Dr. István Tábor: Restarting without sight in the digital space

Seventeen years have passed since I lost my vision, and throughout this time, the relationship between technology and accessibility has been a central issue for me, as it is for all visually impaired and disabled individuals. The lack of synergy in technology has a significant impact on our lives, work, and daily routines.

How Did I Lose My Sight? My eyesight started to deteriorate, but for years, I believed it wasn’t a serious issue, despite seeking medical advice. Then, my vision began to decline rapidly, and I was diagnosed with a brain tumor. After undergoing a lengthy surgery, it became clear that my optic nerve couldn’t be restored. My sight was completely gone—practically from one moment to the next. Afterward, I reflected on how I had reached this point. As a leader in my company, my work always came first, and I didn’t dedicate enough time to my health. Eventually, this neglect led to a major crisis. Losing my sight was an incredibly difficult experience, but I had to pull myself back up—and fortunately, I always had people supporting me. To return to work, I started learning how to use various assistive tools, which allowed me to regain my independence and continue my professional journey.

I try to support people like me through individual and group coaching. It’s a great feeling when a blind person who hasn’t been outside for two years calls me to say that, thanks to my work, they finally found the courage to go to a nearby grocery store. Hearing such stories reinforces my belief that my work has a purpose and that there are people who truly benefit from it.

In short: everyone. We are deeply embedded in the digital world, making it nearly impossible to avoid. The answer is simple—I have never met anyone working with a computer who hasn’t needed help at some point because they got stuck in an application. It’s a continuous learning process. If we consider that 10% of Hungary’s population lives with a disability, and we also account for their relatives and acquaintances, the number of people directly or indirectly affected is approximately 3 million. Directly or indirectly, accessibility concerns us all.

In 2023, the employment rate of the working-age population in Germany ranged between 70-80%, while in Hungary, this figure was slightly lower, between 70-75%. However, when looking at people with disabilities, a significant disparity emerges: 55% of them are employed in Germany, whereas in Hungary, the employment rate is only 36%.

I also examined the representation of people with disabilities across different sectors in the labor market. This is a crucial aspect because the overall participation rates remain low across all industries. Improved digital accessibility could significantly boost employment opportunities for people with disabilities, particularly in sectors where they already have a stronger presence, such as data entry, administration, and web marketing.

Our focus should be on identifying the necessary developments and where they can be implemented. A key issue is IT education and the development of new teaching methods to enhance digital skills and workplace accessibility for people with disabilities.

The gap between those who are not engaged with technology and the rapidly advancing digital world is widening. The primary reason for this is the incredible speed of technological development—new digital technologies are constantly emerging, and artificial intelligence is playing an increasingly significant role.

In Hungary, this issue is even more severe due to the high rate of functional illiteracy, which affects approximately 30% of the population. This makes adapting to the evolving digital world and acquiring new technologies even more challenging. Bridging this gap requires targeted accessibility measures and digital education programs, ensuring that technological advancements remain inclusive and beneficial to all.

As I have already mentioned, in today’s world, it is nearly impossible to navigate life without technology and the digital space. To illustrate this, consider a real-life example: for visually impaired individuals, even something as simple as filling out an online form or booking a medical appointment can become a significant challenge. These difficulties contribute to social exclusion, pushing people to the margins of society. The digital divide continues to widen.

What do we, visually impaired individuals, want to achieve in this regard? First and foremost, we want to feel just as valuable as anyone else, to have equal access to work opportunities, and to obtain the same level of information as sighted individuals. Beyond this, strengthening our autonomy, preserving our individuality, and promoting an inclusive mindset are equally important goals.

I can share my own experiences and draw conclusions about what works well and what presents challenges in terms of accessibility. Some platforms function exceptionally well for visually impaired users. For instance, Tesco’s website, ChatGPT, and Google are all accessible and user-friendly. Another great example is ZooPlus, where I order food for my guide dog—the site works fantastically. Of course, there are many other websites that are also easy to use. When discussing web accessibility, it’s essential to mention browsers. While they themselves are well-designed and accessible, the problem is that they can lead users to websites that are completely inaccessible within seconds. This creates a frustrating experience, highlighting the ongoing need for improved web accessibility across the digital landscape.

What Applications Can Blind People Use? At home, I use a smart home system that is extremely useful and provides a wide range of information for daily life. However, even more important is the ability to control household appliances—such as heating, air conditioning, vacuum cleaners, washing machines, and kitchen devices—using voice commands. However, there is a major issue: the settings are not accessible. This is yet another example of a well-functioning system that still requires further development to ensure it is truly usable for everyone.

When it comes to transportation, there are many GPS and navigation options available. Personally, I use BlindSquare, along with my fine-tuned guide, Manka, my guide dog, who stops precisely when needed. This program has been a great help to me, even when I went skiing with a friend who is a mountain rescuer in the Carpathians. The key point is that I had no problems at all.

I wore a yellow reflective vest with three black dots indicating blindness, and it also had “blind” written on it in four languages. Yet, no one noticed. I used the ski lift effortlessly and skied without any issues. I also find AI-powered tools fascinating, specifically Távszem (Remote Eye). These devices have been significantly enhanced by modern smartphones, such as the iPhone, which now features LiDAR-based applications.

István Tábor’s story is truly inspiring and serves as a great example that despite difficulties, we do not have to give up on our goals. Through his experiences, we have gained a new perspective on the importance of accessibility. In the next section, you will read Dr. Péter Kemény’s insights,
where he will discuss the legal requirements for accessibility, providing a more comprehensive understanding of this important topic.