Hand Over Hand is a nonprofit organization informed by and for people with disabilities, and their families. As a fully volunteer-run organization since 2005, we are dedicated to creating accessible and safe spaces in our local communities of York Region and Toronto. 

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Created initially as a high school club dedicated to disability awareness, Hand Over Hand grew to become a nonprofit organization due to the lack of peer-driven programs for teens with disabilities in the community. 

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The meaning of "hand over hand" is typically used to describe someone (typically a teacher or clinician) showing a skill, like handwriting for example, by putting their hand over the other person's hand, to grip a pencil. Our organization re-imagines this visual of 'hand over hand' as people putting their hands in, like a team, working together.

 

We value equity, anti-oppression, anti-black racism, disability justice, and disability joy. Our members and volunteers come from diverse backgrounds and we celebrate and welcome all of the intersectional identities that come to our organization.

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Hand Over Hand is proud to be the recipients of the David C. Onley Award for Leadership in Accessibility, the inaugural Accessibility Award from the City of Markham, and nominated by Cindy Blackstock and Rick Mercer for the Everyday Political Citizen Award.