About Oire
OIRE: Optimization and Implementation, Rapid and Efficient
We're André and Nathalie Polykanine, a husband-and-wife development team based in Strasbourg, France. Together, we're reshaping how businesses approach inclusive software development.
Why We're Different
André has been blind since birth. This isn't a limitation—it's our superpower. Every day, we navigate the digital world with screen readers, keyboard shortcuts, and assistive technologies. We don't guess what works; we live it.
This unique perspective, combined with decades of development experience, means we catch issues others miss and create solutions that genuinely work for everyone.
Meet the Team
André Polykanine
André trained as a linguist, holding a Master's in Linguistics—a background that gives him a unique ability to bridge technical and human communication. Blind since birth, he has been immersed in assistive technology for over two decades, including beta testing JAWS, the world's most popular screen reader, since 2004.
With more than 20 years of software development experience, André spent four years at InterNations GmbH as lead developer for payment integration and eight years at Elita Group handling development, quality assurance, and localization management. He has also provided accessibility consulting for companies including eBay France and Microsoft.
A backend specialist in PHP, Symfony, C#, .NET, and Python, André brings deep expertise in WCAG and RGAA compliance. He speaks seven languages—English, French, Russian, German, Ukrainian, Spanish, and Swedish—which directly informs his work on internationalization and localization.
Nathalie Polykanine
Nathalie holds a Master's in Mathematics. She started her career as a math and computer science teacher, developing innovative digital learning tools along the way. Her teaching background shapes how she approaches software: with a focus on clarity and the end user's experience.
She spent over a decade in enterprise software development, rising to lead an IT department. From 2012 to 2019, she worked at Elita Group creating technical documentation and training programs—including online and video courses teaching people with visual impairments to use technology effectively.
Nathalie has been building websites for blind and visually impaired users since 2009. Now at Oire, she develops accessible applications alongside André, combining her mathematical rigor with deep empathy for diverse users.
Our Philosophy
Great software isn't about accommodating different users—it's about designing experiences that are naturally inclusive. When you get it right, everyone benefits:
- Power users get keyboard shortcuts that speed up their workflow
- Mobile users get sites that load instantly
- Search engines get clean, semantic code to index
- Screen reader users get logical navigation that makes sense
- Everyone gets software that just works
Technical Excellence
We bring enterprise-grade skills to every project:
- Web: Symfony, PHP, ASP.NET C# for robust, scalable applications
- Desktop: .NET 8+ and C# for native Windows experiences
- Standards: Expert-level WCAG 2.0/2.1/2.2 implementation
- Testing: Real-world validation with JAWS, NVDA, and other assistive technologies
Our Promise
We deliver what we promise: optimization and implementation that's truly rapid and efficient. No lengthy consultations, no overcomplicated solutions—just clean, effective software that works for your entire user base.
Work With Us
Ready to build something better? Let's talk about your next project.