Tikkun Olam Makers

TOM:Alberta

Tikkun Olam Makers (TOM) is an international not-for-profit movement that utilizes modern design and digital manufacturing to address neglected needs.

Tikkun Olam is Hebrew for “repairing the world,” and that is our focus in TOM. Our goal is to design and create empowering solutions for challenges faced by individuals living with disabilities and limitations.

**One billion people, or 15 percent of the world’s population, experience some form of disability*.**

Technology development that addresses the needs of these people are often neglected due to market demographics. Some particular challenges may be faced by only a handful of people in the world – but that does not invalidate the need for these solutions.

*World Bank 2017

Engineers, designers, and people living with disabilities complete design and prototyping on an assistive technology challenge. Come celebrate the city’s spirit of innovation by joining one of our initiatives.

All TOM:Alberta initiatives bring together “makers” and “need-knowers” to address neglected challenges with affordable technology solutions.

NEED-KNOWERS

People living with disability or someone close (like a family member, caregiver, or friend) who has intimate knowledge of the everyday challenge(s) posed. This knowledge is critical in designing a functional and personalized solution. Need-knowers become part of the team; they are not a customer.

MAKERS

People who make things. Designers, engineers, industry professionals, artists, bio-hackers, and tinkerers. Makers like to DIY, work with textiles, make robots, do metal/woodworking, and much more. Makers don’t need any particular background or education, just curiosity and a hands-on mindset.

TOM:Alberta Initiatives

72-Hour Makeathons

This annual event is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience a blitz of innovation. Teams of makers and need-knowers are housed in a fully equipped manufacturing facility for a 72-hour marathon of making.

UCAN: Campus Ability Network

Brought to you by the Calgary Student Chapter of TOM, this program consists of 3-month long “work terms” where the teams meet for 3 hours a week to create a solution with their need-knower.

The annual community-driven innovation event for assistive technology.

15 Challenges. 75 Innovators. 72 Hours.

Projects

Make-a-thons

Makers

145

Dev Hours

259

Past Projects

Created at TOM, available world-wide

Calgary Projects

Global Project Repository

Contact TOM

Feel free to contact us and help build a better world!

JOIN WITH US

Help one, Help many

Solving real-life challenges with affordable technologies

Open Source Solutions

Global database collects solutions to all challenges to help others internationally

Full Inclusion

The Need-Knower is a part of the team, not a client

ORGANIZING TEAM

For specific inquiries please feel free to reach out to our organizing team directly.

Kathryn Simone

Creativity Captain

Kathryn is the current President of TOM:AB. Contact Kathryn for any inquiries not covered above!

Kathryn@kadimadynamics.com

Richard Lushai

Alliance Ambassador

Richard is the founder of TOM:AB and was the first to bring TOM events to Canadian soil. Contact Richard for inquiries regarding partnerships and collaborations!