Gateway Navigation is a Vancouver–based accessibility consulting social enterprise grounded in lived experience. We help organizations close the gap between intention and implementation by combining universal design expertise, practical technology knowledge, and real-world testing with assistive technologies.
Why We Exist
Our founding insight is simple: people who experience barriers are central to solving them. When they have the right resources, collaborative partners, and co‑design support, real solutions emerge.
Our co-founder, David Brun, is blind and navigates the world daily using a white cane, a guide dog, NVDA, VoiceOver, Ray Ban Meta smart glasses, and AI assisted workflows. This is not a credential listed on a CV — it is the foundation of how we work.
We anchor every engagement in the lived reality of access: the moments when technology doesn’t work, when signage disappears, or when environments shift without warning.
Accessibility consulting that lacks lived experience produces reports.
Consulting grounded in lived experience produces change.
Our Mission
Accessibility is not a compliance exercise. It is core infrastructure for cities, transit systems, campuses, and digital services — infrastructure that determines whether people can participate fully in public life.
Our mission is to help organizations build accessible systems and services by combining lived experience, universal design expertise, and practical technology knowledge in every engagement.
How We Work
Lived Experience First
We test with assistive technologies because we use them. Our recommendations reflect what actually works, not what looks good on paper.
Vendor Neutral
We have no financial relationship with any technology vendor. Our advice is independent, standards aware, and chosen to fit your users.
Co Design Always
Nothing about us without us. We build feedback loops with people who use assistive technologies into every project from day one.
Outcomes, Not Reports
We deliver clear, decision-ready guidance. Our goal is implementation not documentation that sits on a shelf.
Why We Are a Social Enterprise
As a Buy Social Canada certified social enterprise, our work is independently verified to generate measurable community benefit alongside every commercial engagement.
When municipalities, public agencies, and universities work with us, they are not only getting accessibility consulting — they are supporting inclusive employment, accessible innovation, and community capacity building in Canada.
Our Social Impact Credentials
Our social impact is recognized through
- Membership in Buy Social Canada
- Nomination for the Untapped Accessibility Award
- Participation in national inclusive‑employment campaigns
- Supporting post-secondary student programs integrating accessibility, universal design, and lived experience
- Ongoing contributions to Canada’s accessible technology community
Rooted in North Vancouver, working across Canada
We are based in North Vancouver, BC and our work begins at home. The sidewalks, transit connections, and public spaces of the North Shore have shaped our understanding of what accessible infrastructure requires in practice, not just in policy.
We work with clients across British Columbia and Canada, and collaborate with research institutions and technology partners internationally.
Partner With Us
If you are working on an accessibility initiative or trying to understand where to start we would welcome a conversation. Most engagements begin with a short discovery call at no cost.