Nominations for awards sought.

When you think of innovation, what is the first local company that comes to mind? The best innovators in accessibility and universal design create products that are superior because they improve functionality for users of all abilities. The Washington Access Fund, a Seattle-based nonprofit that provides microloans and other asset-building products to people with disabilities, is currently accepting nominations for its 2014 Awards Program, and they want to hear from you.

The Awards Program will recognize businesses, organizations, and individuals who have positively impacted people with disabilities in Washington State. They are looking to WTIA’s community and supporters especially to submit nominations for the Innovation Award, which will recognize a business that has developed one or more products that have improved the quality of life for individuals with a disability.

The Washington Access Fund is particularly interested in this form of innovation because their mission is to promote access to technology and economic opportunity for people with disabilities in Washington State. They do this by providing low interest microloans and matched savings accounts to purchase assistive technology. People with disabilities use the funding to purchase everything from hearing aids to wheelchair lifts to adaptive recreational equipment like handcycles. Assistive technology is defined as anything that improves the functional capabilities of a person with a disability.

Sometimes assistive technology is an off the shelf product like a Kindle for someone with a print disability or sometimes it’s something specifically made for someone with a particular disability like hand controls to drive a vehicle. As universal design becomes an increasingly accepted value, we see more and more off the shelf products that work just as well for people with disabilities as for people without disabilities. Washington State has long been home to a leading technology community, please help the Washington Access Fund give credit where credit is due by submitting a nomination today.

 

To submit your nomination visit: http://washingtonaccessfund.org/2014-awards-program/

 

About the Washington Access Fund

The Washington Access fund uses asset-building tools like Microcredit and Individual Development Accounts to promote access to technology and economic opportunity for individuals with disabilities in Washington State. They provide funding to people with disabilities to purchase assistive technology or start small businesses. Washington Access Fund is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI).  www.washingtonaccessfund.org