Due to health issues, Ihor Protsiuk lost his sight and had to make drastic changes in his life. Leaving behind a stable life and career in Denmark, he returned to Ukraine, began a new path in IT, and discovered his true calling. His story shows how inner strength and determination can help overcome any challenge. Today, Ihor works at EPAM, collaborating with an eCommerce client while also teaching digital accessibility principles. His goal is to shift Ukrainian perceptions about people with disabilities and reduce the stigma they face. Here is his story.
My life could have turned out very differently. For a while, I lived in Denmark, worked as a manager, played soccer, and planned a bright future with my wife. But one day, I woke up and realized I was starting to lose my sight. After six months and multiple surgeries, I returned to my hometown of Cherkasy in Ukraine, severely sight-impaired, single, and unemployed. However, I still had my laptop and my family’s support.
My life was completely turned upside down. I graduated from Cherkasy State Technological University with a degree in Telecommunications which I never imagined I would need. However, in 2020, after completely losing my sight, I drew on that knowledge to begin a new chapter. A friend suggested using screen reader software that became my gateway to the digital world.
Over time, I developed an interest in IT, completed courses in digital accessibility, found an internship opportunity, and earned certification. Then. the biggest challenge was finding a job. I crafted my CV, applied for various positions, and after many attempts, I finally heard back from EPAM — thanks to my cover letter, which played a crucial role. I’ve now been with the company for two years, and since last year, I’ve been working in a mid-level position.
The first days at the company were tough because much of the onboarding information was inaccessible to me as a person with visual impairment. However, with the help of my colleagues, I managed to adapt, began working on projects, and gradually started influencing internal system changes. Since then, my goal has been to help make the world more accessible. I assist developers in understanding how people with different disabilities interact with software products, what the solution architecture should look like, and what needs to be considered from the start. This mission is especially important during wartime — barrier-free accessibility should be part of both our present and our future.
After a series of internal meetings and efforts focused on accessibility, a small team was formed within EPAM, and we created a special lecture for students of technical universities. I jokingly say I got involved because I’m tired of testing digital accessibility issues. But jokes aside, the number of people with disabilities in Ukraine is growing every day. For them to continue using various digital solutions and live comfortably, we need to be pioneers in this field.
During our student meetings, we discuss what digital accessibility is, the principles for making content accessible, how to implement these principles, and what the WCAG standards are. These are critical issues, but unfortunately, this topic is not part of the curriculum for future engineers. We spent nine months developing the lecture before beginning an educational tour of Ukrainian universities. The typical student reaction is one of surprise. They are curious and ask many questions about tools, laws, how people with disabilities navigate websites, and the available assistive technologies.
For example, there’s a system that allows people with motor impairments to control a mouse cursor by moving their head or eyes. To students, this seems like science fiction. I believe our lectures are convincing because they are delivered by a user—a real person with visual impairments. We’ve held ten such meetings in different cities. The first was in Dnipro in the spring, and we recently returned from Ivano-Frankivsk, where the hall was packed. Then, we visited the students at Kyiv Aviation University. However, I’d like more institutions to seek out our expertise. We’re ready to share more.
Is one lecture enough to change the situation in the entire country? Our presentation covers the basics of making digital solutions more accessible. But the problem runs deeper. We’ve encountered the reality that many people don’t even realize that persons with various disabilities can actually use smartphones. Thanks to apps, they can order a taxi, use food delivery, and generally freely enjoy technology.
I still find myself in absurd situations because of people’s perceptions. When I rented an apartment, I was asked how I would cook my food and handle household chores. When the elevator was out due to a power outage, and I walked up to the 13th floor, my neighbors were worried about how I would manage. But my legs work fine—I’ve climbed Carpathian peaks three times this year, including Hoverla. I think, in terms of raising awareness, we need to go even further: reach out to schools and talk not just about digital accessibility, but also about daily living. I want people to understand that living with a disability doesn’t mean life is over, or that you are incapable. As an accessibility engineer, I firmly believe that anything is possible.
I once played soccer, and then, after losing my sight, I took up pottery and even participated in theater performances. But now I’ve found my true calling and want to focus on spreading knowledge about accessibility. This understanding of possibilities and basic principles is crucial for both people with and without disabilities. There’s a lot of work ahead, and I’m doing it well where I am. I feel like a barge—quietly moving forward in my own direction. I believe this is just the beginning of my story, with many plans and challenges ahead. But I’m confident that, with the support of my family, friends, and colleagues, anything is achievable.
The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) are technical standards on web accessibility developed by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C)123. They are a set of recommendations for making web content more accessible, primarily for people with disabilities, but also for all user agents, including highly limited devices, such as mobile phones. The guidelines represent a shared, international standard developed by many different stakeholders, including industry, disability organizations, government, and accessibility research organizations
