Empowering Those with Visual Impairments Through Technology
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I was born visually impaired in Chikmagalur, India. Access to resources for individuals with disabilities was limited, but my parents were determined to provide the best possible support for me.
When my brother was born two years later, and was also visually impaired, our family faced even greater challenges. Initially disheartened, my parents did not lose hope or courage.
Our doctor advised my parents to invest in our education instead of spending money on unscientific treatments. So they enrolled us in school, believing that with education and skills, we could live with dignity and independence.
India is home to the largest number of blind children in any one country. While India has challenges with infrastructure and education, my village had remarkable empathy towards us. They never doubted that visually impaired individuals could thrive if given the right resources.
I attended a school for visually challenged individuals, using Braille as our primary reading and writing system. Since Braille books were expensive and bulky, listening to tape-recorded cassettes and radio broadcasts was a major source of learning.
In the early 2000s, I learned that visually impaired individuals could operate computers using screen readers. I was certain that technology would be a game-changer.
But assistive technology was expensive and unaffordable for many. Most software applications were in English, requiring good English language skills. Understanding robotic and synthetic speech also was a challenge.
To improve my English skills in the 7th grade, I listened to international English radio broadcasts. Although I could not understand most of the content, I focused on pronunciation and remembered words. I would ask my friends to look up those words in the dictionary. This significantly increased my vocabulary, and by the 9th grade, I could grasp much of the English content. I even taught English to friends during my pre-university years.
At my graduation, my parents got me a PC with a screen reader and dial-up internet access. Due to the lack of computer trainers for visually impaired individuals, my brother and I read manuals and help pages to learn on our own.
Within a year, I became proficient in operating computers with assistive technologies. This newfound independence allowed me to complete a master's degree in English language and literature and pass a national-level test. I was eligible to become a university professor in India.
Although my domain was English language and literature, my curiosity towards technology grew.
Understanding how technology worked was necessary to troubleshoot and maintain my computers. After graduation, I took a government-arranged test to become a lecturer in a college.
I also had an opportunity to enroll in CCENT training with the NGO EnAble India. EnAble offered the training to visually impaired individuals in partnership with the Cisco Academy for the Vision Impaired (CAVI). It exposed me to the CCNA curriculum and basic knowledge of Windows Servers, shell scripting, Linux, and database systems.
In 2011, EnAble India and Cisco collaborated to hire visually impaired candidates within TAC. I was brought on as a Service Request Administrator (SRA) in March 2012. And by 2013, I completed my CCNA, becoming the first visually impaired person in India to do so. In 2015 I achieved the CCNP enterprise certification.
After passing the government lecturer test, I had to choose between a secure government job or continuing with Cisco to set a new path for the visually impaired community. My manager encouraged me to stay at Cisco, even speaking with my father for support. After much thought, I decided to stay with Cisco.
In 2014, I picked up my first TAC case and later became a permanent employee. I progressed to Escalation Engineer, Team Lead, and recently, Technical Leader.
My journey at Cisco opened pathways for other visually challenged candidates, leading to the hiring of 25 more visually challenged SRAs. They were trained and empowered to take on various roles across Cisco. While my main role today is as a Technical Leader, I am also committed to enabling visually challenged individuals to become TAC engineers.
AI promises greater independence and solutions for people with visual impairments, including advanced screen readers, object recognition apps, and real-time language translation. These innovations empower visually challenged individuals and allow us to unlock our unique skills and perspectives, fostering greater inclusion and independence.
The Cisco Disability Awareness Network (CDAN) offers a platform for sharing experiences and advocating for accessibility and inclusion. This inclusive community is a source of strength, helping everyone of all abilities to overcome challenges and achieve our goals.
Cisco's commitment to inclusivity and support for the visually impaired community has been instrumental in my journey.
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