assistive-access

# Assistive Access

Guide for implementing Assistive Access support in iOS and iPadOS apps. Assistive Access (iOS 17+/iPadOS 17+) provides a streamlined system experience for people with cognitive disabilities, presenting simplified interfaces with large controls and reduced complexity.

## When This Skill Activates

- User wants to add Assistive Access support to their app
- User asks about cognitive accessibility or simplified interfaces
- User mentions `AssistiveAccess`, `UISupportsAssistiveAccess`, or assistive access scenes
- User needs runtime detection of Assistive Access mode
- User is reviewing accessibility compliance for cognitive disabilities
- User asks about `.assistiveAccessNavigationIcon`

## Setup

### Step 1: Declare Support in Info.plist

Add these keys to your app's `Info.plist` so the system lists your app as an "Optimized App" in Assistive Access configuration:

```xml
<key>UISupportsAssistiveAccess</key>
<true/>
```

For AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) apps or similar tools that need full-screen presentation:

```xml
<key>UISupportsAssistiveAccess</key>
<true/>
<key>UISupportsFullScreenInAssistiveAccess</key>
<true/>
```

### Step 2: Add the Assistive Access Scene

#### SwiftUI

Add an `AssistiveAccess` scene alongside your standard `WindowGroup`:

```swift
@main
struct MyApp: App {
    var body: some Scene {
        WindowGroup {
            ContentView()
        }

        AssistiveAccess {
            AssistiveAccessContentView()
        }
    }
}
```

The system automatically uses the `AssistiveAccess` scene when the device is in Assistive Access mode and falls back to `WindowGroup` otherwise.

#### UIKit

Use `UIHostingSceneDelegate` with a static `rootScene` property that returns an `AssistiveAccess` scene:

```swift
class AssistiveAccessSceneDelegate: UIHostingSceneDelegate {
    static var rootScene: some Scene {
        AssistiveAccess {
            AssistiveAccessContentView()
        }
    }
}
```

Register the scene configuration in your app delegate with the `.windowAssistiveAccessApplication` role:

```swift
func application(
    _ application: UIApplication,
    configurationForConnecting connectingSceneSession: UISceneSession,
    options: UIScene.ConnectionOptions
) -> UISceneConfiguration {
    let config = UISceneConfiguration(
        name: "Assistive Access",
        sessionRole: .windowAssistiveAccessApplication
    )
    config.delegateClass = AssistiveAccessSceneDelegate.self
    return config
}
```

## Runtime Detection

Detect whether Assistive Access mode is active at runtime to conditionally adjust behavior:

```swift
struct AdaptiveView: View {
    @Environment(\.accessibilityAssistiveAccessEnabled) var assistiveAccessEnabled

    var body: some View {
        if assistiveAccessEnabled {
            SimplifiedView()
        } else {
            FullFeatureView()
        }
    }
}
```

Use this to hide advanced features, reduce information density, or switch to larger controls even within a shared view hierarchy.

## Navigation Icons

Assistive Access uses large grid-based navigation. Provide a custom icon for your app's navigation tiles:

```swift
// Using an SF Symbol
ContentView()
    .assistiveAccessNavigationIcon(systemImage: "star.fill")

// Using a custom image from the asset catalog
ContentView()
    .assistiveAccessNavigationIcon(Image("custom-icon"))
```

Apply this modifier to the root view of your `AssistiveAccess` scene.

## Design Principles

These five principles guide what to build in your Assistive Access scene.

### 1. Distill to Core Functionality

Identify the one or two most essential features and present only those. Remove secondary workflows, settings screens, and advanced options.

```swift
// ✅ Good: Only the core action
struct AssistiveAccessContentView: View {
    var body: some View {
        VStack(spacing: 24) {
            MessageListView()
            ComposeButton()
        }
    }
}

// ❌ Bad: Exposing the full app with all tabs
struct AssistiveAccessContentView: View {
    var body: some View {
        TabView {
            MessagesTab()
            ContactsTab()
            SettingsTab()
            ProfileTab()
        }
    }
}
```

### 2. Clear, Prominent Controls

Use large buttons with ample spacing. Native SwiftUI controls automatically adopt Assistive Access styling, so prefer standard `Button`, `Toggle`, and `Picker` over custom controls.

```swift
// ✅ Good: Large, standard controls with generous spacing
VStack(spacing: 20) {
    Button("Call Mom") {
        placeCall(to: .mom)
    }
    .font(.title)

    Button("Call Dad") {
        placeCall(to: .dad)
    }
    .font(.title)
}
.padding(24)

// ❌ Bad: Small, densely packed custom controls
HStack(spacing: 4) {
    SmallCustomButton("Mom", size: 30)
    SmallCustomButton("Dad", size: 30)
    SmallCustomButton("Sis", size: 30)
    SmallCustomButton("Bro", size: 30)
}
```

