International Day of Persons with Disabilities
The International Day of Persons with Disabilities is a moment to pause and look at the world we’re building, especially for communities that experience barriers every day. This year’s theme, ‘Fostering disability-inclusive societies for advancing social progress’, closely reflects what we hear from the blind and low-vision community.
Digital tools sit at the centre of how we navigate, communicate, and work. But accessibility still isn’t guaranteed. Many digital experiences, from public transport apps to everyday websites, remain designed with visual users in mind.
A seated man wearing sunglasses reads from an open Braille book while another person stands beside him, guiding their hands together across the page. They are in a bright room with framed artwork on the wall behind them.
At Hope Tech, this gap is something we encounter often. Through our work with blind and low-vision users, we’ve learned that true accessibility is not just about adding features. It’s about creating options that respect independence, promote confidence, and support people as they move through their environment.
The launch of Sixth Sense was a milestone in that journey. It represents years of listening, testing, and collaborating with individuals who understand these challenges first-hand. Their insights continue to guide how we improve, refine, and expand what the technology can do.
But accessibility goes beyond any single product.
It asks us — as designers, engineers, policymakers, and communities to build systems that work for everyone. It asks for clarity, consistency, and a commitment to environments that don’t exclude.
This day is a reminder that accessibility is not a finish line. It’s an ongoing effort shaped by real experiences, real feedback, and real needs. And we’re proud to keep learning from the community that inspires our work every day.
