The Problem Navigating unfamiliar indoor spaces is challenging for individuals with disabilities. Key challenges: Blind/low-vision: difficulty with inaccessible signage and forming mental maps. Mobility impairments: inability to assess accessible routes. Cognitive impairments: trouble interpreting spatial information. Impact of barriers includes increased stress, reduced autonomy and limited access to education, work and social opportunities. The Approach To address these challenges, Dr. Namboodiri is developing MABLE, a digital navigation tool for people with disabilities: Uses AI, robotics and building modeling to create personalized, accessible indoor maps. Supports users with visual, mobility and cognitive impairments. Enables real-time user-contributed updates. Co-developed with the disability community and partners (Intel, Dell, Smithsonian Museums and American Foundation for the Blind). Enhancing Indoor Navigation for People with Disabilities & Older Adults “My goal is to build assistive technologies in a community-driven fashion that can help improve the quality of life for everyone, including persons with disabilities and older adults” Vinod Namboodiri, PhD Short Term Impact Scalable, accessibility-enriched indoor maps. New research on how to collect, process and evaluate accessibility data. Longer Term Impact Improved mobility, greater participation and independence for people with disabilities. Data that informs better urban planning and inclusive building design. Societal Impact Invest in the inclusion of everyone in society by supporting research into AI-powered digital navigation tools, which aim to decrease stress and increase autonomy for people with disabilities and older adults. This research has societal benefits in the following areas: For more information visit https://health.lehigh.edu/research-partners or email INRSRCH@lehigh.edu 26 Community/Culture: Making it easier for people with disabilities to explore new spaces. Economy: Support greater workforce participation for people with disabilities through better tools. Data Driven Innovation: Scalable, user-friendly technologies for people with disabilities. Policy: Promote accessible design standards that go beyond minimum compliance.
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