Kia ora! I’m Cyrus Dahl, a young disabled entrepreneur, advocate, and creative innovator based in Wellington, Aotearoa. From the age of 13, I launched a mission to make our community more inclusive—beginning with something as simple, yet powerful, as play.

My Mission & Impact

• Raised over NZ$43,000 to fund six inclusive bucket‑style swings across parks in Wellington—including Woodridge’s Tawhai Raunui Play Area, Island Bay’s Shorland Park, Pukehuia Park in Newlands, and Cummings Park in Ngaio kapiticoast.govt.nz+8Wellington City Council+81News+8.

• Initially aiming for NZ$25,000, I exceeded that within 30 minutes of appearing on TVNZ’s Breakfast, thanks to overwhelming community support—raising nearly NZ$30,000 in that time, and later surpassing NZ$43,000 1News.

• This fundraising enabled not only accessible play in my local park, but supported upgrades across multiple playgrounds in the region 1News+2Nikau Foundation+2.

Recognition & Awards

• Winner of the 2020 Wellingtonian of the Year — Youth Philanthropy Award, presented by the Nikau Foundation, celebrating my leadership and advocacy for meaningful change in my community Nikau Foundation.

• Honoured as Youth Philanthropist at the Wellingtonian of the Year Awards for my accessible play project and community impact Wellington City Council+2Nikau Foundation+2.

• Received a Wellys Award, recognised alongside well‑known Wellingtonians for advocacy and community contribution 1News.

Why I Do It

Living with cerebral palsy—an experience that affects my movement and ability to use typical playground equipment—I saw firsthand the gaps in inclusivity. I believe access to play is a basic human right. My mum, Kris, and I partnered with Wellington City Council to bring these essential changes to life. As one council official noted, we approached the project with a “real can‑do attitude” Wellington City Council+1.

Today: Dahl Designs & Ongoing Advocacy

At Dahl Designs, I create accessible, practical tools using tech and lived experience—everything from inclusive sporting gear to custom equipment for waka ama.

• I continue to be invited by councils to advise on inclusive playground design, review and test play equipment before installation,
  and advocate for city-wide accessibility improvements in parks, housing, and public amenities 1News.

• I'm fueled by a mission to build an Aotearoa where accessibility isn’t an afterthought—it’s the starting point.

What Others Have Said

“Cyrus has cerebral palsy… he wanted a specially designed supportive bucket swing… When the council said it couldn’t fund it, he started a Givealittle page… within 30 minutes of the Breakfast feature, they had nearly $30,000.”
Nikau Foundation+31News+3Wellington City Council+3

“Cyrus, 13, of Woodridge, has raised a whopping $43,000 for six inclusive swing seats… helping them achieve their goal has been rewarding.”
1News+4Wellington City Council+4Wellington City Council+4

Join the Movement

At Dahl Designs, every product is rooted in purpose—with an eye on inclusion, usability, and community. Whether it's designing adaptive sports gear or working toward fully accessible public spaces, I’m committed to turning design into difference.

Thanks for visiting—and for supporting accessibility in action.