Grip and strength
Opening jars, turning keys or holding a phone may be painful or difficult.
An everyday field guide
Shoulders, arms, and hands
Limb differences, arthritis, repetitive strain, tremor, stroke and other conditions can affect reach, grip, precision, strength or comfort. Pain and stiffness may change through the day.
A task should not depend on one particular movement. Changing the input method, or the object itself, can open a different route.
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What it can involve
Everyone's experience is different. You might recognize some of these, all of them, or none.
Precision
Small buttons, touchscreens and handwriting can be hard with tremor or reduced dexterity.
Reach
High shelves, back fastenings or using both hands at once may not be practical.
Repetition
Typing, scrolling or clicking for long periods can cause pain or fatigue.
Tools to explore
Start with what you already have. Feature names vary by device and software version.
Already on many devices
- Voice control to navigate, type and run commands (Voice Control on Apple, Voice Access on Android and Windows).
- Touch accommodations: adjust hold duration, ignore repeated touches, or use a single tap.
- Sticky keys, slow keys and keyboard shortcuts.
- On-screen shortcuts such as AssistiveTouch or the Accessibility Menu.
Low-tech and everyday
- Wide-grip cutlery, pens and kitchen tools.
- Jar openers, tap turners and key turners.
- Dressing aids such as button hooks, zip pulls and long-handled shoehorns.
- Non-slip mats to hold items steady.
Specialist options
- Switch access to control devices with one or two simple movements.
- Adaptive keyboards, keyguards, trackballs and head or mouth pointers.
- Arm supports and mounts for phones and tablets.
- Prosthetics as optional, individualized tools, not a requirement for independence or belonging.
Before you choose
- Does it reduce pain and effort, or move the strain somewhere else?
- Can it be positioned where you can actually reach it?
- How does it work when you're tired, or on a bad pain day?
- Can you try it before buying?
Costs, availability, compatibility, and suitability vary. Before paying, check trial options, ongoing fees, privacy settings, repair support, and whether a tool works with what you already use. A simple or free option may be the best fit.
Start small. Stay in charge.
Try one thing
Try voice for one task
Use dictation for messages or voice control to open apps for a few days.
Swap one object
Replace one painful everyday item, such as a pen or mug, with a wider-grip version.
Adjust touch settings
Change hold duration or tap settings so accidental touches stop counting.
Who can help
Support is optional and on your terms. Names and availability of services vary by country and region.
Occupational therapist
Can assess everyday tasks and recommend aids, splints and adaptations.
Hand therapist or physiotherapist
Can help with pain, strength and joint protection.
Prosthetist
Can discuss whether a prosthesis would help, and fit and adjust it.
Fit, positioning, fatigue and the environment matter as much as a feature list.