Close-up of a user's hands operating a HumanWare refreshable Braille note-taking device.

Approximate reading time: 2:00

Assistive technology (AT) is technology that helps people with disabilities to accomplish tasks by improving or enhancing a user's capabilities. People with different requirements use different kinds of assistive technology. Examples of assistive technology for computer users include screen readers, magnification software, speech recognition software, touch screens, Braille displays, and other alternative input and display options.

Assistive technology often augments or takes the place of another technology or tool. For example, screen readers use synthetic speech to present auditory information in place of a visual computer monitor. Voice commands let a user activate links and buttons verbally instead of clicking a mouse. A braille display presents content with pins that rise and fall, creating braille characters in the place of characters on a screen.

As useful as these tools are, assistive technology by itself cannot make an inaccessible system accessible. AT can help users to engage, understand, and interact with technology, but the technology must be built with accessibility features so the AT can work effectively with the system. For AT users, assistive technology and accessibility practice work in tandem to produce equitable access to technology.

Accessible design practices benefit users of assistive technology. Consider how the technology you provide or support might interact with different kinds of AT.

Optional, but recommended

Review examples of assistive technologies (in this course)