From Feeling Lost to Creating Change: How Solomon Hsu Is Bringing Accessibility to Taiwan

Solomon Hsu did not begin his journey with a clear sense of direction. At one point, he found himself questioning his path, his decisions, and where he was going.

"Pay it forward."

That simple idea stayed with him, and over time, it became something much bigger than just a phrase.

A moment that changed everything

There was a time when Solomon felt completely lost.

After leaving the University of Toronto and transitioning to Seneca College, he found himself in a difficult place, mentally, financially, and emotionally. While others around him seemed to be moving forward, building careers and enjoying stability, he was trying to figure out how to move at all.

He describes it as a period filled with uncertainty, pressure, and self-doubt.

But what changed everything was not a single opportunity. It was people.

Instructors who believed in him before he believed in himself. Mentors who went beyond teaching and supported him not only professionally, but personally.

"They saw something in me that I didn't."

When he asked how he could repay them, their answer was simple.

Pay it forward.

That idea became the foundation of how he approaches his work today.

Rethinking what matters

Before that moment, Solomon was focused on outcomes like financial success and stability. Like many people trying to find their place, the goal was clear, but the path was not.

What his mentors helped him realize was that value comes first.

"When I am adding value to the world, the rest will come naturally."

That shift in thinking changed everything. It moved him away from chasing outcomes and toward building something meaningful.

It also shaped how he would approach technology, business, and eventually accessibility.

Discovering accessibility

Solomon's early work started in web development, taking on projects, learning through experience, and gradually building his understanding of how digital products are created.

At one point, while testing his own work using a screen reader, something clicked.

It was not just about building websites anymore. It was about how people actually experience them.

That realization opened the door to accessibility.

Over time, through events, conversations, and continuous learning, he began to understand not just the technical side of accessibility, but the human side, how people with disabilities interact with the world, and where barriers exist.

Seeing the gap between regions

The turning point came when Solomon had the opportunity to provide corporate training on digital accessibility for a major bank in Taiwan.

That experience revealed something important.

In places like Canada, accessibility is an established industry. There are standards, frameworks, and a growing ecosystem.

In Taiwan, it was still largely unknown.

"When digital accessibility is an industry itself, in Taiwan, it's still considered a brand new concept."

That gap became an opportunity.

Instead of asking why things had not changed, Solomon focused on what could be done to bring that knowledge into a different context.

Creating momentum, one step at a time

Through his work, Solomon has helped organizations move from having no understanding of accessibility to building a solid foundation.

The impact of even a single engagement can be significant.

In one training session with a bank, designers began rethinking their design systems, developers were introduced to semantic coding, and QA teams learned how to test for accessibility and create VPATs.

More importantly, those individuals became advocates within their own organizations.

They started conversations, shared what they learned, and contributed to a broader shift.

Over time, more organizations, communities, and groups in Taiwan have started engaging with accessibility.

For Solomon, this is how change happens.

Not all at once, but through consistent effort, shared knowledge, and people who carry the message forward.

A different kind of innovator

Solomon is not building a startup, and he is not positioning himself as a traditional founder.

His work is different.

He is connecting ecosystems.

He is taking knowledge from one place and introducing it into another where it is still developing.

He is helping start conversations that did not exist before.

And he is doing it with a long-term view in mind.

"My vision is crafting authentic digital experiences for all people."

That vision guides everything he does, whether it is training, speaking, or contributing to the accessibility community.

Looking ahead

Solomon is currently working on writing a book focused on digital accessibility.

While the details are still developing, the intention is clear.

To contribute knowledge.

To make accessibility more understandable.

And to continue building awareness in places where it is still emerging.

At the same time, he is involved in conversations and initiatives aimed at bringing accessibility into the mainstream in Taiwan, including events and collaborations that connect local efforts with global expertise.

A perspective that stays with you

What stands out in Solomon's journey is not just what he is doing, but how he approaches it.

It comes back to the same idea that shaped him early on.

"Know your goal and intention. If you truly believe in your intentions, there can be many different ways to get there."

For him, accessibility is not just about compliance or technology.

It is about perspective.

It is about understanding people.

And it is about contributing in a way that creates lasting change, even if it starts small.

Connect and follow the journey

Solomon continues to be involved in accessibility initiatives, conversations, and efforts that aim to expand awareness and adoption.

As his work evolves, including his upcoming book on digital accessibility, his focus remains the same.

To contribute.

To connect.

And to help move accessibility forward where it is needed most.