I first encountered the lived experience of blind people in 2024 when RASIT introduced blind members on panels at the United Nations during the 9th International Day of Women and Girls in Science. I was profoundly moved and inspired by the RASIT Science in Braille Initiative and the dedication of its team. That moment changed how I looked at inclusion and shaped my commitment as a member of the RASIT World Youth League.
Discovering a New Purpose
Since that UN event, I have searched my community for ways to support people with disabilities, with a particular focus on blind and partially sighted people. Exposure to the talent, expertise, and determination of blind scientists and professionals made one fact impossible to ignore: talent exists everywhere, but opportunity and accessibility do not.
A Flight That Brought the Issue Home
In August, on a flight from Manchester to New York, I sat in the same row as a blind man travelling alone. He had lost his sight at 35 and had been independent until that sudden change.
On board, he could not access basic services without asking for help from a fellow passenger or a cabin crew member. He could not read the in-flight entertainment menu, could not independently operate the TV, and could not choose his meal without assistance. Observing his dependence in an environment designed for short-term comfort made the systemic gaps painfully clear.
Everyday Barriers That Persist
Despite global conversations about equality and the existence of World Braille Day, blind people still face exclusion in everyday life. Books, novels, and academic texts remain largely inaccessible in many communities. Simple items such as TV remotes, restaurant menus, grocery product labels, travel tickets, in-flight menus, and toiletry information are rarely designed with multisensory access in mind. These omissions create unnecessary dependence and deny blind people the dignity of autonomy.
The Cost of Inaccessibility
Loss of sight can happen to anyone at any age. When accessibility is treated as optional, people who lose vision become second-class citizens overnight.
Advanced technology exists that can transform inclusion, yet implementation remains too limited. This gap is not merely a technical failure it is a failure of will, policy, and design thinking that values convenience over universal access.
Commending RASIT and Calling for Change
I commend RASIT for the Science in Braille Initiative and for elevating blind professionals on international stages. Their leadership demonstrates how inclusion in science, education, and policy can be advanced through deliberate programmes. On World Braille Day, we must move beyond symbolic recognition to practical action: mainstream Braille and multisensory design across education, hospitality, transport, commerce, and public services embed accessibility in product design and procurement and ensure blind professionals are visible and influential in decision-making.
A Personal Appeal
Accessibility is a right, not a favour. The steps we take today determine whether someone will remain independent or become dependent tomorrow. I urge designers, educators, policymakers, businesses, and fellow advocates to prioritise Braille and multisensory accessibility so that every person, regardless of sight, can participate fully in science, work, and daily life.
