EMPOWERING ACCESSIBLE MOBILITY FOR THE VISUALLY IMPAIRED
BY Lojaina Abdelmawla
The project “Now I See: Empowering Accessible Mobility for the Visually Impaired” aims to address, as well as alleviate, the struggles that visually impaired people go through in their day-to-day commute and mobility.
As an extremely vulnerable segment of road users, visually impaired people are susceptible to fatal injuries and death incidents due to the lack of attention to their struggles. Therefore, by implementing road safety measures for them such as crosswalks and tactile paving, this will effectively help in their independent travels, as well as advocate for their rights and importance for inclusion.
The project also aims to target youth (both visually impaired and unimpaired) to advocate for the issue, and make way for them to participate meaningfully by conducting workshops and awareness campaigns in order to deconstruct the social biases against visually impaired people.
ABOUT THE PROJECT LEAD
Lojaina is a writer, teacher, and a road safety advocate who tries to keep the ones she loves safe.
”Having lost my closest human being to a road accident, I vowed to keep his memory alive and lead change in his memory to prevent others from facing the same fate. I work in the NADA Foundation for Safer Egyptian Roads, and try as much as I can to contribute meaningfully to create a lasting imprint for the agenda of road safety.”
project updates
Empathy-Building Workshops and Theatrical Performance
Two workshops, in partnership with Ain Shams University, engaged visually impaired and abled youth to foster empathy and co-create a stage play. The first workshop focused on understanding mobility challenges, while the second supported collaborative scriptwriting. The resulting live performance authentically depicted the struggles of visually impaired pedestrians, reaching a diverse audience including government officials.
A supervised blindfolded walking simulation allowed visually abled participants to experience Cairo’s streets from the perspective of visually impaired individuals. Participants navigated real-world barriers like uneven sidewalks and unsafe crossings, gaining firsthand insight into the need for inclusive urban planning. This activity sparked powerful discussions on accessible mobility solutions.
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