Innovation, exploration and questioning around making access requires interdisciplinary collaboration. In the process of setting up and designing Access in the Making Lab’s space, equipment and resources, we are pursuing collaborations with other spaces, projects and leaders on campus in order to broaden the scope of our work and share resources with others.  

Woodworking 

Access in the Making Lab supports the exchange, design and prototyping of access interventions of all kinds that are shaped by the creativity and knowledge of disabled people. Woodworking would be a fantastic medium for certain design projects: the creation of basic ramps, furniture, utensils, etc. However, the lab is not big enough to accommodate the woodworking tools necessary for such projects. And so, we are liaising with woodworking shops on campus that can offer space, power tools, materials and support. 

Concordia’s Precious Plastics (CP3) and Zero Waste 

CP3’s mission is to address the plastic crisis by repurposing Concordia University’s plastic waste.  Collaborations are under way with CP3 in order to better manage the waste generated by the lab’s 3D printers. CP3 is designing and creating mechanisms to recycle the plastic waste from 3D printers so that it can be re-used. They will support our lab in greatly reducing plastic waste ending up in landfills. 

Similarly, Zero Waste offers support and consultancy on reducing waste on campus. They will continue to support us on our waste management and support connections to other environmental initiatives on campus.  

Office of Community Engagement 

The Office of Community Engagement (OCE)'s mandate is to develop and support meaningful and mutually-beneficial relationships between the university and the diverse communities of Montreal. 

The OCE is supporting us in the process of building community engagement with Access in the Making Lab, both from within the Concordia community, as well as in Montreal more broadly.