In a world obsessed with pretty UIs and visual-first engagement, we have inadvertently built a digital wall for the visually impaired. Swipe right. Tap to like. Browse photos. These interactions, so intuitive to sighted users, are the invisible barriers that exclude millions of people from one of the most human experiences technology has tried to facilitate: finding connection. What happens when we take the screen away, or reduce its effectiveness entirely? This talk explores the journey of designing a multi-modal online dating platform built from the ground up with the visually impaired in mind: not as an afterthought or a compliance checkbox, but as the primary design constraint that shapes every decision. We will look into the challenges of moving beyond the UI-first mindset, including: - Accessible and adaptable design: my ideas on building apps that respond and adapt to a user's changing sensory needs over time, because vision loss is rarely static, and our systems shouldn't be either. - LLMs as empathy amplifiers: Using large language models to assist sighted or partially-sighted users in providing high-quality, emotionally resonant alt-text, without losing the "human spark" that makes a profile feel like a real person. - Rethinking what "compatibility" means: redesigning matching algorithms from the ground up to prioritize shared values, conversational rhythm, and emotional resonance over raw facts. Along the way, we'll look at some questions: Why did we build it this way in the first place? Who gets left behind when engagement metrics drive design decisions? And what does it mean to build a truly inclusive system when inclusion was never the default? Whether you're working in accessibility, thinking deeply about AI ethics, or simply want to learn how to build more resilient and human-centric systems, this session will challenge you to rethink how we model human connection - and who we've been modelling it for.