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iOS AssistiveTouch

Improving the accessibility experience for Apple users with motor impairments

ROLE

UX Researcher and Designer

TIMELINE

September - December 2025

TEAM

2 UX Researchers/Designers

TOOLS AND SKILLS

User Interviews, Diary Study, Participatory Design, Figma

CONTEXT

This case study was for the IS485: Designing for Accessibility course at the New Jersey Institute of Technology. After a whole semester learning about different disablities and the importance of inclusive and accessible design in UX, we chose to dive deeper through this project.

iOS AssistiveTouch is an accessibility feature that places a virtual button on users' home screen, which allows them to perform different actions and gestures. This feature greatly benefits individuals with motor impairments; but it can also serve a lot of non-disabled users.

PROBLEM

There is a lack of awareness of AssistiveTouch.

Individuals with motor impairments face significant challenges when interacting with their mobile devices. While Apple’s AssistiveTouch, an assistive tool for Touch within Accessibility, provides a resource, many users are unaware of or struggle with using AssistiveTouch. This limits users’ ability to access and activate this essential feature. It is an important issue because it impacts users’ independence and ability to use technology freely and comfortably.

BACKGROUND RESEARCH

What does literature tell us about this topic?

The literature reviews enabled us to examine the existing academic research on this topic. While accessibility research is a growing area, there are significant gaps in research regarding existing assistive technologies. It is important to evaluate the resources that are currently out there to determine if they are actually beneficial and effective for its users.

TARGET POPULATION

Our target population are individuals with motor impairments such as arthritis, tremors, etc.

We recruited our participant (F, White, age 58) through our social network. She represents our target user group of those with motor impairments, as someone with Rheumatoid arthritis. RA is a chronic autoimmune disease that pain, swelling, irritation, and inflammation in the joints.

OUR RESEARCH APPROACH

Through a combination of literature reviews, user interviews, and a diary study, we were able to identify major challenges with this accessibility feature.

KEY INSIGHTS

Discoverability and awareness

Our participant consistently expressed concern about the overall lack of awareness around AssistiveTouch:

“Why don’t they talk about this as a feature when you get a phone?”
“I would have been on this years ago... I’ve never seen anybody mention it.”

Learnability

After completing her diary study, our participant explained that many AssistiveTouch features were not intuitive. One recommendation she emphasized was adding videos to help users learn how each feature works and how to customize the menu.

“Why can’t it just be in the feature itself? Like, hey, these are instructions.”
“I just wish...they included a video that showed you somebody actually using the app [AssistiveTouch]...I think that might be helpful... when you see somebody else do it, the light bulb goes on.”

Usability

Our participant needed the guidance of the step-by-step instructions provided in the diary study to accomplish her daily tasks. She repeatedly expressed that the feature itself is not intuitive:

“...honestly, I don't think a lot about it is intuitive.”
“Because some of it without the instructions, I never would have figured it out.”

Customization

At the beginning of her diary entries, our participant expressed interest in customizing AssistiveTouch. However, as the days went on, she continually struggled to do so:

“I am also intrigued by the idea of being able to customize something within the App but I haven’t come up with anything yet.”
“I was not able to add the Scroll feature without reading the instructions again. My fault I believe because I keep forgetting to go on the Customize Top Level feature.”

DATA ANALYSIS

How might we make AssistiveTouch easier to find, learn, and personalize so that users with motor impairments can benefit from it with less effort and greater confidence?

HOW MIGHT THESE DESIGN IMPLICATIONS LOOK?

Increase entry points to AssistiveTouch

iPhone onboarding process
Through a benchmark style assessment
During phone software updates
Within the Health app

Enhance the learnability of AssistiveTouch

AssistiveTouch tutorial to provide a walkthrough of the features
Introduce a feature library with a detailed description of all the features

Prioritize the customization feature

Reorganize the customization settings into a separate, structured screen
Incorporate a designated customization section in the AssistiveTouch walkthrough

REFLECTION

Limitations

1.) Difficulty recruiting participants. We originally intended to have around 3-4 participants to conduct our research with. In addition, our efforts to connect with the Office of Accessibility Resources and Services (OARS) at NJIT were not successful, so we were only able to recruit one participant.

1.) Simplicity and intentionality. Hone in making more intentional decisions with the features. By simplifying some of the features and focusing on the smaller details not only make the app more compelling, but also target the very specific, core issue.

2.) Time constraints. Due to this being only a semester project where we had deadlines, we weren't able to conduct a long study nor explore all the design considerations we had in mind.

For future works…

1.) Recruit a more representative pool of participants. In future research, we aim to invest more effort in recruiting a larger and more representative sample of individuals from our target population. Doing so would help make our findings more generalizable.

2.) Conduct more in-depth research. With additional time, we would conduct more in-depth research, such as A/B testing, to evaluate which design changes are most effective. We would also extend the duration of our diary study to observe how users naturally learn and engage with AssistiveTouch over a longer period. For example, a month-long study could surface richer and more meaningful insights.

2.) Conduct more in-depth research. With additional time, we would conduct more in-depth research, such as A/B testing, to evaluate which design changes are most effective. We would also extend the duration of our diary study to observe how users naturally learn and engage with AssistiveTouch over a longer period. For example, a month-long study could surface richer and more meaningful insights.

3.) Enhance UX writing. We would also focus on improving the UX writing to ensure that the wording is clear, concise, and easy to understand. Simplifying the language and providing more accessible phrasing could make the features more intuitive for users.

3.) Enhance UX writing. We would also focus on improving the UX writing to ensure that the wording is clear, concise, and easy to understand. Simplifying the language and providing more accessible phrasing could make the features more intuitive for users.

Learnings

Our study and design explorations identified a significant need for additional research into existing assistive technologies. It is important to critically assess the value and impact of these solutions to determine if they meet the needs of their intended user group and deliver meaningful benefits. As designers and researchers, we have a responsibility to surface what already exists, strengthen what has been overlooked, and ensure that accessibility is not an afterthought but an everyday experience that truly supports the people it was created for.

sso9@njit.edu

NYC/NJ

Made with 🩷, ☕, 🎧

2026

sso9@njit.edu

NYC/NJ

Made with 🩷, ☕, 🎧

2026

sso9@njit.edu

NYC/NJ

Made with 🩷, ☕, 🎧

2026