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Oct 16, 2025

Consumer technology has limitations for assistive needs

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By: Roland Mattern
Fact checked by: Christine Klimanskis, ELS

Key takeaways:

  • Accessibility features in mainstream technology are not as reliable as those in dedicated assistive devices.
  • Purpose-built assistive technology has better safeguards and user support.

In today’s world, technology has become nearly inseparable from daily life.

Smartphones, smart speakers and AI-powered devices promise convenience and connection, and for people with disabilities, these same tools can offer meaningful support. But there is a critical distinction between using mainstream consumer technology for assistive tech features and using devices that are designed as assistive technology. The difference is not just marketing; it is about safety, reliability and creating inclusive, empowering environments for those requiring assistive technology.

"For people with a disability, technology is often more than a convenience or nice-to-have feature; it is technology that offers a lifeline," Roland Mattern said.

What is assistive technology?

Assistive technology (AT) refers to products and systems specifically designed to maintain or improve the functional capabilities of people with disabilities. This can range from simple tools such as magnifiers and adapted utensils to complex devices such as screen readers, powered wheelchairs and wearable low-vision aids.

True assistive tech undergoes rigorous research, testing and certification to ensure it meets the needs of its intended users, whether those needs are sensory, cognitive, physical or a combination. AT is also often developed in close consultation with health care professionals and users, incorporating feedback at every stage to ensure it is safe and effective in addressing real-world challenges and compliant with relevant standards.

Why mainstream technology is not always enough

Mainstream consumer tech — think smartphones, smart glasses or AI assistants — has been proven to be useful and innovative. Many devices now integrate accessibility features like voice commands, text-to-speech or adjustable display settings. For some users, these are a welcome bonus. But for others, relying on mainstream products in place of dedicated assistive tech can leave them frustrated, isolated and vulnerable.

Mainstream tech is rarely built with the same level of safeguards, testing or redundancy as certified assistive devices. Accessibility features in consumer products are often just that — features added on to the product and not integral to the product’s core purpose and prone to create accessibility regression. This means they have the potential to be deprioritized in updates, removed without warning, or fail in ways that make them unusable or unsafe to users and to people with disabilities who may be relying on them to meet a specific functional need.

For example:

  • Software updates may unintentionally disable or alter accessibility features, leaving users vulnerable to critical functionality, as noted in Aestumanda.
  • Privacy safeguards may not address compliance regulations, such as HIPAA requirements, regarding data collected when a device is used as assistive technology, especially in health care or workplace contexts, as identified by the International Bar Association.
  • Technical support staff may lack the training required to troubleshoot accessibility features safely and effectively for people with disabilities.

Built-in safeguards of assistive technology

Specialized assistive technology goes through a far more rigorous vetting process than consumer tech. For medical-grade AT devices such as hearing aids, communication devices or mobility equipment, this can mean meeting regulatory standards such as FDA approval or ISO certification. These safeguards ensure:

  • Reliability: Devices are tested to withstand real-world conditions and repetitive use.
  • Safety: Devices undergo clinical trials, user testing and validation studies. They are also tested for electrical or mechanical errors to prevent harm.
  • Consistency: Features essential for accessibility are not optional; they are embedded into the core function of assistive devices and cannot be accidentally disabled with user error.

Additionally, reputable AT manufacturers engage in ongoing research to refine products based on user feedback and evolving needs and technology. This cycle of innovation is guided by compliance frameworks, not just market trends targeted to meet the demand of the masses.

Perhaps one of the most overlooked advantages of AT is dedicated human expertise. Rehabilitation specialists, occupational therapists, and low-vision or hearing specialists are often involved in recommending and configuring assistive devices. This professional guidance ensures the technology truly fits the user’s needs and environment. Some AT even takes it a step further. For example, users of eSight Go assistive low-vision devices (Gentex) are assigned a coach who has low vision, uses the device daily and can help users integrate it into their lives based on their specific visual needs. Contrast this experience with that of mainstream tech in which users are often left to troubleshoot on their own or rely on generic customer service channels not designed to support the specific needs of people with varying disabilities.

Mainstream technology can be a valuable complement to assistive devices, but it often has limitations when compared with assistive technology. While consumer products may offer convenience and innovative features, assistive technology is positioned to deliver advancements and support specifically designed to meet the ongoing needs and challenges faced by people with disabilities.

For people with a disability, technology is often more than a convenience or nice-to-have feature; it is technology that offers a lifeline — a lifeline built to address specific functional needs, empowering independence and accessibility in ways that mainstream one-size-fits-all solutions have a hard time delivering.

Sources/Disclosures

Source:

Expert Submission

 

References:

Disclosures: Mattern reports being director of sales for eSight by Gentex.

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