The Access to Success Challenge
February 4 to 5, 2019
$3,000
Prize Money
2 to 4
Students per Team
7 minutes
Presentations
The Challenge
Pitch a business case for a product or service based on inclusive design – something that addresses an accessibility limitation but is also of universal benefit.
Examples
Self-driving cars allow quadriplegic and vision-impaired people to commute independently.
Voice activated assistants make seemingly basic tasks like setting an alarm infinitely easier for someone with cerebral palsy.
Many of today’s technological innovations, such as self-driving cars and voice-activated personal assistants are perceived as features aimed at making our lives easier. For people with disabilities, these innovations carry the potential of transforming life as they know it.
Imagine the kind of innovations we could come up with if we flip the script – design products that solve accessibility limitations, while ensuring universal usability. For instance, the humble electric toothbrush was originally created for people with mobility impairments. Audio books were developed for people with visual or reading impairments. We invite you to challenge yourself and design potentially ubiquitous products or services which solve accessibility barriers. What will you create?
Thinking About Users
Eleanor, Retired
Faith, Consultant
Margaret, Mailroom Manager
Arthur, Associate, Finance
Someone you know
Rhumatoid Arthritis
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Autism
Spinal Cord Injury
“My arthritis is progressive and has increased since my diagnosis several decades ago. I started off using hiking poles to help with my loss of balance, and I eventually graduated to a walker.”
“I think what’s hardest for me is that OCD is the doubting disease: when other people are questioning out doubting what you have to say, you can start to think, ‘Well, maybe I’m not that different and the reason I have so much trouble is because I suck.'”
“If you speak with me for 30 seconds, you think right away: “She’s awkward”. But if you give me the time of the day, you realize I’m interesting and have lots to say.”
“Think about what your life would be like if you had to walk in ski boots everywhere. Imagine if you were permanently wearing ski boots. That’s what my mobility is like.”
Want to conduct your own interviews? We encourage you to tap your network!
Thinking About Users
Eleanor, Retired
Rhumatoid Arthritis
“My arthritis is progressive and has increased since my diagnosis several decades ago. I started off using hiking poles to help with my loss of balance, and I eventually graduated to a walker.”
Faith, Consultant
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
“I think what’s hardest for me is that OCD is the doubting disease: when other people are questioning out doubting what you have to say, you can start to think, ‘Well, maybe I’m not that different and the reason I have so much trouble is because I suck.'”
Margaret, Mailroom Manager
Autisim
“If you speak with me for 30 seconds, you think right away: “She’s awkward”. But if you give me the time of the day, you realize I’m interesting and have lots to say.”
Arthur, Associate, Finance
Spinal Cord Injury
“Think about what your life would be like if you had to walk in ski boots everywhere. Imagine if you were permanently wearing ski boots. That’s what my mobility is like.”
Someone you know
Want to conduct your own interviews? We encourage you to tap your network!
The Dates
20th January
Registration Deadline
2nd February
Submission Deadline
4th February
Team Presentations
5th February
Top 3 Presentations
2018 Winners
1st Place – Path2Reserve
A multi-purpose social media platform with the mission of giving users full agency and autonomy over their social experiences including accessibility accommodations, wherever they might find themselves.
2nd Place – SUMMARIZE’IT
Online service for smart summarizing of long texts based on natural language processing.
3rd Place – VIZZY
Image-based interactive engagement tool to enhance communication among all stakeholders.
Issues addressed: Any accessibility requirement
Issues addressed: ADHD
Issues addressed: Learning disabilities
1st Place – Path2Reserve
A multi-purpose social media platform with the mission of giving users full agency and autonomy over their social experiences including accessibility accommodations, wherever they might find themselves.
Issues addressed: Any accessibility requirement
2nd Place – SUMMARIZE’IT
Online service for smart summarizing of long texts based on natural language processing.
Issues addressed: ADHD
3rd Place – VIZZY
Image-based interactive engagement tool to enhance communication among all stakeholders.
Issues addressed: Learning disabilities
The Details
- Each team should have at least 2 members consisting of current or graduating MBA students from the same school
- Only one registration per team is required in the Case Competition category
- Case competition registration closes on January 20th, 2019
- Each team will submit a presentation outlining their proposed product or service, the accessibility barrier that it addresses, how it is universally usable, and the business case
- The submission deadline is February 2nd, 2019
- Each team will present their proposal in a 7-minute pitch to a panel of judges on February 4th, 2019, at the Rotman School of Management
- The top 3 teams selected by the judges will present to the entire audience at the Business Built on Inculsive Design Conference on February 5th, 2019
- Participating in the case competition gives your entire team full access to the conference
- For any questions, please reach out to us at [email protected]