isolation or separation. It’s independence that enables connection. When people can move through the world on their own terms, they can come together with friends, family, and community more freely. Accessibility isn’t about special treatment. It’s about removing unnecessary barriers so people can participate fully.
The deeper issue, though, is that accessibility is often treated as optional. In cities, suburbs, and public planning, it’s frequently an afterthought. It’s something added later, if at all. That’s where innovation becomes urgent, a necessity. Because when accessibility isn’t prioritized from the start, entire groups of people are quietly excluded from public life.
AccessNow tackles this by combining technology, education, and community action. Their platform is powered by everyday people contributing reviews and updates, turning accessibility into something collective rather than individual. They also work directly with businesses through programs like “AccessNow Verified,” which allows spaces to be properly assessed by experts with lived experience of disability. That removes guesswork for customers and builds trust for everyone involved. Businesses learn how to do better. Customers feel confident showing up. Everyone benefits.
What I also appreciate is that AccessNow isn’t just about mapping; it’s about changing the conversation. Accessibility doesn’t only help disabled people. It helps parents with strollers, elderly folks, people recovering from injury, and anyone who’s ever struggled with stairs, crowds, or sensory overload. Inclusive design makes spaces better for everyone.
At the heart of this movement is Maayan Ziv, AccessNow’s founder and CEO. Her work is rooted in lived experience and relentless advocacy, and it shows. She’s pushing the world to stop treating accessibility as a bonus feature and start treating it as a basic requirement.
Innovation doesn’t always look like something new being built. Sometimes it looks like the world finally making room for people who were always meant to be here.
