ThrivAbility is a social venture
driving innovation, education and business
to make our homes, cities and lives
more accessible for all people
– regardless of age or ability.
Accessibility is not a niche
These growing populations are a demographic force and economic powerhouse.
2 billion in 2050
Largest global minority:
People with a physical disability
1.6 billion in 2050
Fastest growing demographic:
The aging population (65+)
ThrivAbility’s system for change
Innovation
Drive innovation
of adaptive products and AbilityTech
for Active Mobility and independence.
View the Hack for Access Event
Education
Inspire and raise awareness
around inclusive solutions
for accessibility and social progress.
Corporate Engagement
Co-create accessible companies
through inclusive product design,
engaged employees and impactful stories.
Education
Webinars, roundtables and panels.
This Accessible Life webinar series and our roundtables
raise awareness and accelerate change.
We facilitate open discussions driven by necessity.
Our network of changemakers includes influential thinkers,
policymakers, executives, startups and VCs – and always
including members of the disability community.
ThrivAbility in the news – Click a title below to learn more.
This Accessible Life Webinar Series
Led by influential thinkers, policymakers, executives, startups, VCs, members of the disability community and more.
Everything in your home, your city and your life is about to change. Are you ready?
Topics include accessible cities and travel, the booming AbilityTech revolution, transforming lives through adaptive sports, companies missing out on trillion dollar markets – and more. Limited space – register now.
Presenting sponsors
Exercise the great equalizer! Unless you need adaptive sport equipment
The Booming AbilityTech Market
Is Your City Ready for the Future? Probably Not
Roundtables
World Economic Forum Urban Transformation Summit
Detroit, MI
Participants: Toyota Mobility Foundation, University of Michigan, Detroit Disability Power, Access Living.
Move United Education Conference
Colorado Springs, CO
Participants: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Toyota Mobility Foundation, Veterans Health Administration, All In Sport Consulting, Tolsma/Stockwell Prosthetics.
Think Sport and The Spot SwissTech Innovation Event
Lausanne, Switzerland
Participants: Airbus, Salomon, adidas, Hopper Running Blades.
Corporate engagement
Become an accessible business.
ThrivAbility empowers organizations to innovate and lead to increase their customer base, product discovery and the bottom line. We believe embracing accessibility and inclusion isn’t just the right thing to do – it’s a smart business decision with significant returns on investment.
Companies lose billions by not being accessible.
90% of disabled customers’ purchase decisions are negatively affected by limitations of design and information.
70% of online consumers abandon a purchase due to poor accessibility.
But accessible business is good business.
93% say it’s important that brands prioritize digital accessibility.
81% of business decision-makers claim accessibility increases customer satisfaction and 79% say brand reputation improves.
Sources: Business Disability Forum, Baymard Institute, Acquia, Level Access
Boost the connection with your brand and drive the bottom line.
Realize the tangible benefits of accessible business.
Attract and retain top talent, expand your market reach and drive innovation with adaptive products. Enhance customer experience to boost satisfaction and loyalty, all while strengthening your brand reputation.
Our leadership
Susan Pinkwater
Founder
susan@thrivability.org
No one should be without community, exercise and easy mobility. No one should question their value in the world because they are different.
I have been involved with active mobility for 20 years through my son who was born with one leg. We discovered adaptive sport through “word of mouth”. Never before have I met people with the self-confidence, personal agency and loyalty of this community.
At the Challenged Athletes Foundation triathlon, I saw people of all ages, all abilities, drop their prostheses, wheelchairs and wayfinding equipment on the sand and dive into the ocean for an open water mile swim. Seeing the beach littered with their equipment changed my view of “ability”. I realized that so much more is possible.
ThrivAbility was launched to co-create a world where accessibility is inclusive, and every person, regardless of age or ability, can participate, connect and thrive.
Thank you for being interested and for your help!
Susan Pinkwater
Advisory council
Anna Hellman
Advisory &
Board member
Karen Tamley
Access Living
President & CEO
Francesca Riccio-Ackerman
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Research specialist
Glenn Merry
Move United
Executive director
Cheryl Kaiser
Babson College
The Institute for Social Innovation
Executive director
Blair Levin
The Brookings Institution
Non-resident Senior fellow
Sally Searby
Renaissance Learning
VP Global markets
Chiqui Cartagena
CUNY TV
Interim Executive director
Jason Thompson
CAPE Inclusion
VP Diversity Equity & Inclusion
Emily Glasser
Achilles International
President & CEO
William Chernicoff
Toyota Mobility Foundation
Global Research & Innovation
Sr Manager
Chris Maher
Samaritan Partners
Founder & General partner
Elliott Rouse
University of Michigan
Associate Professor of Robotics
Liza Haffenberg
Senior Advisor
liza@thrivability.org
Our partners
Address to the Disability Advisory Committee
Geoffrey Starks
Commissioner FCC
Nothing about us, without us is not a slogan. It should guide every deliberation and action being taken in order to create and sustain a more equitable and just world.
Disability could negatively impact self-esteem, limit participation in recreational and social activities, create the potential for isolation (and) increase the chances of physical and mental health issues…
There is considerable evidence that..adaptive sports have the power to transform lives both in changing how personas with disabilities looks at themselves, as well as in how society treats them. The tow barriers are..expensive sports equipment and lack of awareness that adaptive programs exist.
A new initiative called the Adaptive Sports Movement (now ThrivAbility) is holding Roundtables to address these issues, working with media companies to design strategies to raise awareness and tell more inclusive stories.
Geoffrey Starks
Commissioner FCC