Introducing Assistive Access: A Custom Apple Experience

Date & Time

Wednesday, March 20, 2024 - 11:20 AM PDT  

Location

Grand JK  

Description

Assistive Access is a unique iOS experience which allows people with cognitive disabilities to use iPhone & iPad with greater ease and independence. Assistive Access distills apps and experiences to their essential features in order to lighten cognitive load. Learn about the principles and motivations around Assistive Access, and how the feature can be customized to fit someone’s individual needs. We’ll discuss interoperability with apps downloaded from the App Store, with the goal of providing as much customizability as possible, while giving agency to the primary Assistive Access user for communication, media consumption, and creativity. We will cover setup, as well as how to customize the different apps: Calls, Messages, Music, Camera, and Photos. There will be an overview of privacy considerations as well as some common scenarios for the person configuring the feature—the Trusted Supporter. The Trusted Supporter - a family member or caregiver - plays a key role in Assistive Access, and this has been reflected in the design. We’ll discuss the motivations behind this, providing a balance between customizability for the Trusted Supporter, and ensuring adherence to design principles when something is shown to the primary user. We’ll conclude by discussing what we learned from the experience of delivering Assistive Access with iOS and iPadOS 17, and how this can establish a foundation for additional developments in accessible software without compromising initial goals.  

Audience

• Information & Communications Technology
• Disability Specific
• Research & Development

Audience Level

Beginning  

Session Summary (Abstract)

This session will introduce and explore the distinctive iOS experience that Assistive Access provides to users with cognitive disabilities and walk through how to customize the experience to your needs.  

Primary Topic

Digital Accessibility  

Secondary Topics

• Captions & Transcription
• Design
• Independent Living
• Mobile Technology

 

Session Type

General Track  

Presenters

• Isis Ramirez
  Apple Inc
• Adrian Chambers
  Apple Inc

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