The Accessible Nation (TAN) is redefining what inclusive shopping can and should be. Its fully accessible app turns everyday purchases into a seamless, empowering experience for every user. Through bold personalization, such as adjustable text sizes, customizable colour palettes, and intuitive light or dark modes, TAN places complete control in the hands of shoppers. It highlights smart deals, eliminates hidden fees, and ensures total pricing transparency. Driven by a team motivated by purpose and possibility, TAN is not merely improving the grocery-shopping experience; it is raising the industry standard. With an ambitious mission and unmistakable momentum, TAN aspires to become the world’s most trusted and universally accessible marketplace.
In an exclusive conversation with The Interview World at the Samarth India Conclave and Expo 2025, hosted by Times Network and Hyundai, Sunil Choudhary, Co-founder and CEO of The Accessible Nation, explains the inclusive foundation of the platform and outlines how it brings greater independence and ease to persons with disabilities. He underscores TAN’s distinctiveness, illustrates how AI is strengthening assistive technologies, and emphasizes the platform’s commitment to enabling seamless online shopping for disabled users. The key takeaways from his compelling discussion are captured below.
Q: Could you elaborate on the design and functionality of The Accessible Nation’s inclusive shopping platform, and how it specifically empowers disabled persons to shop with greater ease and independence?
A: The Accessible Nation (TAN) is a shopping app built specifically to ensure that persons with disabilities can shop online without barriers. To achieve this, we designed multiple accessibility modes that adapt to each user’s needs. For instance, low-vision users can adjust font sizes, select preferred colour themes, modify contrast levels, and personalize other visual settings with ease. Screen-reader users benefit from clearly labelled buttons, well-structured grouping, and thoughtfully organized navigation that makes their browsing experience significantly smoother.
We integrate these features directly into the app and then connect TAN with major service providers, including Amazon, Flipkart, and EaseMyTrip, to offer their services through our accessible interface. As a result, persons with disabilities can access and purchase anything they need without facing the typical challenges present on many mainstream platforms. That is the core purpose driving our work.
I am completely blind myself, and the frustrations I encountered while using existing online apps inspired me to create TAN. This platform is our way of ensuring that no one else has to struggle through the obstacles I once faced.
Q: How accessible and easy to use will the platform be for individuals who are blind or have visual impairments?
A: This process becomes remarkably simple because we have anticipated and addressed the needs of visually impaired users, including those with total blindness. Screen-reader users rely on software that reads aloud everything displayed on the screen, so we ensure that the screen reader receives every piece of information it needs to convey the interface accurately and efficiently. As a result, navigating the app becomes straightforward and intuitive.
Q: Is your platform the first of its kind in India offering this level of accessibility?
A: Yes, this is the first solution of its kind. While some accessibility service providers help other companies make their platforms more accessible, we take a fundamentally different approach. Primarily, we deliver accessibility as a complete product. This means that whenever a user comes to our app, they can rely on a fully accessible experience without exceptions. In contrast, accessibility on other apps often breaks or becomes inconsistent. With TAN, that uncertainty disappears.
Q: What basic skills or knowledge are required to use this app?
A: In fact, users don’t need to do anything extra. Most persons with disabilities already use assistive technologies. For example, a totally blind user typically relies on a screen reader. We ensure that the screen reader receives every necessary detail so the app remains easy to navigate at all times.
Similarly, low-vision users usually adjust their font sizes. On many apps, increasing the font size forces them to scroll horizontally, which becomes frustrating and time-consuming. Our design eliminates that problem. TAN’s interface adapts automatically, allowing content to flow vertically without requiring any horizontal scrolling.
Moreover, low-vision users often prefer dark mode, yet several apps still fail to offer it. We address that gap as well by providing a fully optimized dark mode experience.
Q: How is AI going to make things easier for users?
A: For us, AI is fundamentally about enabling voice-driven interaction. We are currently developing a feature that allows users to operate the app entirely through speech. You can simply say, “I want pizza and a burger for lunch,” and the system will automatically search for nearby stores that offer those items and return the results in spoken form. The experience feels like a natural conversation, almost as if you are speaking to another person, while you place your order.
This voice-based approach significantly benefits visually impaired users and individuals with limited hand mobility. Instead of navigating the phone manually, they can speak to the app and complete their shopping with ease and independence.
Q: How many products have you onboarded to date?
A: We connect directly with multiple established platforms, and we do not onboard or manage products ourselves. For instance, we are integrated with ONDC, the Government of India’s Open Network for Digital Commerce, so everything available on ONDC automatically appears on our app. We are also connected with Amazon, which means their entire accessible catalogue becomes available to our users as well.
The core idea is simple: you should never encounter accessibility barriers while browsing products, adding items to your cart, making payments, or tracking your orders. Through these integrations, we ensure that every step of the shopping journey remains seamless and fully accessible for persons with disabilities.
Q: How is this platform going to expand opportunities for visually impaired users?
A: For us, the mission centres on independent living. We empower visually impaired individuals by giving them a tool that enables true autonomy in the digital world. At present, our services include platforms like Amazon, and we are now integrating with EaseMyTrip to support flight bookings, cab reservations, and other travel needs. With the TAN app, users gain a single, accessible gateway through which they can manage essential tasks and live independently in the digital era.
