Disability & Customization: Tech Should Adapt to People
Part 3 of a 4-part series exploring overlooked aspects of disability in design.
When we talk about accessibility, it’s easy to assume there’s a single “best” way to design. But disability is not one experience, and neither is technology use. What works for one person may not work for another and that’s why customization matters.
A person wearing a light gray hoodie and backpack holds a smartphone with both hands, standing outdoors against a blurred background of a tall wooden wall.
Language settings and screen readers
Something as basic as language can reveal the limits of one-size-fits-all design. Screen readers often stumble over accents, dialects, or mismatched settings between devices and apps. For someone relying on speech output, a single mispronounced word can slow down or derail the task at hand.
Device-based vs. browser-based experiences
Screen readers don’t all behave the same way. Device-based options like TalkBack or VoiceOver interact differently with apps compared to browser-based tools like NVDA or JAWS. A button that’s clear in one setup might read strangely in another. These inconsistencies force users to adapt constantly, not the other way around.
Why personalization matters
For many people with disabilities, technology is a patchwork of adjustments: faster or slower speech, larger text, custom gestures, reduced motion. These tweaks aren’t luxuries. They’re what makes everyday tasks possible and efficient. When technology offers flexibility, it recognizes that accessibility is deeply personal.
Share your story
What customizations make tech work better for you? Which ones have fallen short? Your experiences highlight what designers often miss and they help shape more inclusive solutions for the future. We’d love to hear from you.
