Member Article

Sunderland tech startup launches app to revolutionise disabled access

Tech start-up assist-Mi, which has bases in both Sunderland and London, has launched a Kickstarter campaign to fund an app designed to empower disabled people.

The app looks to revolutionise disabled access by offering real-time assistance in every building.

With over 1 billion disabled people in the world, and over 11 million disabled people in the UK alone, assist-Mi is designed to offer assistance to disabled users on the go.

Celebrity endorsement comes from prominent broadcaster Clare Balding, as well as Polar Award Winning deaf percussionist Dame Evelyn Glennie, who both feature in the assist-Mi Kickstarter campaign video.

Evelyn said: “Inclusiveness has been the spine of my journey and it’s fantastic to see this amazing app assist-Mi giving people with all sorts of challenges the same opportunities to enrich their lives. Things we take for granted like filling the car up, it’s extraordinary that they can now do that with great ease and dignity.”

Co-Founder Gary McFarlane, born with ArthroGryposis Multiplex Congenita, who has a background in IT and coding created assist-Mi back in 2010 with entrepreneur Neil Herron.

Gary explained: “I came up with the idea through my own experiences, struggling to get appropriate assistance when I travelled. I knew I also could make it happen.

“We are on Kickstarter now with an app that works to build the support behind the idea. This has the power to change so many peoples’ lives and we need to build the momentum and ultimately reach our goal to make that happen.

Clare Balding said “Share this far and wide with everyone you know. Pledge some money for the amazing rewards to ensure that the world becomes a more inclusive and accessible place.”

assist-Mi is a disability led organisation whose technical innovation connects into the wider, smarter city digital revolution and has grown from it’s one office in Sunderland to now also having offices in London, and they are eager to get this technology everywhere.

On explaining why assist-Mi came to Kickstarter Co-Founder Neil Herron said: “There has been a great deal of interest from public authorities, charities and the business community, but it requires a big push from the disabled and non-disabled community to say to them that this is the world that we all want, a fully accessible, inclusive world without barriers and technology can now enable this.”

“We want to solve everyday problems and give greater freedom to all that use assist-Mi, leaving more time for living.”