U.S. Patent Pending
I originally developed Candos for my fellow Gangplanker Bryan, who became blind many years ago after a motorcycle accident as a teen.
In June 2018, I reorganized the cans in his pantry while helping him make a grocery list, and I was introduced to a problem that so many visually impaired people face: identifying items in containers. Almost everything we use is contained in a jar, can, box, or bottle.
For those who are visually impaired, this barrier prevents quick and effortless identification of what’s inside. Completing tasks requires stopping to use an app, buying expensive audio labelers, or asking someone nearby for help. I don’t believe it should be expensive, time consuming or difficult to grab a drink or cook dinner independently. For so many people, the few current solutions available just do not work.
I designed and 3D printed a custom braille label solution of my own, and after seeing how easily they worked for Bryan, I decided to start candoable and make them available to everyone who needs them.
Since the start of candoable, I’ve been fortunate enough to be nominated for a surprise pop-up champagne party from the CO+HOOTS Foundation. Then I was the subject of a great little write up on the CO+HOOTS Foundation blog, and soon after won 3rd place (and $1500 for candoable) in Pitch Gangplank 2018 held at the Chandler Gangplank. In February 2019, I was featured on NPR’s “How I Built This” podcast. Listen to the full episode with JetBlue’s founder David Neeleman below or on your favorite podcast app –and if you want to hear just my portion skip to the last 5 minutes.
I’m excited to get the word out on Candos and hopefully inspire more people to create solutions to problems they encounter.
Cando braille labels are 3D printed at Gangplank Queen Creek, a collaborative workspace in the heart of downtown Queen Creek, Arizona. To learn more about our community, and the incredible people that made candoable possible, check out Gangplank Queen Creek here.