Accessible data visualisation for those with visual impairment
Sukriti Chadha feels mobile accessibility continues to be one of the least comprehended and conversed parts of the product development lifecycle
From a very young age, her parents, extended family and soon teachers observed that had a brilliant acumen, equally matched by her heartfelt passion for life, knowledge, and servant leadership. She excelled in academics through high school in her native Delhi, India, which further unleashed opportunities and a delightful path of higher learning for Sukriti. There were already many signs that she was destined for making an impact on a global scale.
As an engineer by training and a product manager by profession, given how much human lives are woven around technology, the 2015-Princeton graduate’s interest in the interplay of mobile web, native apps, hybrid apps and wearables is perhaps self-evident. However, life challenged her to dive deeper, and explore avenues for “some of the most creative problem-solvers who must constantly navigate a world that wasn’t built with them in mind — persons with disabilities”.
Until half-a-decade ago, Sukriti was living a life no different from that of many her age. In 2015, her father was diagnosed with Diabetic Retinopathy, causing him to lose complete vision in his right eye. But Sukriti took it head-on, and decided to view the world with a new lens — explore what the world looks like for people with visual impairment, and later for other forms of disabilities.
Her father’s impairment underscored how critical a role technology plays in human lives, and the even more pressing need to create an inclusive society.
“Historically, accessible technology has inspired some of the most ground-breaking solutions such as transistors that led to better everyday products for everyone. The importance of making mobile products accessible is even more important in India, given that most people access the web only on their phones,” Sukriti shares.
1 in 5 people in the world live with some form of disability. As we transition towards online interactions between people, communities and businesses, it is imperative to reckon the requirement of people who need assistive technology. “Even from a technical standpoint, accessibility challenges are some of the most illuminating and rewarding problems I have worked on” — the 28 year-old said.
