Over Coffee® is on holiday hiatus.  Please enjoy this rebroadcast of one of our most popular episodes of 2019.

Congratulations to Zee Kesler!  When we talked with her, earlier this year, she was Project Manager of Makers Making Change.

As of September 2019, her LinkedIn profile now lists her as Chapter Coordinator.  And she obviously loves what she’s doing.  Here is our earlier interview with her, from Spring 2019.

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Now, what is Makers Making Change?   A very cool network created by nonprofit Neil Squire Society.  As of June, 2019, Neil Squire Society has been empowering Canadians with disabilities for 35 years.

And the Makers Making Change program works to  connect volunteer makers to people with disabilities.   Makers then use their skills to come up with assistive technology.

Makers Making Change has expanded beyond Canada, with chapters now in the U.S.  Recently, according to their website, the Phoenix and Bellingham, Washington chapters hosted “toy hack” events, for the holiday season.  They’re also always looking for interested makers who would like to start new chapters in their communities!

On this special edition of Over Coffee®, you will hear:

• How the maker community first captured Zee’s imagination;

• How she first became involved with the Neil Squire Society;

• A description of Makers Making Change (in case you missed our 2017 interview with Neil Squire Society Director of Development Chad Leaman:

• What are some of the top devices people request to have created by makers;

• Several ways anyone interested can get involved and help;

• How to get a presentation in your community!

• Methods of “hacking” toys, to adapt them for children with disabilities;

• A suggestion for makers who are into creating with textiles;

• What Zee learned about the maker community, during her work with Makers Making Change.