New Society Institute

Name

New Society Institute

Legal name

New Society Institute

Website

https://newsocietyinstitute.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1970

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Non-Profit Disability Policy Research

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Human Rights Organizations (813311), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Disability Services & Assistive Solutions (Accessibility, Assistive Tech) (BPAGALAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGACAG), Academic Accommodations & Access Planning (ADA/504) (EDALAGAA)

Keywords

• Disability policy research
• Accessibility consulting
• Inclusion research
• Legal capacity advocacy
• Social development services

Headquarters

HQ city

Toronto

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Research and Social Development Services: NSI generates revenue through commissioned research projects, social development initiatives, and policy consulting work funded by government grants (Justice Canada, Employment and Social Development Canada, Canadian Heritage) and foundation support (Open Society Foundations).
2. Platform and Consultation Services: Revenue generated through The Accessibility Exchange platform by connecting federally regulated organizations with disability/Deaf consultants. Organizations pay for access to consultation services and expertise.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

New Society Institute is a non-profit research, social development, and design organization that develops tools, platforms, and consultation services focused on disability rights, accessibility, legal capacity, and inclusion. Its core offerings include The Accessibility Exchange platform connecting organizations with disability/Deaf consultants, the PRIAA policy assessment framework, Accessibility and Inclusion Self-Assessment Tools, and direct accessibility planning and consultation services for federally regulated organizations, governments, and community groups.

Product overview

The New Society Institute operates as a non-profit research, social development, and design organization offering a portfolio of platforms, tools, and resources rather than a single unified product. The primary platform is The Accessibility Exchange, an online marketplace connecting federally regulated organizations with people with disabilities and Deaf persons for accessibility consultations. Complementary tools include the Accessibility and Inclusion Self-Assessment Tools (developed with BDO), the Policy Regimes Inclusion and Accessibility Assessment (PRIAA) database application, and the Legal Capacity International Network platform. The organization also provides accessibility planning and consultation services and manages Local Safety and Inclusion Solidarity Networks across Canadian cities. The product portfolio includes extensive research publications, guides, instructional videos, and resource libraries focused on disability rights, legal capacity, accessibility, and inclusion. NSI's three main focus areas—Convening Communities, Reimagining Policy, and Redesigning Access—organize these offerings into a cohesive approach to advancing inclusion for systemically marginalized people.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• The Accessibility Exchange Online platform that connects organizations seeking accessibility, inclusion, and compliance expertise with qualified consultants who have disabilities or are Deaf. Designed for federally regulated organizations, governments, and community groups in Canada that need to source disability and Deaf consultants for projects such as accessibility reviews, policy development, training, and advisory work.
• Policy Regimes Inclusion and Accessibility Assessment (PRIAA) Proprietary framework and database for assessing inclusion and accessibility policies across jurisdictions and organizations. Used by governments, regulators, and organizations to benchmark and improve inclusion and accessibility policy regimes, particularly in the context of disability rights compliance.
• Accessibility and Inclusion Self-Assessment Tools Self-administered assessment tools that allow organizations to evaluate their accessibility and inclusion practices and identify improvement areas. Targeted at organizations seeking to assess and strengthen internal accessibility and inclusion performance.
• Accessibility Planning and Consultation Services Direct consultation and planning services delivered to organizations and governments on accessibility strategy, policy, and program design. Provided on a fee-for-service basis and tailored to client needs for accessibility planning, inclusion program design, and policy advice.
• Local Safety and Inclusion Solidarity Networks (LSISNs) Community-based solidarity networks operating in six Canadian cities that bring together local stakeholders to advance inclusion, accessibility, and safety for persons with disabilities and Deaf persons. Designed for community participants, advocates, and local organizations engaged in grassroots inclusion work.
• Legal Capacity International Network International network convened by NSI that brings together disability rights advocates, academics, and organizations to advance legal capacity rights for persons with intellectual, cognitive, and psychosocial disabilities. Designed for international disability rights stakeholders engaged in legal capacity policy and advocacy.

