I like to be independent. I like to do things myself rather than getting someone to do things for me.
My name is Atiqa and I am 25 years old. I lost my sight when I was 14 years old. When I lost my sight I thought I would never be able to do things myself. But once I settled down a little, and learned about the technologies and computers, I became more confident.
I have a talking scale and talking measuring jug, "don't forget Mom's birthday present", a note taker and money detector. I connect to many things on my smartphone. It tells you whatever is on screen. It reads everything to me.
As a blind or partially sighted, person you want to do everything that everyone else wants to do. We wanted to create a proposition to put accessibility on companies'' agendas which we eventually called RNIB Approved.
What started out as a desire to meet a fundamental customer need, has actually become a real passion for everyone involved. For someone coming to our website, even with sight loss or hearing loss or some other physical disability that makes it hard to use websites, the experience should be seamless and easy to use.
Every time we create a new functionality or a new page, we're listening through the page, to make sure that what you can see is getting conveyed through the screen reader. Making sure that all the copy on a page is picked up. That the colour contrast contrast levels on the page meet the minimum requirements.
What's been really good about the RNIB accreditation is that we're working with people who are blind or partially sighted to actually verify that the changes we make, work for real people. It's a great honor.
Companies like Capital One that are trying to make it easier for everyone to access their site is incredible.
It's hugely important because it begins to tell a story around how the world can be a more accessible place.