Yahye

I know firsthand, from my own disability, just how inaccessible the world is – and how challenging it can be.

I’ve got retinal dystrophy, which means I have very limited vision. I use a white stick to move around and sounds, smells and the sensations in my feet to guide me as I’m walking.

Accessible design

From a young age, I learned to be independent, and I like to do things on my own. Now I work with governments and organisations as a digital accessibility and inclusion consultant, helping to create a more accessible world for everyone.

I was born in Somalia, but I grew up in the UK and I’ve lived in many different countries. I love going to new places for pleasure or for work. It’s the unknown and the anticipation of something new that excites me.

My visual impairment has had a big impact on how I manage my finances. I’ve been a lifelong HSBC customer and, with the help of a screen reader, I can manage my finances on my own and make investments for my family and for my future.

I did try a different bank some time ago when I moved to a new region. Suddenly, everything became really difficult and they said that I needed a power of attorney to help me.

It was a dehumanising, intrusive experience. I felt like I’d lost my sense of freedom and that my independence and dignity had been taken away from me. The bank didn’t seem to understand how a visually impaired person like me could manage my finances on my own – and they didn’t have the tools or technology to help me.

When your agency is taken away from you, you start to realise how anything else in life becomes insignificant.

Returning to HSBC felt empowering. It made me realise the importance of financial accessibility and the independence and positive impact it can have, on all other areas of your life.

Digital accessibility empowers me in many ways. It helps me to focus on my own potential rather than focusing on how I'm going to get there – and it makes me feel that I'm able to experience life in the same way as anyone else.