International Day of Persons with Disabilities: UCLB’s inclusive innovation 

From AI and tactile interfaces to tailored learning, UCLB is supporting ventures that make accessibility a reality, says Ana Lemmo Charnalia, Senior Business Manager, Physical Sciences & Engineering, and Social Ventures.  

Today (3rd December) marks International Day of Persons with Disabilities, a global awareness day promoting the rights and wellbeing of people living with disabilities. Its goals align with UCLB’s mission to drive real-world change through technology, and we’re excited to share some of our recent developments.  

Navigating technology 

Our physical environments need a rethink to enable freedom of travel for all. AI Mapper is transforming accessible travel by empowering disabled people to independently navigate public transport.

Developed by Professor Youngjun Cho from the UCL Interaction Centre (UCLIC) in close collaboration with users, this innovative platform harnesses the power of generative AI and real-time data from public transport authorities to enable decision-making and revolutionising accessible journey planning. 

Social ventures making an impact 

UCLB supports a range of social ventures co-produced with disabled people and focused on real-world needs.

ReadClear is a clinically proven app that restores the joy of reading for people with brain-related visual impairment, including those affected by stroke or dementia.

The venture addresses challenges such as losing place in text, visual clutter, and difficulty tracking lines. Developed by world-leading scientist Dr Aida Suárez-González and colleagues at the UCL Queen Square, Institute of Neurology, clinical trials demonstrated that users made 70-80% fewer reading errors compared to standard e-readers. 

Tacilia, meanwhile, combines multiline braille and tactile graphic displays to empower blind and partially sighted students to fully participate in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Maths (STEAM) education. Led by Dr. Tigmanshu Bhatnagar from UCL Computer Science, Tacilia’s device allowing students to read, create, and learn on a single device. Read more about Tacilia here.  

Looking ahead 

The International Day of Persons with Disabilities is a reminder that accessibility is a priority, and UCLB ventures are breaking down barriers to create opportunities for all.