# Personalizing Accessibility with Settings

DevFeed: [Personalizing Accessibility with Settings](<https://devfeed.tech/articles/personalizing-accessibility-with-settings-38479.md>)

Original publisher: [Read original article](<https://eevis.codes/blog/2024-03-29/personalizing-accessibility-with-settings/>)

Author: Eevis Panula

Published: 2025-06-11T04:23:19.621000Z

Content type: opinion

Language: en

Sources: [Eevis Blog](<https://devfeed.tech/sources/eevis-blog.md>)

Topics: [Accessibility](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/accessibility.md>), [personalization](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/personalization.md>), [User interface design](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/ui-design.md>), [Users](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/users.md>)

Tags: [accessibility](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/accessibility.md>), [android](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/android.md>), [code](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/code.md>), [personalization](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/personalization.md>), [slack](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/slack.md>)

## AI overview

This article discusses personalization as a way to address conflicting accessibility needs in applications. It acknowledges that personalization can increase code complexity and development work, but argues that user-controlled accessibility settings can reduce access barriers. Slack's accessibility preferences are presented as an example.

## Source excerpt

When users have different, even conflicting, needs for access, what should you do? For example, if one user needs less contrast while the other needs more, how do app developers provide the best experience for all? The truth is that it's often not possible without some personalization options. In this blog post, I'll share some thoughts about personalization and accessibility, provide ideas on adding personalization options, and discuss setting up dedicated accessibility settings. In the following blog posts, I'll show concrete ways to personalize your app's accessibility. Let's first examine the possible drawbacks of personalization and then dive deeper into accessibility settings. Possible Drawbacks with Personalization While I'd love to just say that "Personalization is easy! You should do it!" I recognize that there might be some disadvantages to it. Sometimes, personalization can add more work and complexity to the code, as developers must remember to check if conditions apply for certain things every time they develop a feature. So yes, it adds some additional work. But on the other hand, isn't the goal of an app to be usable for its users? Sometimes, one solution doesn't fit all, and with personalization we can solve problems with conflicting user needs. We, as developers, sometimes go to great lengths to get some animation or piece of UI just right, which might take as much time as adding personalization options. Of course, personalization is not the best approach for every situation. But I would argue that for many apps, providing options for users to personalize their experience would break down access barriers and make their experience more enjoyable, so it's time well spent. Accessibility Settings as a Form of Personalization One way to give the user control is to add settings to handle the different aspects of the application. Some applications have done this well. For example, Slack has an accessibility section in their application preferences. It's a