About Us
CanAssist, formerly known as the University of Victoria Assistive Technology Team, is dedicated to developing technology, devices and services that improve the quality of life of those with special needs. Our goal is to harness and marshal the extraordinary resources on campus and in the wider community to achieve this end.
We are passionate in our belief that those with special needs be given every opportunity to participate in, and contribute to society.
We are a highly interdisciplinary team and are unique in North America with respect to the diversity of our projects, the huge student participation in our activities (over 1000 since our inception) and our extensive community outreach and engagement.
In engaging students, we provide them with unique and enriching experiential learning opportunities. We believe that it is critically important that students, as the potential future leaders of our society, be given every opportunity to interact with and support those in the disabled community and learn about disability issues.
All of our projects are taken on in response to requests from the community. We are a not-for-profit organization and, wherever possible, we do not charge for our devices or services. Our devices and technology are in use across the province, the country and around the world.
View an information sheet on our vision (PDF format)
A significant portion of our activities is directed at undertaking projects but we also have a research program that addresses longer-term issues and challenges. This program is directed at three general areas: Communication, Mobility and Movement and Human Commuter Interactions. For more information about these areas please follow the links to the information sheets (PDF format).