Lehigh University Seeks People with Vision Loss for Wayfinding Study

Lehigh University is seeking people with vision loss to test a new wayfinding app designed for indoor spaces.

The study is part of the MABLE initiative, a joint project by Lehigh University and Good Shepherd Rehabilitation. MABLE stands for Mapping for Accessible Built Environments, and the MABLE app is being developed to optimize wayfinding assistance by integrating accessibility information into its digital maps and providing turn-by-turn instructions in real time. Participants receive $50 for approximately two hours of involvement, and free transportation services are available.

Interested Sights for Hope clients should contact their caseworkers. Others who are blind or have permanent visual impairments and would like to participate should call 610.433.6018, Ext. 223. Transportation can also be obtained from the MABLE project team by calling 316.461.5858.

The MABLE project’s ultimate goal is to make large indoor environments accessible for people with disabilities – thereby enabling them to participate more easily in large events, conferences, and educational programs.

The MABLE project is led by Vinod Namboordiri, Ph.D., Director of the Center for Community-Driven Assistive Technologies (CDAT) at Lehigh University’s College of Health, and a member of the Sights for Hope Board of Directors. His focus on advancing solutions for people challenged by vision loss is informed by his own experience living with Retinitis Pigmentosa.

Image: A man with a white cane using a smartphone for navigation software in a tech lab while two researchers observe.

Story updated on April 19, 2026.