Home automation and disability: is the smart home truly accessible?

"Alexa, turn off the bedroom light, raise the kitchen blinds!"

Home automation promises convenience and independence, but is that really the case for those with disabilities? In this article, I explore firsthand how SMART and accessible a "smart" home really is, and where, instead, there's still a long way to go.

Accessible Home Automation - The Home That (Not Always) Listens to Us

The idea of controlling everything with your voice seems perfect for those with motor difficulties. But the reality is often more complicated: many devices don't recognize commands spoken with different inflections, or require inaccessible apps. Some functions, like turning on the lights or managing the air conditioning, remain beyond the reach of those with impaired speech or cognitive disabilities.

I'll give you the example of Deborah, a young woman with a disability that causes speech difficulties from my association "Chi si Ferma è Perduto ODV - ETS." Her mother told me she bought her an Amazon Echo device, hoping it would help her with her daily life. Unfortunately, however, Deborah struggles to interact with the voice assistant, which often doesn't understand her commands. This leaves her feeling frustrated and discouraged.

Personal experiences and real-life scenarios

When I first tried setting up a voice assistant, I was thrilled. But I discovered that many simple actions were tied to paid services or incompatible with existing devices in the home, so I started buying all the necessary gadgets, from smart light bulbs to floor-cleaning robots and surveillance cameras.

I can turn the lights in my bedroom and the LEDs in my study on and off in seconds even though my wheelchair can't reach the switch.

The other flaw I found is that each item has its own dedicated app, which means having to install several applications on your device. Many of them only allow you to perform specific operations by purchasing a paid plan.

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🔎 Curiosity

The Puglia Region's Pro.VI (Independent Living and After Us Projects) project provides funding of up to €4,000 for the purchase of home automation solutions for people with disabilities aged 18 to 65.

The 2025 call for proposals was open from March 24th to June 24th, with total regional funding of approximately €960,000/year. In some local rankings, 30% of eligible expenditure was dedicated specifically to home automation.

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Accessibility: promise or illusion?

A "smart" home isn't automatically an inclusive home. Accessibility must be designed from the start with real-world tests, not simulations. Deborah and many others struggle with systems designed for "standard" users, not those with more complex needs.

An expert who collaborates with the association confirmed: “Many voice devices are not tested on atypical commands: the technology must adapt to us, not the other way around.”

Comparison table of the main home automation devices

Device	Screen reader compatibility	Recognition of changed commands	Independent apps	Free plan is sufficient
Amazon Echo	Good	Limited	Yes	Limited without plan
Google Home	Excellent	Enhanced with local accents	Yes	Adequate free base
LogiKit	Customizable interface	Good trainable potential	Unified App	Extended functions at no cost

Home automation can truly be a valuable ally for independent living, but only if it is designed with and for all people.

Have you had any experiences with a smart home? I invite you to share them: together we can improve the future of living.