The biggest barrier to accessibility is not usability

"Shame is one of the most powerful barriers to product adoption, and it is rarely discussed in design reviews. People delay using canes, grab bars, hearing aids, or mobility supports even when they would meaningfully improve daily life. Why? Because many products still communicate something the user does not want to say out loud: Something is wrong with me."

"If we want accessible design to succeed, and we want people to get the utility of these products, we have to design beyond function. We have to design for dignity, and we have to recognize that design has the power to remove stigma."

"A product can meet every ergonomic benchmark and still sit unused. Emotional adoption determines real adoption. When design feels institutional, clinical, or stigmatizing, it does not matter how useful it is. The user experiences a cost that is not in the price tag. The cost is identity."

"Years ago, eyeglasses were considered medical devices. Kids were teased as 'four eyes.' Glasses signaled something was wrong. Then design and culture evolved. Frames became expressive and stylish. Today, glasses are fashion accessories, and many people wear them without prescription lenses because they like how they look."

Accessibility design is commonly evaluated through technical metrics like ergonomics and safety standards, but this approach overlooks a critical barrier: shame. Users often avoid assistive devices such as canes, hearing aids, and mobility supports despite their practical benefits because these products communicate stigma and signal difference. Emotional adoption determines actual product usage more than functional capability. When design feels institutional or clinical, users experience an identity cost beyond the price tag. Successful accessible design must prioritize dignity and normalize support, making users feel they belong rather than exceptional. Historical examples like eyeglasses and bicycle helmets demonstrate how design evolution and cultural shifts can transform stigmatized objects into desirable, self-expressive items.

Read at Fast Company