Elizabeth Casillas Moreno

Blind Mexican educator who transformed disability education in Latin America

Elizabeth Casillas Moreno (1958-2019) created Latin America's first tactile geography textbook for blind students. Despite losing her sight at 12, she earned a PhD in Special Education and established EDUvisión - Mexico's first TV program with audio description.

Her "Sensory Cartography" methodology enabled visually impaired students to understand complex spatial concepts. The UNESCO-recognized system is now used in 23 countries.

In 2005, Moreno developed LibrAcceso - Mexico's national library for print disabilities. Her advocacy led to the 2011 General Law for Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities, benefiting 7.1 million Mexicans with visual impairments.