Accessibility Challenges with Common Devices
The smartphone that fits easily in most hands may be impossible to grip for someone with limited mobility. The laptop keyboard that allows rapid typing may be unusable for someone with tremors. The tablet screen that displays vibrant colors may be invisible to someone who is blind. Common devices—designed for common capabilities—create barriers for people whose capabilities differ from the assumed norm.
Device Accessibility by Category
Smartphones
Smartphones have become essential tools for communication, banking, healthcare, and civic participation. Built-in accessibility features have improved dramatically—VoiceOver and TalkBack provide screen reading, voice control enables hands-free operation, magnification assists low vision users, and switch access enables alternative input.
But challenges remain. Touchscreens require precise motor control that some users lack. Small screens strain aging eyes. Glass surfaces are slippery for users with grip difficulties. Gestures like pinching and swiping may be impossible for some users. And accessibility features, while present, may be difficult to discover and configure without assistance.
Computers and Laptops
Traditional computers offer more accessibility options than mobile devices—larger screens, full keyboards, mouse alternatives, and extensive software options. Screen readers like JAWS and NVDA have decades of development. Voice recognition software enables computer control through speech.
Physical accessibility remains challenging. Standard keyboards and mice assume motor capabilities not everyone has. Laptops prioritize portability over accessibility, with small keyboards and trackpads. Desktop setups can be customized but require knowledge and resources to configure properly.
Tablets
Tablets occupy a middle ground—larger screens than phones but still touchscreen-dependent. They can be useful for users who need larger displays but struggle with mouse and keyboard.
Mounting options can make tablets accessible for users who cannot hold devices. But the same touchscreen challenges as smartphones apply.
Smart Home Devices
Voice-controlled smart speakers and home automation can be transformative for people with mobility impairments—controlling lights, locks, thermostats, and entertainment through voice commands. But these devices assume speech clarity, hearing ability to receive responses, and cognitive ability to remember commands and troubleshoot problems.
Sensory Accessibility
Visual Impairments
Screen readers convert visual interfaces to audio, but depend on properly coded applications and websites. When developers do not follow accessibility standards, screen readers fail.
Low vision users may use magnification, high contrast modes, or large text settings. But not all content scales well, and some interfaces become unusable when magnified.
Color blindness affects ability to distinguish certain color combinations. Interfaces that rely on color alone to convey information exclude color blind users.
Hearing Impairments
Audio content without captions excludes deaf users. Notification sounds without visual alternatives may be missed. Voice-controlled devices may not work for users who cannot hear responses.
Hearing aids may experience interference from electronic devices. Bluetooth connectivity enables direct streaming but requires compatible aids.
Cognitive Accessibility
Complex interfaces, cluttered screens, inconsistent navigation, and time pressure create barriers for users with cognitive disabilities. Simplified modes, consistent design, clear language, and extended time limits can help—but are rarely standard.
Physical Accessibility
Motor Impairments
Standard input devices assume particular motor capabilities. Alternatives exist—trackballs, joysticks, head trackers, eye gaze systems, switch access, voice control—but may be expensive, require configuration, and may not work with all applications.
Touchscreens can be either more or less accessible than alternatives depending on the user. For some, direct touch is easier than mouse navigation; for others, the precision required is impossible.
Fatigue and Stamina
Chronic conditions that cause fatigue limit how long users can engage with devices. Efficient interfaces that minimize effort, ability to save progress, and alternatives to extended sessions matter for these users.
The Cost Barrier
Specialized accessibility hardware and software can be expensive. A quality screen reader costs hundreds of dollars. Alternative input devices range from hundreds to thousands. Assessments and training add further costs.
In Canada, funding programs exist but vary by province, have eligibility requirements, and often involve waiting lists. Many people who could benefit from assistive technology cannot access it due to cost.
The Question
If common devices are designed for common capabilities, then people with uncommon capabilities face barriers the designers never considered. How can mainstream device design become more inclusive from the start rather than requiring expensive add-ons and workarounds? What funding and support should be available for assistive technology? And how can people with accessibility needs discover and configure the features that could help them?