New "Assistive Access" feature?

[Steven SANH]

Since iOS 17x we have a feature in Accessibility called "Assistive Access". It seems like a tremendous feature to transform the iPhone into a basic phone, especially targeted at Seniors; people with cognitive disabilities; or vision impairment (or anyone who wants things simple). In Settings > Accessibilty > Assistive Access; there is a 'Learn more' link. It's an open insight/tour into this great feature.

My question is... has anyone had experience in setting it up and using it? Plus also, if you EXIT Assistive Access, does it revert back to your previous iPhone layout and settings?

 

[MacCheetah3]

Not yet, though I do intend to try it on my mother’s iPhone SE. Anyway… This video, I think, does a good job of demoing (including your question):

 

[Steven SANH]

Not yet, though I do intend to try it on my mother’s iPhone SE. Anyway… This video, I think, does a good job of demoing (including your question):

Thanks for the link! I'll check it out on YouTube.

 

[MacUserROC]

Since iOS 17x we have a feature in Accessibility called "Assistive Access". It seems like a tremendous feature to transform the iPhone into a basic phone, especially targeted at Seniors; people with cognitive disabilities; or vision impairment (or anyone who wants things simple). In Settings > Accessibilty > Assistive Access; there is a 'Learn more' link. It's an open insight/tour into this great feature.

My question is... has anyone had experience in setting it up and using it? Plus also, if you EXIT Assistive Access, does it revert back to your previous iPhone layout and settings?

Just set this up on my 94 year old father-in-law's phone. He is very vision impaired - specifically can't see things that are close up unless they are enlarged. However he has great cognitive abilities. Love the layout as it made it easy to have the phone setup just to receive and make phone calls which is pretty much all he wants to do with a phone. But talking him into a phone allows him to have a 911 feature when he goes out for walks away from his independent living facility. Only glitch with this tool that we see is that you can set it up to receive calls from all contacts, specified contacts, or everyone. BUT making calls are only limited to specified contacts which must be loaded into the system one by one. You can easily use SIRI to make a call BUT you can't use it to call someone not in that approved list. While that might be a needed future for some users, this is too restrictive for my father-in-law's needs. Worked with the accessibility team today for a while -- they were very helpful and did request a future upgrade to allow the phone to be set up so that one can have unlimited outgoing call capability. And yes if you EXIT Assistive Access it reverts to your previous iPhone layout and settings AND if you return to Assistive Access it reverts to the setups you have in Assistive Access.

 

[Steven SANH]

Thanks for you

Just set this up on my 94 year old father-in-law's phone. He is very vision impaired - specifically can't see things that are close up unless they are enlarged. However he has great cognitive abilities. Love the layout as it made it easy to have the phone setup just to receive and make phone calls which is pretty much all he wants to do with a phone. But talking him into a phone allows him to have a 911 feature when he goes out for walks away from his independent living facility. Only glitch with this tool that we see is that you can set it up to receive calls from all contacts, specified contacts, or everyone. BUT making calls are only limited to specified contacts which must be loaded into the system one by one. You can easily use SIRI to make a call BUT you can't use it to call someone not in that approved list. While that might be a needed future for some users, this is too restrictive for my father-in-law's needs. Worked with the accessibility team today for a while -- they were very helpful and did request a future upgrade to allow the phone to be set up so that one can have unlimited outgoing call capability. And yes if you EXIT Assistive Access it reverts to your previous iPhone layout and settings AND if you return to Assistive Access it reverts to the setups you have in Assistive Access.

Thanks for your in-depth reply! Glad to hear your 94 year old father-in-law can still make use of the iPhone. I hope Apple make the necessary upgrade to facilitate the outgoing call feature.
Thanks for the reassurance about Exiting Assistive Access and reverting back. I was concerned it may mess up previous settings and layouts.