Adaptive clothing and daily-living aids

The Administration for Community Living says assistive technology is any item, device, or piece of equipment used to maintain or improve independence in daily living, as well as in school, work, and recreation. Its example of low tech is a built-up handle on a spoon. High tech can be a computer controlled with eye movement. The services include assessment, customization, repair, and training.

Each state, the District of Columbia, and several territories has an assistive technology program funded under the Assistive Technology Act. Those programs can demonstrate devices, lend them for a limited time, reuse equipment at a lower cost, and sometimes help with financing. ACL points to the AT3 Center directory for state program contacts. AT3 describes reuse as exchange, repair, or another way to pass a device on. Programs may refurbish donated items and provide them, often at no cost. California's Ability Tools and AT Exchange are on the equipment guide.

Seated fit, fasteners, and hard-to-open packaging are real daily problems. We did not open a government list of adaptive clothing brands or beauty products, so this page does not name stores and does not use affiliate links.

An occupational therapist can look at dressing, grooming, and the height of a sink or mirror. A state assistive technology program can show tools such as reachers or adapted handles and let you try them. Ask before you spend money on a closet of clothes that may not work once you sit in them.

The phone pages in this section were opened on October 15, 2026. The first option is the phone you already have. These are built-in tools from the phone makers. The help pages do not list a separate price. They are not a smart speaker, and this page does not name a speaker brand.

Apple Voice Control lets you speak to use an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch. Apple's support page says to go to Settings, then Accessibility, then Voice Control, then Set up Voice Control. A file download is required the first time. Apple says that after the download you do not need Wi-Fi to use it, and that you should be on Wi-Fi for the first setup. It is not available in every country or language. Read the page for your device.

Android Voice Access is Google's app for controlling the phone by voice. Google's help says to open Settings, then Accessibility, then Voice Access, and to turn on the shortcut. You can open apps, navigate, and edit text. The commands page says Voice Access can be used in English, Spanish, German, Italian, French, Portuguese, or Japanese, and that Portuguese and Japanese include only the top 25 commands. The phone and the assistant need to be in a language Voice Access supports.

A switch for a lamp is the same kind of question. Ask the state program to show you one before you buy a speaker. A wheelchair or other medical device belongs on the equipment guide, not here.

Medicare covers some durable medical equipment when it is medically required, such as certain wheelchairs. That is a different question from a shirt or a jar opener. Read the equipment guide for the coverage and appeal steps we opened. A supplier and Medicare decide the claim.