Domain 1: Economic Participation and Employment

33 Enterprises Owned or Operated by the Disability Community

HearVue is an Ontario-based social enterprise founded by lawyer and activist Lorin MacDonald that provides captioning at live and virtual events.  HearVue’s clients include live theatre, universities, Superior Courts and social justice tribunals.

There are also a number of enterprises founded and led by Calgarians with disabilities, such as Darby Lee Young’s Level Playing Field, an accessibility consulting agency, or Sean Crump’s Included By Design, which helps clients see an ROI (Return On Inclusion) built on leading legislated accessibility standards. Both firms are among Canada’s top  universal design consultancies, experts also on international accessibility guidelines.

Community Futures across Western Canada operates an Entrepreneurs with Disabilities program, which helps people in rural areas with barriers or health conditions to start and grow businesses.[1]  Momentum in Calgary and Prospect Human Services in Edmonton provide similar support to those in urban areas.

Dayle Sheehan Interior Design

Calgary-based designer and entrepreneur Dayle’s Sheehan leveraged own experience as a wheelchair user to offer bespoke consulting to anyone who struggles with mobility in their home or office.  Dayle Sheehan Interior Design (DSID) is a full service Interior Design Firm that aims to create safe, barrier free and beautiful spaces for anyone with mobility challenges. Dayle has also partnered with the Synaptic Rehabilitation Centre to help people with new injuries and has also co-founded a charitable organization – Girls that Give.[2]


  1. Community Futures Entrepreneurs with Disabilities. Home [website]. https://cfaedp.com/
  2. Dayle Sheehan Interior Design. About [website]. https://www.daylesheehaninteriordesign.com/about

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