Welcome to the HKNC Tech Corner

The HKNC Tech Corner was developed through support from the Consumer Technology Association (CTA) Foundation grant and the Helen Keller National Center’s Older Adult Program. It brings together devices, apps, and accessibility tools that support communication, health management, information access, safety, and daily living.

An older woman seated at a kitchen table reading the display of a small handheld device.

Curated for people who are DeafBlind, blind, have low vision, are deaf, or are hard of hearing.

This resource is for individuals, family members, service providers, and professionals looking for tools that fit specific needs, goals, and preferences. Every product was selected by HKNC’s Technology Leadership Team based on their experience with technologies commonly used within the DeafBlind community.

HKNC gratefully acknowledges the contributions of Juan Ramos and Nathan Bullock, whose expertise and efforts were instrumental in researching, organizing, and developing much of the content included in this resource.

Explore Technology Categories

Health & Wellness

Blood pressure monitors and thermometers with speech output and app support.

Shopping & Food Preparation

Kitchen scales, cooking thermometers, and grocery delivery.

Communication & Speech-to-Text

Live captions, transcription, and captioned phone calls.

Home & Daily Living

Smart doorbells, voice assistants, and tools for labeling and controlling your home.

Reading & Information Access

Tablets, phones, braille displays, and accessible book and news apps.

Transportation & Navigation

Ride-sharing apps and smart signage for getting around.

Alerting & Safety

Vibrating and flashing alerts for doorbells, phones, and alarms.

Money & Identification

Devices and apps that identify U.S. currency.

Visual Interpretation & Environmental Awareness

Human and AI assistance for reading print, recognizing objects, and describing surroundings.

Abstract illustration of translucent glass petals fanned out in blue, teal, and peach tones

The Tech Corner Is a Living Resource

Technology continues to evolve rapidly, and so will the HKNC Tech Corner. We intend to review, update, and expand this resource over time to reflect new products, emerging technologies, and feedback from the DeafBlind community and professionals in the field.

Tech questions? We’re here to help.

If you have any questions, you can reach out to HKNC’s Older Adult Specialist, Jenee Alleman, at jalleman@helenkeller.org

How Can We Work Together

Start the conversation about how we can work together to make your goals a reality.