The Relentless Struggle for Accessibility: A sight impaired Individual's Lament

As I write this, I'm exhausted, frustrated, and defeated. For 11 years, I've fought for accessibility, pleading with businesses to make their applications usable for assistive technology users like myself. The response? Indifference, ignorance, and empty promises.

My days blend together in a never-ending cycle of work, family, and advocacy. I juggle a 12-13 hour job, family responsibilities, and weekends spent documenting accessibility issues, trolling social media for contacts, and following up on requests. This unpaid job brings only disappointment and pain.

The list of inaccessible applications is staggering: Ola, Rapido, top pharmacy apps, flight and hotel booking websites, entertainment platforms like Zee 5, Jio Cinema, Hotstar – all inaccessible. It's not just small businesses; giants like Amazon have disrespected accessibility in India. Popular food and delivery applications, like Swiggy, Zomato, Dunzo, and Porter, also fail to comply with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), and are inaccessible, severely impacting the user experience for individuals with disabilities who rely on assistive technologies.

I'm tired of being told it's not their application, but my account or subscription. Tired of lip service about addressing issues in the next release. Tired of being ignored, dismissed, and forgotten.

As a disabled individual with sight impairment, I'm not asking for special treatment; I'm demanding equal access. I pay for services, just like everyone else. But I'm denied the same experience, forced to navigate a world that doesn't acknowledge my existence.

The pain is real, the frustration palpable. I've become comfortably numb, accepting the status quo, but the fire within me still flickers. I know I'm not alone in this fight. There are others like me, battling for accessibility, for inclusivity, for basic human dignity.

To businesses, I say: listen to our voices, acknowledge our struggles, and take action. Accessibility is not a feature; it's a fundamental right. To my fellow disabled warriors, I say: don't give up, don't lose hope. Our voices matter, our struggles count.

I'll keep fighting, keep advocating, until accessibility becomes a reality, not just a distant dream. But for now, I'm tired, and I just want to be heard.