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AXS Lab is a nonprofit organization based in New York, NY, United States, dedicated to advancing accessibility and inclusion for people with disabilities through media, technology, and community engagement. The organization is known for projects such as AXS Map, an accessibility mapping platform and the AXS Film Fund, which support accessibility awareness and disabled filmmakers.[1]

History

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AXS Lab was founded by artist and documentary filmmaker Jason DaSilva early in his career. According to independent coverage, DaSilva established the nonprofit while he was still a graduate student, in connection with his work in documentary filmmaking.[2] The organization became associated with projects related to disability and accessibility through DaSilva’s film work, which has been featured by outlets including PBS and The New York Times.[3] [4] In 2009, DaSilva founded AXS Map, an accessibility mapping project developed under AXS Lab. The platform has been described as a user-generated database that allows contributors to document accessibility information about physical locations. [2]

Projects

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AXS Map

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AXS Map is a crowd-sourced accessibility platform created by documentary filmmaker Jason DaSilva that allows users to share and view accessibility information about physical locations, including businesses and public spaces.[5] [6]

Independent coverage has described AXS Map as a tool for collecting user-submitted accessibility ratings and reviews, including information related to wheelchair access. [5]

In 2025, AXS Lab (New York City) was selected for a Capacity-Building Microgrant through the AARP Community Challenge for a project to map the walkability and accessibility of three New York City neighborhoods, with results shared with city officials, community members, and local businesses.[7]

AXS Film Fund

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The AXS Film Fund is a grant program that provides financial awards to independent documentary filmmakers and nonfiction media creators who identify as living with disabilities, particularly those from historically underserved communities.[8] [9]

According to multiple independent listings, the fund awards up to five creators annually with one-time grants of up to $10,000 to support projects at any stage of production, including feature-length documentaries and nonfiction new media. [9]

In 2025, the fund announced a new round of grants supporting several nonfiction projects by creators living with disabilities from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds, with awards made in partnership with the Bertha Foundation.[10]

Filmography & Media Projects

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When I Walk (2013)

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When I Walk is a feature-length documentary directed by Jason DaSilva. The film documents DaSilva’s experiences following a diagnosis of primary progressive multiple sclerosis and was filmed over several years. The documentary premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and was later broadcast nationally in the United States on POV (PBS) [4] Critical reviews described the film as a personal account of living with multiple sclerosis and its effects on family life and caregiving[11].[12]

When We Walk (2018)

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When We Walk is a documentary film directed by Jason DaSilva. It was presented at the 2019 Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival as part of the festival’s World Showcase program.[13] The film has been screened at additional festivals, including the Human Rights Watch Film Festival in New York.[14] Independent reviews describe the film as a follow-up to DaSilva’s earlier documentary When I Walk, continuing his personal account of living with multiple sclerosis and portraying aspects of his family life while documenting challenges encountered as his condition progresses.[13] [15]

Predicting My MS (2022)

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Predicting My MS is a documentary film directed by Jason DaSilva that was produced for the PBS science series NOVA. The film premiered on NOVA on February 23, 2022, and was broadcast nationally on PBS.[16] According to independent reporting, the film combines personal narrative with scientific inquiry, as DaSilva reflects on his diagnosis of primary progressive multiple sclerosis and discusses scientific research into possible risk factors and the nature of the disease.[17]

The Long Wait (2013)

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The Long Wait is a short opinion documentary by Jason DaSilva released through The New York Times’ Op-Docs series. In the film, DaSilva documents the time and effort required to navigate New York City’s public transportation system in a wheelchair and highlights the practical challenges faced in using available transit options. YouTube+1[18] [19] Independent summaries describe the piece as a personal account that compares travel times and experiences for a wheelchair user and explores the practical difficulties of getting around the city.[18] [20]

How Health Care Makes Disability a Trap (2018)

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How Health Care Makes Disability a Trap is a short documentary essay released through The New York Times Op-Docs series. The film, created by Jason DaSilva, was released by The New York Times and addresses challenges associated with the United States healthcare and Medicaid systems. [3] According to independent coverage, the documentary illustrates how state-to-state disparities in Medicaid funding and policy can restrict the freedom of disabled individuals to relocate and maintain necessary health care supports, using DaSilva’s personal experiences as an example.[21]

Short Films

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Olivia’s Puzzle (2001)

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Olivia’s Puzzle is a short documentary film directed by Jason DaSilva. The film depicts the lives of two young girls — one living in Canada and one in India — revealing similarities and differences in their daily experiences.[22]

Twins of Mankala (2006)

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Twins of Mankala is a short documentary film directed by Jason DaSilva. The film follows the lives of children in Kenya and the United States, showing parallels and differences in their daily routines, and was featured in the PBS POV series.[23] [24]

A Song for Daniel (2005)

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A Song for Daniel is a short documentary film directed by Jason DaSilva. The film contrasts a day in the life of two nine-year-old boys — one living in Baghdad and the other in New York City — exploring their daily routines and cultural perspectives.[25] [26]

Lest We Forget (2003)

