Hey everyone and I’m Christian Robicheau at the Sterling Creations desk.
Hope everyone is doing well and for today our president focuses her attention on a very painful topic.
It’s all about the QR code Quandary and Donna J. Jodhan adds her voice to the growing call for the needs of those who are unable to read these codes on screens let alone scan them to be considered.
Here’s wishing you a great weekend.
5:34 AM 2025-11-20
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The QR code quandary
By Donna J. Jodhan
QR codes are everywhere. From restaurant tables to TV screens, digital posters to packaging, these pixelated squares have become the shorthand of modern marketing.
They promise convenience—just scan and go. Want a menu? Scan the code. Looking for a promo? Scan the code. Need to enter a contest, redeem a coupon, or read more about a product? Scan the code. But for millions of people, this “convenience” is anything but.
In our rush toward touchless transactions and digital experiences, we’ve forgotten one critical truth: not everyone can interact with technology in the same way. QR codes, by their very nature, require the user to perform a precise visual task—open a camera app, align a phone to the screen or printed code, and wait for the link to load.
For people with visual impairments, motor challenges, or cognitive disabilities, this process can be difficult, if not impossible.
Consider someone who is blind or has low vision. A screen says, “Scan the QR code to see today’s specials.” But there’s no voice prompt, no tactile option, no alternative access. The same principle applies when a TV ad says, “Call the number on your screen now”—but doesn’t provide audio for the number. It’s exclusion by design, whether intentional or not.
It’s time to acknowledge what this means: an entire population is being left behind. The promise of universal access is being undermined by design choices that prioritize sleekness over inclusivity. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and similar global laws call for reasonable accommodations. Yet, as technology evolves, these accommodations must evolve with it.
This is a plea—for designers, developers, advertisers, and content creators to do better. Make QR-linked content accessible by providing alternative formats: voice prompts, tactile buttons, clearly spoken URLs, or traditional phone numbers read aloud. Ensure that screen readers can access all necessary information. Design with empathy, not just efficiency.
Technology should empower, not exclude. And until we build with everyone in mind, the QR code—once a symbol of connection—will remain a barrier for far too many.
I’d like to leave you with this for your consideration.
Imagine standing at a restaurant counter. The smell of grilled food hangs in the air, the chatter of other customers fills the room, and the cashier points to a small black-and-white square on a plexiglass stand. “Just scan the QR code for the menu,” she says with a smile.
For most people, it’s a simple, everyday interaction. But for someone with limited or no vision, this moment becomes a barrier.
A blind customer fumbles to find their phone. They open a scanning app—if they have one configured. But without being able to see the QR code or even locate it in space, the process becomes a frustrating guessing game. There’s no tactile cue, no audio guidance, no human backup. The “convenient” QR code becomes a silent wall between them and their meal.
This scenario is becoming more common in today’s digitized world, where touchless, visual-first interfaces are rapidly replacing physical menus, print tickets, and brochures. But this progress leaves a critical question in its wake: How can people with vision challenges navigate a world that increasingly communicates in invisible ink?
Image = A collage of multiple white QR codes on a bright blue background, each framed in various white shapes like speech bubbles, rectangles, and pointers, with accompanying text such as ‘SCAN ME!’ and ‘SCAN & PAY’ in bold capital letters; some include directional arrows or stylized scanning icons, all designed to attract attention and prompt users to scan the codes.
To learn more about me as an award winning sight loss coach and advocate visit www.donnajodhan.com
