Definition

What is assistive technology (adaptive technology)?

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Assistive technology refers to devices and services that help people with disabilities and long-term health conditions perform a variety of tasks.

Also called adaptive technology, the category includes a wide range of tools and services, including hearing aids, screen magnifiers, large-key keyboards, speech recognition devices, text readers, mobility aids such as prosthetics and walkers, eye-tracking devices, and more. Many assistive devices are built using AI technologies, including real-time speech-to-text transcription and visual recognition tools.

The U.S. Assistive Technology Act was passed by Congress in 1988 and reauthorized by the 21st Century Assistive Technology Act in 2022. The latter legislation modernizes the original Act and emphasizes the need to help individuals find and access assistive technology.

The Act defines assistive technology as both devices and services. Devices are "any item, piece of equipment, or system that is used to maintain or improve the functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities." Services are anything "that directly assists an individual with a disability with selecting or using such devices, including by evaluating the individual's needs or expanding access to such devices and technology."

Assistive technology devices and use cases

Assistive technology devices enable people with disabilities to interact with the world more easily and live their lives more comfortably.

Features and functionalities are typically tailored to the specific needs of their users and are thus incredibly diverse. Assistive devices can address a wide range of areas, including hearing, speech, vision, cognition, mobility, recreation and transportation.

For example, assistive technology devices include the following:

  • Eye gaze trackers. Eye gaze tracking helps people with physical impairments move a mouse on a computer screen or point to words and phrases on a communication board.
  • Cochlear implants. For those experiencing hearing loss, these implanted devices bypass some of the anatomical structures involved in hearing to provide a sense of sound.
  • Text-to-speech devices. These communication aids enable a user to input a word or phrase that is then verbalized electronically, helping people with speaking difficulties more easily communicate with others.

These are just a few examples of assistive technology devices. Others range from low-tech devices like wheelchairs and adaptive kitchen tools to high-tech devices like smart home automation systems and robotic exoskeletons.

Assistive technology and AI

AI has a long history of powering and integrating with assistive technology. AI capabilities like high-volume data analysis, adaptive personalization and continuous learning make it an excellent resource for assistive technology.

With the recent introduction of generative AI and the subsequent boom in AI products and services, many AI companies -- from prominent players to startups -- are exploring ways AI can advance assistive technology. For example, ChatGPT maker OpenAI partnered with Be My Eyes in 2023 to create Be My AI, a real-time voice assistant that provides descriptions of surroundings for people with vision impairments.

Other examples of AI integration into assistive technology include the following:

  • Machine vision. AI-powered assistive technology devices can use machine vision to visualize and interpret the surrounding environment. For instance, machine vision can estimate the depth of uneven surfaces to help blind users navigate their surroundings.
  • Real-time adaptability. AI's data analysis capabilities can help assistive devices monitor factors such as movements and vital signs to discern real-time aid needs. For example, AI-powered devices can detect changes in gait patterns that could indicate a fall risk.
  • Robot companions. Individuals with mobility impairments can use AI-powered robot companions to assist with daily living tasks.
  • Smart assistants. AI-enabled smart devices can tailor environments to a user's personal preferences and settings. For example, devices can automatically set and adapt home temperature or learn an individual's precise movements for sign language recognition.
  • Mobility aids. AI-powered assistive technology is gaining ground in aiding mobility. For example, in 2023, embedded AI technologies that helped transmit thoughts to the nervous system helped a Dutch man walk again after paralysis resulting from a spinal cord injury.

Assistive technology legislation

The first law governing the provisioning of assistive technology devices to children in school was the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), enacted in 1975. Originally known as the Education for All Handicapped Children Act, it was most recently reauthorized and updated in 2004. IDEA requires that schools provide accommodations to children with individualized education programs, which, in many cases, requires some type of assistive device.

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was enacted in 1990. As the world's first comprehensive civil rights law for people with disabilities, the ADA requires employers to make jobs available to anyone capable of performing the core responsibilities of a job and to make reasonable accommodations to those with disabilities. These accommodations might include assistive technology devices like refreshable Braille displays, screen magnification software and amplified telephone equipment.

Editor's note: Ed Burns originally wrote this definition. Olivia Wisbey updated and expanded it in 2025.

This was last updated in May 2025

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