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Fight for Right UkrainecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 December 2025NSI partnered with Fight for Right Ukraine to research Ukraine's legal capacity regime and its impact on people with intellectual, psychosocial, cognitive, and other disabilities. Together they released a major study examining Ukrainian law and policy regulating legal capacity. NSI produced a video of international perspectives for a conference in Kyiv commemorating International Day of Persons with Disabilities.
• BDO CanadacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 August 2023NSI partnered with BDO Canada to co-design a first-of-its-kind Accessibility Engagement Audit Tool to help employers identify barriers and solutions to accessibility in the workplace. The partnership also includes development of a Disability-Inclusive Employment Practices Audit Process, supported through Employment and Social Development Canada's Workplace Opportunities: Reducing Barriers to Equity program.
• Saint John Human Development CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in convening Local Safety & Inclusion Solidarity Networks. Works with NSI on building solidarity and addressing barriers for marginalized populations in Saint John, New Brunswick.
• Across Boundaries: An Ethnoracial Mental Health CentrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Local Safety & Inclusion Solidarity Networks. Executive Director Aseefa Sarang serves on NSI's Board of Directors. Organization focuses on mental health services for racialized individuals.
• Inclusion WinnipegcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Local Safety & Inclusion Solidarity Networks dedicated to making life better for children and adults living with intellectual disabilities in Winnipeg.
• Warriors Against Violence Society (WAVS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVancouver-based partner for Local Safety & Inclusion Solidarity Networks working with Indigenous Peoples and families dealing with gender-based violence. Collaborating on Mamook Kloshe Community Safe Hub initiative.
• Nunavummi Disabilities Makinnasuaqtiit SocietycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Iqaluit for Local Safety & Inclusion Solidarity Networks addressing issues of Inuit people with disabilities. Co-hosted National AccessAbility Week 2024 panel discussion with NSI.
• Centre for Legal Resources RomaniacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with NSI to provide advice on introducing the right to equality in legal capacity and provisions for supported decision making into law, policy, and practice in Romania. Involved development of educational resources and training initiatives.
• Inclusion CanadacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Supported Decision Making Solutions Lab developing practical tools to assist community organizations in advancing supported decision making. Inclusion Canada - Newfoundland and Labrador specifically involved in roadmap for reform.
• Essex Autonomy Project, University of EssexminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner in research on legal capacity and supported decision-making, contributing to NSI's international network on the right to decide.
• Riverdale Immigrant Women's CentreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLed the Toronto - A Place to Call Our Own research initiative on affordable housing for marginalized women.
• Centre for Equality Rights in AccommodationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in research initiative on affordable housing for marginalized women in Toronto.
• The 120 Maryland GroupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHosted the conference in Winnipeg where NSI presented findings of legal capacity research at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights.
• Jaberi Dance TheatreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPerforming arts partner for Dialogues on the Edge cultural production showcasing experiences of marginalized communities.
• Black Deaf CanadaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in cultural event at Canadian Museum for Human Rights, established to foster representation of Black Deaf leaders in Canada.
• Inclusion WinnipegminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in cultural event at Canadian Museum for Human Rights, dedicated to making life better for people with intellectual disabilities.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• European Disability Forum: Largest European umbrella organization of persons with disabilities, representing over 100 million disabled people; comparable as a broader policy/advocacy incumbent working on accessibility regulation, CRPD implementation, and inclusion across jurisdictions.

Direct peers

• People First of Canada: National self-advocacy organization run by and for people with intellectual disabilities; comparable as a grassroots disability-led voice on rights, decision-making, and community inclusion — a peer on the community-led GTM dimension.
• Inclusion International: Global federation advocating for the human rights of people with intellectual disabilities and their families; directly comparable as the international counterpart to NSI's legal-capacity and CRPD Article 12 work.
• ARCH Disability Law Centre: Ontario-based specialty legal clinic providing rights advice and representation to people with disabilities; comparable as a Canadian non-profit working on legal capacity, accessibility rights, and intersectional disability justice.
• Disability Rights Fund: International grantmaking collaborative supporting disabled persons organizations to advance UN CRPD implementation; comparable as a funder/peer working on legal capacity, supported decision-making, and grassroots disability rights in the Global South and Eastern Europe.
• Inclusion Canada: Canadian national federation advocating for the rights of people with intellectual disabilities and their families; directly comparable as a national disability advocacy and policy organization that also partners with NSI on supported decision-making work.
• Council of Canadians with Disabilities (CCD): National human rights coalition of disability organizations working on disability policy, accessibility legislation, and rights advocacy in Canada; comparable as a policy/advocacy peer operating in the same Accessible Canada Act and UN CRPD implementation space.
• Canadian Association for Community Living (CACL): Founder and parent organization of NSI/IRIS; comparable as a Canadian non-profit federation advancing inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities, with overlapping leadership and a shared mission focus on legal capacity and community living.

Regional players

• Center for Disability Rights: U.S.-based disability rights and advocacy organization working on community integration, deinstitutionalization, and disability-led advocacy; comparable as a peer advancing disability rights and accessibility, though U.S.-focused rather than Canadian/international.

Emerging players

• Centre for Equality Rights in Accommodation (CERA): Canadian non-profit advancing housing rights for marginalized communities; comparable as a community-led peer partnering with NSI on affordable housing research for marginalized women and intersecting-marginalization populations.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses3 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/NSInstitute
• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/newsocietyinstitute
• Instagraminstagram.com/newsocietyinstitute

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about New Society Institute