By Shraddha Dhanu

Life does not always go as planned. Sometimes, the biggest challenges lead us to opportunities we never imagined. This is the story of my journey from being a commerce student with dreams of becoming a Company Secretary to becoming an Accessibility Tester. It has been a journey of challenges, learning, self-discovery, and determination.

A Dream That Took an Unexpected Turn

After completing my B.Com, I enrolled in the Company Secretary (CS) course because I wanted to build my career in the corporate and finance field. I was excited about my future, but life had different plans.

During my CS journey, my vision gradually started decreasing.

At first, I found it difficult to read what was written on the blackboard during classes. Reading books became much slower compared to my classmates. Being a commerce student, Accounts was one of my favorite subjects, but it also became one of the most difficult because reading numbers, counting values, and writing calculations took much longer than before.

Another major challenge was night blindness. I found it difficult to see whenever the lighting was dim or there was darkness around me. Since many of my classes were in the evening, travelling alone became challenging because I could not navigate confidently in low-light conditions.

The hardest part was not my vision—it was accepting it.

I never spoke to anyone about what I was experiencing. I constantly worried about how people would think about me if I shared my difficulties. I was ashamed and kept convincing myself that since I could still see something, I should not call myself blind. Instead of accepting reality, I tried to hide it from everyone, including myself.

Eventually, I realized that continuing my CS journey was becoming impossible, and with a heavy heart, I decided to quit.

Continuing My Education

After leaving CS, I started thinking about what I could study from home. I decided to pursue M.Com.

The journey was not easy.

During the first year of M.Com, writing examinations became another challenge. I needed much brighter light than others to clearly see my answer sheet, so I used to carry a table lamp to the examination hall. Many students laughed at me, and even some examiners questioned me by saying, “There is already enough light in the room. Why do you need extra light?”

At that time, I was not confident enough to explain that I was experiencing vision loss due to condition called “Retinitis Pigmentosa” (RP). I simply stayed silent and continued writing my exams.

During the second year of M.Com, I used a writer (scribe) for the first time. With determination and support, I successfully completed my M.Com.

Even after completing my studies, I had absolutely no idea that assistive technology existed or that people with visual impairments could independently use computers and build successful careers.

The Turning Point

One day, my sister told me about NAB, Mumbai, an organization that supports people with visual impairments by providing training and helping them become independent and find employment.

Honestly, I was not ready to join. I was still struggling to accept my condition and had many doubts. But after a lot of encouragement from my family, I finally decided to go.

On the very first day, all the teachers introduced themselves. One teacher said that he would be teaching computers.

I was completely shocked.

My first thought was,

“How can a visually impaired person use a computer?”

That single moment became the turning point of my life.

For the first time, I realized that my life was not over—it was about to begin in a completely new direction.

After that, I joined XRCBC, where I learned basic computer skills, Microsoft Office, Advanced Excel, internet usage, email, and many other digital skills using screen readers.

Although many of my friends had already started their careers, I felt like I was beginning my journey from zero. I had been one of the toppers in school, yet I was now learning basic computer skills. It was emotionally challenging, but I reminded myself that every expert starts as a beginner.

From Tally to Accessibility

Being a commerce student, I always had a passion for Accounts. My dream was still to work in the accounting field, so I decided to learn Tally software.

During this learning process, I heard a word that completely changed my career—Accessibility.

People often said,

“Tally is not accessible.”

That sentence raised an important question in my mind.

“If screen readers already exist, then why isn’t Tally accessible?”

My teacher explained that having a screen reader alone is not enough. Websites, software, and applications must also be designed and developed in a way that supports assistive technologies.

That explanation completely changed my perspective.

For the first time, I understood that accessibility is not about disability—it is about design.

My curiosity kept growing. Out of curiosity, I decided to join the accessibility testing course at TCC and explore a field that was completely new to me.

Beginning My Accessibility Journey

When I attended my first accessibility class, I did not know a single thing about accessibility. Terms like HTML, WCAG, ARIA, semantic structure, screen reader compatibility, and keyboard accessibility were completely new to me.

Coming from a commerce background, learning technical concepts was challenging in the beginning. However, with regular practice, guidance from my trainers, and practical assignments, I slowly started understanding how websites work and how accessibility can completely change someone’s digital experience.

As the classes continued, my curiosity slowly turned into passion.

I realized that accessibility is much more than following guidelines. It is about making sure every person, regardless of their abilities, can use technology independently and with confidence.

SaralX Launchpad – My Gateway to the Corporate World

While I was learning accessibility, I got an opportunity to join the SaralX Launchpad program.

This became one of the biggest milestones in my career.

At SaralX, I received full-time practical training in accessibility testing. Daily hands-on assignments, collaborative projects, and continuous guidance helped me strengthen my understanding of WCAG 2.2, ARIA, keyboard accessibility, JAWS, NVDA, and TalkBack.

Working on real-world projects gave me confidence and prepared me for the corporate environment.

More importantly, SaralX gave me the opportunity to enter the corporate world and move towards financial independence.

It transformed my curiosity into a profession.

Where I Am Today

Today, I am proud to work as an Accessibility Tester, helping identify and remove digital barriers so that technology is accessible to everyone.

Every time I audit a website or application, one thought always stays in my mind:

“Whoever uses this product in the future—whether they have a disability or not—should be able to say, ‘Wow! This website is truly accessible.'”

That thought motivates me every single day.

For me, accessibility is not just about finding issues or achieving compliance. It is about creating digital experiences where every user feels welcome, valued, independent, respected, and included.

Every accessibility issue I identify is one step closer to removing a barrier for someone. Knowing that my work can make someone’s digital experience easier gives me a deep sense of purpose.

Looking Back

Looking back, I realize that losing my vision did not end my dreams—it simply gave me a new purpose.

The journey was never easy. There were moments of fear, embarrassment, self-doubt, and uncertainty. There were times when I hid my struggles because I was afraid of being judged. There were days when I questioned my future.

There were also moments when I wondered why all of this was happening to me. But today, when I look back, I understand that every challenge was preparing me for a purpose I had never imagined.

If someone had told me years ago that the fear of losing my vision would one day lead me to a career where I help make technology accessible for others, I probably would not have believed it.

Today, I no longer feel ashamed of my disability. Instead, I feel proud that my own experiences allow me to understand accessibility not only as a profession, but also from a user’s perspective. Every challenge I faced has helped me become a better accessibility tester because I know how even a small accessibility barrier can affect someone’s independence.

My Message

If my journey teaches anything, it is this:

Your background does not define your future. Your challenges do not define your potential. What truly defines you is your willingness to learn, adapt, and keep moving forward.

You may not know where life is taking you today. Sometimes, the path you never planned becomes the one that gives your life the greatest purpose.

I never imagined that my journey from commerce, through vision loss, assistive technology, and accessibility, would lead me to a career where I can make a positive impact on the lives of others.

Today, I don’t just test websites.

I help remove digital barriers.

I help create equal opportunities.

I help make technology more inclusive.

And that is something I am truly proud of.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read my story.

I hope my journey encourages someone who is facing challenges today to keep believing in themselves, because every ending has the potential to become the beginning of something meaningful.

Let’s turn WCAG and ARIA into inclusive user journeys—because accessibility is not just about compliance; it is about creating a digital world where everyone belongs.