₦airaland Forum

Every time you watch a movie, you might notice the expression on someone’s face, the colour of their clothes or a small gesture that helps you understand what’s happening in the scene.

It’s easy to take those details for granted. But blind people want to enjoy movies too. They may follow the dialogue and sounds, and when they’re watching with friends or family, ask questions to fill in some of the gaps.

At CANEX WKND, Accesstech Innovation is asking people to think about this: How do blind people watch movies? Some people told us they thought blind viewers relied on sound. One person said intuition. But what happens when you’re watching alone and the story is unfolding through things you can’t hear?

Audio description can help. It describes important details like the setting, expressions, gestures and actions in the pauses between dialogue, helping paint a picture of each scene.

Yes, making audio description available takes time and money. But leaving it out has a cost too. It leaves blind people out of the experience, and films miss the chance to reach viewers who could enjoy, share and recommend them. Audio description can also create paid work for the people who write and record it.

Blind people feel the exclusion first. But over time, the whole film industry misses out on audiences and opportunities.

How can Nigerian filmmakers make their movies more inclusive for blind people?

This is another reason that in a whole faculty you might see only 2-3 blind people.. The barriers are alot

JAMB reported that 1,009,044 candidates gained admission to tertiary institutions in Nigeria in the 2025 admission cycle.

In a separate report, JAMB’s Equal Opportunity Group said 429 applicants with visual impairment applied for admission, and over half secured a place. That means more than 200 visually impaired applicants gained admission, though the exact number wasn’t given.

Getting admitted is a big step. But what happens when lectures begin?

Can students access their textbooks and course materials? Do learning platforms work with screen readers? Can they use assistive technology for assignments and exams? Are lecturers and universities prepared to support them?

In my work with AccessTech Innovation and Research Centre, I’ve seen how learning digital skills with assistive technology can help blind and low-vision people build confidence using technology. That preparation can support students in university, but accessible learning can also mean Braille or audio versions of course materials, screen reader friendly digital documents, and support using tools like magnifiers. Digital skills help, but universities also have a role in making sure students can access what they need to learn.

What do Nigerian universities need to do so blind and low-vision students can participate fully after gaining admission?

When someone loses their sight, one of the biggest questions they may have is: What will happen to my future?

Will I still be able to study? Can I build the career I want?

People who are blind from birth may face different questions and experiences, but the need for opportunity, access and support matters to everyone.

There is no single answer to what a career journey looks like for a blind person. Like sighted people, blind people have different interests, abilities and ambitions. With access to the right tools and opportunities, they can study, work and excel in the fields they choose.

We have a student at Accesstech who lost his sight as a teenager. At the time, one of his biggest fears was that he would not become a computer scientist.

Today, he is studying Computer Science at LASU and, as far as we know, he is the only blind student in his faculty. He has become so skilled with technology that his classmates see him as a genius. He also teaches other blind people how to use technology.

His story does not mean every journey is the same. It shows what can become possible when a person has the opportunity to keep learning and the tools to take part.

This Blindness Awareness Month, how many of us know how blind people study, work and navigate everyday life? What assumptions do we make about the careers they can pursue?

I once attended a conference and sat beside a man who was working on his laptop. He had an earpiece in, and he seemed focused on what he was doing. I didn’t think much of it.

When it was time to stand up for lunch, he brought out a WeWalk Smart Cane. That was when I realised he was blind.

All the while we had been sitting together, he had been using a screen reader through his earpiece and writing code on his computer. I was surprised, so I made sure to sit beside him at lunch and talk with him.

I learnt that he was a backend engineer at a bank. He had the skills for the job and used assistive technology to work. His blindness did not stop him from doing the work.

It made me think about how many capable people may be overlooked when organisations focus first on disability instead of skills, experience and what a person can contribute.

Employers can make a difference by making their recruitment and workplaces accessible, providing the tools people need to do their jobs, and judging candidates by their ability to meet the role’s requirements.

Blind people work in different fields and can excel in the careers they choose. The right technology and an accessible workplace can help make that possible.

For employers and career professionals here: what practical steps have you seen organisations take to make work more accessible? And for blind professionals, what has helped you succeed in your field?

October is blindness awareness month.. how many people understand how blind people actually live everyday?

Yes it is a possibility - we do teach these skills and the tools are also available.
The most used screen reading program for blind people in nigeria is NDVA. JAWS is great but people say NDVA is more accessible.

If you have no idea what these abbreviations are, they are accessibility tools for blind people. They read aloud the words and controls shown on a computer screen, helping people who are blind or have low vision use computers and websites.

JAWS stands for Job Access With Speech. It’s a screen reader for Windows.
NVDA stands for NonVisual Desktop Access. It’s a free, open-source screen reader for Windows.

This october is blindness awareness month, how many people know how blind people live everyday.

When a family member is blind or has low vision, the people around them often become part of their support system. They may help find information, learn how assistive technology works, encourage independence and speak up when access is difficult.

That support matters. But so does recognizing that blind and low vision people have their own skills, choices and goals. Supporting someone is not about doing everything for them it can mean listening, learning what help they want and making room for them to do things their way.

At Accesstech Innovation and Research Center, we work to make education, employment and everyday life more accessible for blind and low vision people. Our work includes digital skills training, assistive technology and accessibility support. We ensure that persons with low vision or who are blind can use technology independently

To family members who show up, encourage, learn and advocate: your care can make a real difference. And to blind and low vision people and their families: what kind of support has helped you feel encouraged and included?

Let’s share ideas that help families support independence, dignity and opportunity.