Fareed Gombilla

Visually Impaired, UI/UX Co-designer

About

Fareed Gombilla is a pioneering accessibility designer and disability rights advocate who lost his sight at age 12 due to glaucoma. Rather than viewing this as a limitation, Fareed transformed his experience into a superpower for creating truly inclusive digital experiences. With a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science from Ahmadu Bello University, Nigeria, and specialized training in accessible design from the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB), he brings both technical expertise and authentic lived experience to every project.

As Lead Accessibility Designer at Waide Mobility, Fareed has revolutionized how navigation apps serve visually impaired users. His innovative "Audio-First Design" methodology prioritizes voice interaction and spatial audio cues, creating interfaces that feel natural and intuitive for screen reader users. His work has reduced navigation errors by 85% and increased user confidence scores by 92% among visually impaired beta testers.

Fareed's design philosophy centers on "Nothing About Us, Without Us"—ensuring that people with disabilities are involved in every stage of product development. He has established Waide's Accessibility Advisory Board, comprising 15 disability advocates across Africa, and conducts monthly user testing sessions with visually impaired community members. His inclusive design standards have been adopted by three other Nigerian tech companies.

Beyond Waide Mobility, Fareed mentors young people with disabilities through the Nigerian Association of the Blind, teaching digital skills and advocating for inclusive education policies. He has spoken at TEDx Lagos, the Global Accessibility Awareness Day conference, and serves on the advisory committee for Microsoft's AI for Accessibility program. His ultimate goal is to create a world where disability is seen as diversity, not deficiency.

Design Philosophy & Impact