Artificial intelligence has enabled a Cisco engineer with a visual impairment to develop accessible software, complete advanced technical certification and support other employees by creating tools designed to improve workplace accessibility.
Shek Habeebul Haq, Senior Technical Leader at Cisco's Bangalore campus, said AI has expanded his ability to work independently by assisting with software development and improving access to technical information that has traditionally relied on visual content.
AI development
Haq said AI has enabled him to build software despite having only partial coding knowledge.
He uses GitHub Copilot and Visual Studio Code in his daily work to develop applications tailored to his accessibility needs. He also uses Cisco's internal AI assistant, Circuit, to obtain technical information and hopes future versions will include additional accessibility capabilities.
Among the tools he has developed is a browser-based file reader capable of opening documents, presentations, spreadsheets and PDF files. The application can also analyse images using AI while complying with Cisco's internal data protection requirements through an API key provided by the company.
Haq said he shares these tools with other members of the visually impaired community so they can benefit from the same accessibility improvements.
AI has also become part of his learning process by helping explain technical concepts in plain language, describing visual content and supporting exercises that were originally designed for sighted users.
Certification support
Accessibility improvements have also extended to Cisco's engineering tools.
Cisco Modeling Labs, a network simulation platform used to design and test network configurations, previously presented accessibility challenges for visually impaired engineers through its web interface.
Haq developed an accessible interface that connects to the Cisco Modeling Labs controller, allowing him to use the platform more effectively with screen readers.
The development contributed to his preparation for the Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert qualification, one of the company's highest-level networking certifications.
He completed the CCIE lab examination in March 2026 and credited Cisco's certification team with making the examination process accessible for candidates with visual impairments.
Community role
Outside his technical work, Haq participates in Cisco's Connected Disability and Neurodiversity community, which supports employees with disabilities and promotes accessibility awareness across the company.
The group contributes to initiatives including Global Accessibility Awareness Day activities that encourage greater understanding of accessibility and inclusion across the workforce.
Haq also presented a technical session at Cisco Live in Melbourne earlier this year, describing the opportunity as something he had not expected earlier in his career.
Workplace inclusion
"What I hope readers take away from this is fairly simple: Disability does not set a ceiling on what someone can contribute. With the right tools and a supportive environment, people can go further than expected. I did not anticipate presenting at Cisco Live, earning my CCIE, or building accessibility tools that others would actually use. These things happened because AI lowered barriers and because colleagues backed me when it counted," said Shek Habeebul Haq, Senior Technical Leader, Cisco.
"My hope is that managers and teams treat accessibility as a default rather than an afterthought, because when they do, they create space for people to grow in ways that often surprise even themselves," said Haq.