Description
This article explores how assistive technology can unintentionally reinforce stigma when aesthetics are treated as secondary to function. Drawing on lived experience as a Deaf user, Cathrine Mejdal reflects on how devices provided through the Danish welfare system often meet technical and regulatory requirements, yet fail to support identity, dignity, and a sense of belonging.
Drawing on concrete examples from everyday life, the article shows how users adapt, reject, or replace these solutions with alternatives that better align with their preferences. It highlights the importance of involving users in design processes and argues for a broader understanding of accessibility, where aesthetics and usability are considered together rather than in isolation.