### 3. Multiple Representations

Pair text labels with icons so users can rely on whichever representation they understand best.

```swift
// ✅ Good: Text and icon together
Button {
    startCamera()
} label: {
    Label("Take Photo", systemImage: "camera.fill")
        .font(.title2)
}

// ❌ Bad: Icon only with no visible label
Button {
    startCamera()
} label: {
    Image(systemName: "camera.fill")
}
```

### 4. Intuitive Navigation

Use step-by-step flows with clear back buttons. Avoid deep hierarchies or complex branching. Each screen should have one obvious path forward and one obvious way to go back.

```swift
// ✅ Good: Linear step-by-step flow
NavigationStack {
    ChooseRecipientView()
        .navigationTitle("Send Message")
}

// ❌ Bad: Multi-level nested navigation with side branches
NavigationSplitView {
    SidebarView()
} content: {
    CategoryView()
} detail: {
    DetailView()
}
```

### 5. Safe Interactions

Prevent irreversible actions. Always confirm destructive operations with a clear, understandable prompt.

```swift
// ✅ Good: Confirmation before destructive action
Button("Delete Photo", role: .destructive) {
    showDeleteConfirmation = true
}
.confirmationDialog(
    "Delete this photo?",
    isPresented: $showDeleteConfirmation,
    titleVisibility: .visible
) {
    Button("Delete", role: .destructive) {
        deletePhoto()
    }
    Button("Keep Photo", role: .cancel) {}
}

// ❌ Bad: Immediate destructive action with no confirmation
Button("Delete") {
    deletePhoto()
}
```

## Native Controls Auto-Style

When the device is in Assistive Access mode, standard SwiftUI controls (Button, Toggle, Picker, NavigationStack, and others) automatically adopt larger sizes and simplified styling. You do not need to add extra styling or conditional modifiers for these controls. Use native controls whenever possible and let the system handle the presentation.

## Testing

### Xcode Previews

Use the `.assistiveAccess` preview trait to see your Assistive Access scene in the canvas:

```swift
#Preview(traits: .assistiveAccess) {
    AssistiveAccessContentView()
}
```

### On-Device Testing

1. Go to Settings > Accessibility > Assistive Access
2. Follow the setup flow to configure Assistive Access
3. Select your app from the list of optimized apps
4. Enter Assistive Access mode to test the full experience
5. Triple-click the side button to exit Assistive Access mode

## Top Mistakes

| Mistake | Why It Fails | Fix |
|---------|-------------|-----|
| Missing `UISupportsAssistiveAccess` in Info.plist | App does not appear in the optimized apps list during Assistive Access setup | Add the key and set it to `true` |
| No `AssistiveAccess` scene in the App body | System falls back to the standard `WindowGroup`, showing the full complex UI | Add an `AssistiveAccess { }` scene |
| Exposing all app features in the Assistive Access scene | Overwhelming for users with cognitive disabilities; defeats the purpose | Distill to 1-2 core features |
| Custom-drawn controls instead of native SwiftUI | Misses automatic Assistive Access styling from the system | Use standard Button, Toggle, Picker |
| Icon-only buttons without text labels | Users may not understand the icon; no fallback representation | Use `Label` with both text and icon |
| Destructive actions without confirmation | Risk of accidental, irreversible data loss | Add `.confirmationDialog` or `.alert` |
| Only testing in standard mode | Assistive Access layout and behavior differ from standard mode | Test with `.assistiveAccess` preview trait and on-device |

## Review Checklist

When reviewing an app's Assistive Access implementation, verify each item:

- [ ] `UISupportsAssistiveAccess` is `true` in Info.plist
- [ ] `UISupportsFullScreenInAssistiveAccess` is set if the app is an AAC tool
- [ ] `AssistiveAccess` scene is present in the App body
- [ ] Assistive Access scene contains only 1-2 core features
- [ ] All controls use native SwiftUI components (Button, Toggle, Picker)
- [ ] All buttons have both text and icon via `Label`
- [ ] Navigation is linear and shallow (no deep hierarchies)
- [ ] Destructive actions require confirmation
- [ ] `.assistiveAccessNavigationIcon` is set on the root view
- [ ] Runtime detection via `@Environment(\.accessibilityAssistiveAccessEnabled)` is used where shared views need conditional behavior
- [ ] Xcode previews use `#Preview(traits: .assistiveAccess)`
- [ ] Tested on-device in Assistive Access mode

## References

- [Assistive Access](https://developer.apple.com/documentation/assistiveaccess)
- [AssistiveAccess Scene](https://developer.apple.com/documentation/swiftui/assistiveaccess)
- [Accessibility on Apple Platforms](https://developer.apple.com/accessibility/)
- [Human Interface Guidelines: Accessibility](https://developer.apple.com/design/human-interface-guidelines/accessibility)