Sharjah Islamic Bank introduces screen reader integration

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

With the aim of enhancing the values of independence and privacy, and overcoming barriers and obstacles by providing technologies, mechanisms, and systems that enhance the assistance of persons with disabilities to use all banking services with ease, and in line with its continuing role in implementing social responsibility initiatives, Sharjah Islamic Bank (SIB) announced its success in adapting its mobile banking application with the screen reader service to serve people with visual disabilities as the first service of its kind in the UAE.

This step came after the specialised technical departments at Sharjah Islamic Bank conducted a series of meetings, deliberations, and continuous communication with people with visual disabilities to find the best ways to allow them to obtain comprehensive and independent banking services.

Empowering people with disabilities to make decisions within a society that ensures they benefit from opportunities on an equal basis with others

Waleed AlAmoudi, Head of Digital Banking of Sharjah Islamic Bank, said: “The idea of providing new banking services to our brothers and sisters with visual disabilities was launched after a person with a visual disability contacted the bank to find a solution to the difficulty of using mobile applications that meet their banking needs, of balance inquiry, daily money transfers and other digital banking transactions.”

Waleed AlAmoudi added, “As part of SIB’s commitment to serve people with visual disabilities, the Digital Banking Department held multiple technical meetings and sought their opinions to help arrive at the best solutions that meet their needs. This communication resulted in the provision of a screen reader service for our fellow people with visual impairments in the SIB’s digital mobile application. We anticipate its success as it is the first of its kind in the UAE to address the needs of this important sector in society.”