Seeing beyond obstacles: enhancing accessibility in banking & fintech services for visually impaired individuals

Submitted to Prof. Rajesh Chandwani

Submitted by: Piyush Luniya, Vishal Jaiswal

In an era marked by rapid technological advancements, the accessibility of digital services plays a pivotal role in ensuring inclusivity and empowerment for all individuals. However, amidst the surge in fintech and banking innovations, a significant population faces unique challenges – visually impaired individuals. This project, titled “Seeing Beyond Obstacles: Enhancing Accessibility in Banking and Fintech for Visually Impaired Individuals,” delves into the intricacies of the accessibility landscape, aiming to unravel the ways visually impaired individuals interact with basic banking and financial technologies and services, the obstacles they encounter, and provide solutions to foster a more inclusive digital financial ecosystem. The realm of financial technology and banking services has undergone a paradigm shift with the advent of digital platforms. For many, these innovations have translated into convenience and efficiency, offering a seamless way to manage financial transactions. However, for individuals with visual impairments, these technological marvels pose unique challenges, limiting their ability to independently and confidently engage with banking and fintech services. This project seeks to bridge this accessibility gap by shedding light on the current methods employed by visually impaired individuals and the barriers they confront. Our investigation recognizes the multifaceted challenges faced by visually impaired individuals in their pursuit of financial independence. These challenges extend beyond the technical barriers presented by digital interfaces to encompass social and systemic hurdles. The experiences and narratives of visually impaired individuals form the core of our exploration, allowing us to discern the intricacies of their interactions with banking and financial services. While illuminating the challenges is integral, our project tries to go a step further by envisaging solutions that transcend the status quo. We envision a future where visually impaired individuals navigate the digital financial landscape with confidence and autonomy. By amalgamating insights from literature, first-hand experiences through group discussions and interviews, and collaborations with relevant stakeholders, we aim to propose implementable solutions that redefine accessibility standards in banking and fintech. The significance of this project lies not only in addressing a critical gap in accessibility research but also in championing financial inclusivity. Empowering visually impaired individuals with the tools and knowledge to independently navigate digital financial platforms contributes to their overall societal integration and fosters a sense of empowerment and autonomy.