11 | durhamregion.com | This Week | Thursday, September 8, 2022 | AgawaCanyon 4Days - September 25, 27, October 3 Québec&Ottawa 6Days - September 25 Québec Resort Getaway 5Days -October 9 FALL SIGHTSEEING Branson,Missouri 9Days -October 17 NiagaraTheatre&Shopping 3Days -November 22, 29, December 7 MUSIC&THEATRE Christmas inNiagara Falls 4Days -December 24 Christmas inOttawa 4Days -December 23 FrankenmuthGetaway 3Days -November 1, 14, December 4 Nashville Christmas 6Days -December 14 Québec ChristmasMarkets 6Days -December 9 HOLIDAYGETAWAYS ToursinCanada.com DeLuxeHiking.com SunshineGetaways.com DeNureTours.com Registration 500009376 500009377 Formore information, contact your local travel professional or call1-866-967-9909. toursincanada.com/fallgetaways Looking fora fall getaway? Family Owned And Operated Since 1953Family Owned And Operated Since 1953 733 KINGSTON RD. E. AJAX MON-WED/SAT: 9AM-6pM, THURS/FRI: 9AM-7pM SUN AND HOlIDAyS: 10AM-5pM WHIlE QUANTITIES lAST @macmillanorchards1953 FULLY COOKED 907gm/60 pieces SAVE $6.00 ONLY$9.99 THE FINEST SIRLOIN MEAT BALLS! hands on the hand controls were they should be ... This product definitely centres around accessibility. It can benefit drivers with disabilities, such as myself. It can benefit a lot of people who don't think they can be independent and drive," said Shanjay Kailayanathan, who founded Axcessiom Technologies as an engineering student at Ontario Tech University. The assistive tech uses a driver-facing camera and facial gesture recognition software to allow drivers to control the turn signals, windshield wipers and more. Kailayanathan was paralyzed in a car accident and was dealing with long commutes on public transit to the Oshawa campus. To drive himself, Kailayanathan got a vehicle with hand controls -- one hand controls gas and brakes and the other steering. "Driving with hand controls is not great ... It makes it hard to control wipers and turn signals," he explained. He found the possible solutions were lacking. "Being an engineering student, I thought, there's got to be something I can make," said Kailayanathan. The company started heavy development two years ago and is now working to add voice recognition. The product is in the beta-testing stage and Kailayanathan hopes it will be ready to go to market next year. "For my own experience, being able to drive was a huge burden off everyone around me. I feel much more productive. In a sense, being able to drive again was like being able to use my legs again," said Kailayanathan. "Knowing how that felt for me, I want others to feel the same way. That's why I started Axcessiom. And why I think our product is great for this accessibility event." The innovation event includes a table top show and one-minute pitch and offers startups an evening of feedback, advice and potential investments from "angel investors." The event is co-hosted by the Abilities Centre and Grandview Kids. It offers an opportunity for the foundation members to hear from innovative startups with promising technologies for accessibility and inclusion. The event is supported by Invest Durham and has garnered the interest of International companies -- including AINI Co. Ltd., a startup technology company based in China that enables deaf people to talk to health-care providers and get basic health care knowledge from specialists without third-party help. "Even though we couldn't get the visa (in time), we would like to visit (Abilities) Centre and meet like-minded people and investors in the near future in Canada," AINI COO Vitalii Nikonorov said via email. The invitation-only event is Sept. 14 from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. and the centre is at 55 Gordon St. Visit www.accessio.ca for more information. STORY BEHIND THE STORY: Organizers of the upcoming innovation event reached out to share stories of the tech companies working with technologies and innovations that support accessibility, belonging and inclusion. BUSINESS Continued from page 3 'BEING ABLE TO DRIVE AGAIN WAS LIKE BEING ABLE TO USE MY LEGS AGAIN' SCAN THE CODE to read more Durham news online. Axcessiom Technology, founded by Ontario Tech University grad Shanjay Kailayanathan, has developed tech that lets paralyzed drivers use facial expressions to indicate or turn on the wipers, keeping their hands free to control acceleration and steering. Axcessiom Technology photo