A teenager from Vancouver has developed an innovative solution to improve medication accessibility for those with visual impairments. Brett Devoo, who has been blind since age 16 and relies on daily medication, has faced challenges in identifying different pill bottles. High-tech glasses designed to assist with this task have proven unreliable. Devoo has devised his own method, using various types of tape to distinguish between bottles. Elvin Nguyen, a 15-year-old with a friend facing similar medication challenges, noticed the difficulty in adhering to medication routines due to poor label visibility. With over 70% of Canadians with vision loss taking prescribed medications weekly, the need for accessible solutions is evident. Tommy Leung, a spokesperson for the Canadian National Institute for the Blind, emphasizes the importance of such technologies for independence. However, pharmacies often fall short in providing accessible options. Many pharmacies offer 'Script Talk,' a system that reads label information aloud, but awareness and accessibility remain issues. Only 2% of prescription-takers in Canada use 'Script Talk,' and many are unaware of its existence. Nguyen's Youth Innovation Showcase entry, 3D-printed Braille labels, offers a promising solution. Once a bottle is labeled in Braille, no additional devices are needed, making it accessible to anyone, regardless of phone or high-tech device access. Learning Braille promotes independence, as Devoo has always taken matters into his own hands when it comes to accessibility. With Nguyen's invention, Devoo can continue to do so, even when his high-tech glasses fail.