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Lest We Forget is a 2003 documentary film directed by Jason DaSilva. According to independent reporting, the film compares historical and contemporary responses to the September 11 attacks, including discussions of racial backlash and civil liberties, and examines narratives related to national memory and social consequences following the events of 9/11.[20] [27]

Recognition

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AXS Lab has received philanthropic support from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, which awarded the organization multiple grants for journalism and media work between 2022 and 2024.[28]

Projects associated with AXS Lab, including the AXS Map platform, have received industry recognition. For example, AXS Map was a finalist in Fast Company’s World-Changing Ideas Awards in 2021, was nominated for a Shorty Award for Best Social Good Campaign in 2021, and won a Gold Telly Award in 2025. It also received a Silver Anthem Award in 2025.[29] [30]

When I Walk won a News & Documentary Emmy for Outstanding Informational Programming - Long Form.[31]

Independent coverage of digital accessibility tools has referenced AXS Map as part of broader reporting on participatory mapping and accessibility technology.[32][33]

References

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  1. ^ "AXS Lab Inc - MacArthur Foundation". www.macfound.org.
  2. ^ a b "Jason DaSilva Documents His Journey, Even Through His Hardest Times". Jun 17, 2020.
  3. ^ a b DaSilva, Jason (Jul 24, 2018). "Video: Opinion | How Health Care Makes Disability a Trap" – via NYTimes.com.
  4. ^ a b "When I Walk".
  5. ^ a b "Behind an App That Maps Obstacles for the Disabled | TIME".
  6. ^ Stewart, Henry (Dec 10, 2013). "Jason DaSilva: Is Brooklyn Wheelchair Accessible?".
  7. ^ "2025 AARP Community Challenge: The Capacity-Building Microgrant Grantees". AARP.
  8. ^ "AXS Film Fund | International Documentary Association". www.documentary.org.
  9. ^ a b "Up to $10,000 one-time grants available for filmmakers of color with disabilities - SC Arts Hub". www.scartshub.com. Jan 3, 2026.
  10. ^ Carey, Matthew (Apr 2, 2025). "AXS Film Fund Announces Latest Round Of Grants To Diverse Nonfiction Creatives Living With Disabilities".
  11. ^ Harvey, Dennis (Jan 28, 2013). "When I Walk".
  12. ^ "When I Walk | Film Review | Spirituality & Practice". www.spiritualityandpractice.com.
  13. ^ a b Alioff, Maurie (May 2, 2019). "Review: 'When We Walk'".
  14. ^ "When We Walk | Human Rights Watch Film Festival". ff.hrw.org.
  15. ^ P, Terry (May 12, 2019). "Jason DaSilva's Multiple Sclerosis Documentary WHEN WE WALK to Premiere at Human Rights Watch Film Festival".
  16. ^ "NOVA | Predicting My MS" – via www.pbs.org.
  17. ^ "Jason DaSilva's New Film Tackles the Unpredictability of Multiple Sclerosis". New Mobility. Feb 22, 2022.
  18. ^ a b "THE ACCESSIBLE CITY". THE ACCESSIBLE CITY.
  19. ^ DaSilva, Jason (Jan 17, 2013). "Video: Opinion | The Long Wait" – via NYTimes.com.
  20. ^ a b "Person of the Year: Jason DaSilva". New Mobility. Jan 1, 2015.
  21. ^ "Jason DaSilva's 'The Disability Trap' Is Beautiful and Infuriating". New Mobility. Aug 20, 2018.
  22. ^ www.oberon.nl, Oberon Amsterdam. "Olivia's Puzzle (2001) | IDFA Archive". IDFA.
  23. ^ "POV | Twins of Mankala | Season 18 | Episode 15" – via www.pbs.org.
  24. ^ "Twins of Mankala | American Documentary". www.amdoc.org.
  25. ^ "A Song for Daniel".
  26. ^ "A Song for Daniel | 2005 Tribeca Festival". Tribeca.
  27. ^ www.oberon.nl, Oberon Amsterdam. "Lest We Forget (2003) | IDFA Archive". IDFA.
  28. ^ "AXS Lab Inc - MacArthur Foundation". www.macfound.org.
  29. ^ "AXS Maps — Making the world more accessible for people with disabilities - The Shorty Awards". shortyawards.com.
  30. ^ "AXS Lab Wins Gold Telly Award, Will Present at United Nations on Global Accessibility Innovation".
  31. ^ "PBS Wins 17 News & Documentary Emmy® Awards". About PBS - Main.
  32. ^ Hamraie, Aimi (Nov 6, 2018). "A Smart City Is an Accessible City".
  33. ^ Li, Chu; Pang, Rock Yuren; Labbé, Delphine; Eisenberg, Yochai; Hosseini, Maryam; Froehlich, Jon E. (Apr 25, 2025). "Accessibility for Whom? Perceptions of Mobility Barriers Across Disability Groups and Implications for Designing Personalized Maps". Association for Computing Machinery. pp. 1–19. doi:10.1145/3706598.3713421 – via ACM Digital Library.