Partnering with Tribal Voices to Lead Innovation

We are proud to share an update on one of our most important initiatives: expanding access to life-changing assistive technology for Native Americans with disabilities. Thanks to your support and the commitment of our partners, Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation, we are turning awareness into action across tribal lands in the United States. 

Our partnership with the Tribe, launched in Summer 2024, is deeply meaningful to our team and progress of our work. Their two-year, $300,000 grant is helping us speed up the development and distribution of culturally grounded assistive technology. Through CPARF’s Remarkable U.S. program, this support is backing Indigenous founders and innovators whose products address urgent needs in Native communities. 

Most importantly, this work is grounded in listening. Tribal perspectives and recommendations continue to guide our programs, ensuring that equity, representation, and cultural relevance remain at the center of everything we build together. 

A Snapshot of Our Progress: 

Deepening Understanding Through Dialogue 

Since this summer, we’ve hosted three roundtables with Indigenous people with disabilities, caretakers, healthcare professionals, and advocates. These conversations were essential in helping us understand both the unique geographical and systemic barriers, as well as the opportunities, related to accessing assistive technologies on tribal lands across the United States and Canada. We heard important perspectives from members of 10 tribes, including Navajo Diné, Acoma Pueblo, Sioux, and Lakota. 

Investing in Indigenous Innovation 

We are excited to share that we welcomed an Indigenous founder to the 2025 Remarkable US cohort who developed Ask Grandma, a mobile health app assisting Indigenous caregivers in monitoring their child’s development. By investing directly in Indigenous-led solutions, we are ensuring assistive technology is culturally sensitive, accessible, and addresses real community needs. 

Advocacy on the Global Stage 

In a monumental moment for this project, we amplified Native American voices during the Remarkable Tech Global Summit held in Sydney last month. We challenged attendees to reimagine the way they think about disability through a different — and historically excluded — perspective, pushing innovation to be more inclusive. 

Delivering Direct Access 

We are now working with partners across tribal lands to begin the vital process of distributing Remarkable US assistive technologies directly to children and adults with disabilities who currently experience significant barriers to access, including a teenager with cerebral palsy who is currently transported through her community in a wagon. Assistive technologies provide dignity and independence. Your support ensures that the people who need it the most have access to these life-empowering tools.  

The momentum built this year, from securing major funding to elevating Indigenous-led innovation, reflects the strength and commitment of our entire community. As we look ahead to 2026, we are committed to continuing this crucial work and building on the foundation of trust and collaboration we have established with our tribal partners. 

How You Can Help 

Make a gift that changes lives now and long into the future. Your donation supports the development and distribution of assistive technology for the most vulnerable among us. 

Your gift ensures that those who are most often overlooked receive the assistive tools and transformational research that improves their quality of life and wellbeing. Together, let’s bridge the gap between potential and opportunity. 

Will you join us as we build a future that includes everyone?