Meet the founder of MTI

Irene Abiko, the founder of this organization, is presently residing in Ottawa and holds the title of a certified orientation and mobility specialist. She originally immigrated to Ottawa from a small town in Northwestern Uganda, where she successfully completed her undergraduate studies in Mobility and Rehabilitation and obtained an undergraduate degree in Community-Based Rehabilitation from Kyambogo University, Uganda. From 2008 to 2016, Irene served as a teaching assistant at Kyambogo University. Throughout her time there, she undertook specialized courses that encompassed braille, orientation and mobility for the blind, and sports for individuals with disabilities. In 2016, she relocated to the United States and completed her master's program in orientation and mobility at Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo. While pursuing her studies, she had the opportunity to intern at Edward Hines Veterans Hospital, Illinois, and Leader Dogs for the Blind, Rochester, Michigan. Irene holds certification from the Academy for the Certification of Vision Rehabilitation and Education Professionals and has been working as a certified orientation and mobility specialist with Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind in Washington DC. In 2020, she moved to Canada and worked with Vision Loss Rehabilitation Canada until July 2023. Irene also briefly taught a foundation course to students undertaking the Masters in Orientation and Mobility program at the University of Montreal during the winter of 2022. During the course of her education and employment, Irene has gained exposure to various training and navigation methodologies in diverse settings, both rural and urban. She has derived valuable insights from her experiences and has developed the ability to utilize the skills she acquired while appreciating the significant differences within her field. She recognizes the utmost importance of ensuring that the built environment is exceptionally accessible to individuals with vision loss.