Assistive technology · Inclusive design
First steps, more confidence
FOCUS
User research / Assistive design / Prototyping
A lightweight cane concept for blind and visually impaired toddlers, shaped by observation and prototype testing.
01 / THE CHALLENGE
A mobility aid that children want to hold.
A toddler’s limited motor skills, attention and spatial understanding create a different set of needs from those of an adult cane user. Weight, handle comfort and habit formation became central to the brief, alongside affordability.
The images above show children holding canes or support devices in unnatural positions.
02 / RESEARCH & PROCESS
Learn from the interaction.
Testing at Saksham NGO in Noida, India compared five cane types and modifications. Feedback favoured lightweight construction, comfortable handles, telescopic adjustment and ball-shaped tips. Difficult folding actions and uncomfortable grips created barriers to use.
03 / DESIGN DECISIONS
Familiar touch, room to grow.
The concept combines a fibreglass shaft with a handle inspired by the familiar feel of a teether. A ball-shaped tip supports exploration, while a proposed telescopic arrangement accommodates growth. The ₹500 figure was a design cost target, not a verified production cost.
04 / OUTCOME & REFLECTION
User feedback as the design driver.
Prototype interactions informed improvements to comfort, weight and the adjustment mechanism. The work highlighted that an effective assistive product also needs to feel approachable and become part of a child’s daily habits.