Assistive Access

Overview

Assistive Access is a customizable interface Apple describes as helping users with cognitive disabilities use iPhone with greater ease and independence. Apple's Assistive Access user guide specifies design steps: large grid layouts, visual alternatives to text, and simplified ways to communicate and navigate. Benefit: less cognitive load and fewer error-prone paths for users who struggle with complex app structures. Lesson: inclusion improves when you ship an opinionated focused mode, not only optional settings.

Why it matters

When interfaces assume high working memory and sustained attention, people with cognitive disabilities face avoidable dependence and drop-off. Apple positions Assistive Access as a way to increase ease and independence, signaling that simpler is a first-class experience, not a degraded one. The upside is broader than disability: focused UIs also help during stress, fatigue, or crisis. Build a simplified path that still supports dignity: clear exits, predictable navigation, and caregiver setup without removing user agency.