10133660Pilot Testing and Implementation of Sensei's Innovative Wayfinding Solution in UK SchoolsClosedGrant for R&DInnovate UKAt Sensei, our mission is to create inclusive and accessible environments for the visually impaired. I am Kavya Jain, a first time female founder originally from India, diversifying the accessibility market in the U.K. Over the past 16 months, we have developed an initial product range of five tactile surfaces for corridors, emergency exits, cafeterias, washrooms, and elevators. With the support of the Innovate UK Creative Catalyst Grant, we prepared tooling and manufactured these products. Since launching our website, 80% of our inbound interest is from teachers of visually impaired (VI) students, requesting a school-specific range including classroom, reception, and play areas.They asked and we aim to deliver! Traditional methods used in schools, such as wooden rails, tactile pavements, and DIY markings, are inconsistent, primarily designed for outdoor use, and not standardized. Our solution addresses these gaps by providing a more efficient and reliable system for enhancing accessibility in schools. Our tactile surfaces are designed to be affixed to walls and use distinct patterns to denote specific areas, allowing VI students to navigate using touch. This grant will enable us to develop and test school-specific tactile surfaces in real-world educational environments. We will collaborate with teachers and accessibility experts to ensure the designs meet the needs of VI students. Our testing phase will involve pilot programs in 10 UK schools, where we will gather feedback and refine our products based on user experiences. The goal is to move our technology from TRL 5 to TRL 7, ensuring it is validated in relevant environments and ready for broader implementation. By creating barrier-free spaces in schools, we aim to provide equal educational opportunities for VI children, fostering an inclusive environment that supports underrepresented groups often neglected by the government. In the next 5 years, we envision reaching 50,000 schools globally, creating inclusive environments where all children can learn, innovate, and thrive. The Women in Innovation Award will be pivotal in helping us achieve this vision, providing the support and recognition needed to scale our impact. This award is crucial for driving innovation in the disability sector, an area that has historically seen only 5% of patents in assistive technology over the past decade. By winning this award, we hope to inspire future generations of innovators from underserved backgrounds to become role models, promoting inclusivity and making a lasting impact on society.