I was sixteen years old when I traveled for the first time for my education. It should have been a moment of excitement, growth, and independence. Instead, it became my first lesson in how deeply inaccessible—and fearful—society can be toward disability. Rather than offering solutions, people scared my parents. No…
Hey Siri, My Name is Aqsa: Why Voice AI Needs to Learn Our Accents
Who: For the South Asian community and users with disabilities who are tired of being “misunderstood” by tech. What: A research-driven look at why voice assistants fail users with regional dialects. Where: From homes in Pakistan to the global development labs in Silicon Valley. When: Updated…
The “Soft Assistant”: How I Use Assistive Tech to Help My Mother in our Desi Kitchen
In our households, the kitchen is where the most love is shared, but it’s also where the biggest frustrations happen as we get older. I’ve seen it firsthand with my own mother and grandmother. The Mystery of the Tiny Labels When “Tiny Fonts” Become a Barrier My mother’s eyesight has…
Blindness Is Just Another Identity — Breaking Myths and Embracing Strength
Blindness Does Not Define My Independence Many people assume that blind people cannot take care of themselves or make their own decisions. That assumption is far from reality. People often think blind individuals can’t shop, choose clothes, or manage household items. But I do all of this with my own…
How Society Perceives Blind People
The First Look: Silence, Fear, and Overwhelming Respect When people first look at me, many of them freeze. Some become silent, unsure of how to react. Others get overwhelmed and choose not to interact at all. And then there are those who suddenly fill the space with extra respect, calling…