Did you ever think about how the stereotypes you grew up with shaped your mindset?
For a long time, I thought the problem was me.
Web accessibility taught me something different: many “personal limitations” are actually design problems and this is even more visible when we look at people with disabilities.
Here are real stereotipes I grew up with and that I rethought through accessibility:
1️⃣ “If you don’t understand, you didn’t read carefully enough”
Now: if something isn’t clear, it may not be explained well
For people with cognitive disabilities, unclear language becomes a real barrier
Clarity isn’t a bonus, it’s accessibility
2️⃣ “Don’t ask questions, others know better”
Now: questions reveal gaps and improve systems
Many accessibility improvements exist because users spoke up
Feedback from people with disabilities is what makes products truly usable
3️⃣ “If it’s hard for you, it’s your weakness”
Now: if it’s hard for me, it’s probably hard for others too
What feels like a small friction for some can be a blocker for others
Accessibility starts by taking difficulty seriously
4️⃣ “You’re just not good at this”
Now: people process information differently
Accessibility supports different ways of perceiving and understanding
There is no “one correct way” to interact with content
5️⃣ “Read faster, you’re too slow”
Now: speed depends on clarity and cognitive load
Screen reader users, for example, process content sequentially
Good design respects different paces of interaction
6️⃣ “Just follow the instructions”
Now: unclear instructions are a design issue
For users with cognitive disabilities, ambiguity can block task completion
Accessible content anticipates and removes confusion
7️⃣ “You’re overthinking it”
Now: complexity often comes from poor design decisions
For many users, unnecessary complexity increases cognitive load
Simplicity is inclusive
8️⃣ “You’ll get used to it”
Now: people shouldn’t have to adapt to inaccessible systems
Many users cannot “get used to it” — they are simply excluded
Design should adapt to people, not the opposite
Digging everyday into accessibility helped me shift from:
❌ “It’s my fault”
to
✅ “This can be designed better”
And maybe the most important part: what felt like a weakness can actually be your ability to see barriers others ignore.
