Maayan Ziv
Founder, AccessNow
About Maayan Ziv
“There’s a tendency for people to gravitate towards things that we know and like, so we build teams that are identical pieces of ourselves. Which is kind of nice, but to make an impact I would suggest stepping outside of your comfort zone, look at the talent pool that’s around you and then go further to where it isn’t around you.”
From a young age, Maayan Ziv challenged norms and worked within her community to increase awareness of disability issues and improve accessibility. Living with Muscular Dystrophy, Maayan is a passionate and relentless advocate for creating a more accessible world. In 2016, Maayan received the City of Toronto Access Award and the David C. Onley Leadership in Accessibility Award in recognition of her innovative solutions and commitment to improving the lives of people of all abilities.
AccessNow’s app allows users to pinpoint areas in their city that are accessible to people with disabilities. Every pin added to their platform is one more instance of advocacy, one more experience that highlights the accessibility of a place. AccessNow was also a part of the DMZ’s Incubator program, from 2015-2017.