When Accessibility Costs Extra

It didn’t take long for me to hit my first frustration point with blogging. As I was linking my custom domain to my blog, I discovered that I would need to upgrade to a higher tier just to unlock access to different themes.

At first glance, that might sound minor, but here’s the catch: the default theme doesn’t even offer a dark mode toggle. For someone like me, who lives with low vision, dark mode isn’t just a “nice-to-have.” It’s a practical feature that makes reading and writing far more comfortable.

Now, don’t get me wrong — this isn’t the end of the world. It’s more of a reminder that technology isn’t always built with accessibility in mind. And when accessibility does exist, it’s often hidden behind a paywall. That part is particularly frustrating. Companies shouldn’t treat accessibility as a premium feature.

But here’s the bright side: there are tools out there that let us take control. For example:

• Dark Reader (a Chrome extension) lets me force websites into a dark theme on my computer. Dark Reader for Chrome
• Noir (for Safari on iPhone and iPad) does the same thing on my mobile devices. (though this solution does have its own caveats)
  

These extensions are lifesavers. They override the limitations set by developers and give me the reading environment I actually need. And they’re just two examples — there are lots of tools like this out there if you’re willing to hunt for them. Be aware, that sometimes extensions can interfere with the experience of certain websites. If that happens, they can usually be switched off on a per website basis if needed.

So while this platform may not give me dark mode at the starter tier, I’ve got other ways to get there. And that’s really the bigger point: living with low vision often means finding creative workarounds. Accessibility isn’t always handed to us, but with the right tools, we can carve out our own solutions.

If you’ve found a tool, extension, or setting that makes your online experience more accessible, I’d love to hear about it. Drop me a comment or message — your idea might help someone else who’s struggling with the same challenge.