Designing for needs you may never fully understand

Hi, I’m Cathrine Tavs, UX Lead at Adapt. I’m deeply committed to designing inclusive and accessible digital experiences. One question I often hear from clients is: “How many people actually use screen readers?”. The honest answer is: we don’t know. In Denmark, there are no exact numbers on how many people live with functional impairments or how those impairments shape their use of technology. Even organizations like the Danish Association of the Blind or the Deaf Association can only provide estimates.

But statistics miss the point. If your product isn’t accessible, users with disabilities won’t just start using it once you improve it — many have long since given up trying. Microsoft illustrates this well with a metaphor: a playground where a child with one arm doesn't have the ability to use the swing. The child doesn't avoid using it because of a lack of interest — it was about a lack of access. The same is true in digital spaces. If people have never been included, they may not show up in your data — but they still matter!

What you might be missing when you design for “everyone”

When companies aim to design for the average user, they often end up designing for no one in particular. 

Another example from the physical world is the U.S. Air Force  who in the 1940s,  designed fighter jet cockpits based on the "average" pilot's measurements. However, no individual matched all average dimensions, leading to frequent crashes. The solution was adjustable cockpits, which significantly improved performance.​ Now actual people could use the fighter jets (Rose, End of Average). 

This principle applies to digital design: creating for the "average user" often excludes many. Accessibility isn’t about special treatment. It’s about flexible, thoughtful design that fits the real diversity of your users.

Designing for inclusivity isn't a compromise, it's a value multiplier. When you build for real people, especially those at the edges of your assumptions, you create smarter, stronger, more human experiences.

The truth is, many organizations still treat accessibility as a “nice-to-have” or something they’ll address later. But “later” rarely comes. What’s needed is a shift in mindset: accessibility is not a feature, it’s foundational.

When you design for diverse needs, you enhance the experience for everyone. Accessibility features like readable fonts, subtitles, voice commands, and simplified interfaces, benefit not just those with permanent impairments but also people in temporary or situational limitations (think: a broken arm, bright sunlight, or even just watching a video somewhere you can't listen with sound or multitasking with a baby in your arms).

I may never fully understand the lived experiences of users with disabilities, but my commitment to exploring how we can create inclusive and accessible solutions remains steadfast. This isn't a task to be completed and forgotten; it's an ongoing journey. As users' digital behaviors evolve, so must our designs. Good UX isn't about perfection; it's about intention. It's about showing up for users you don't fully understand and designing with them.

So ask yourself:
What might our digital world look like if accessibility wasn’t an afterthought, but the starting point?

Accessibility is one of our favourite topics (we could seriously talk about it all day), so if you’re even a little curious about how it can become part of your digital strategy—get in touch. We’re always ready to chat.