As we kick off 2026, the Assistive Technology Industry Association (ATIA) conference, happening from January 29th to January 31st, is set to showcase the latest tech that boosts independence. This year’s event is heavily focused on how AI and emerging tech bridge the gap between gadgets and true independence, with free sessions open to the public.
Free Virtual Learning & Exhibit Hall
Beyond the individual tools, ATIA 2026 offers a virtual component that is open to the public, for FREE! You can attend the Free Virtual Event and have access to over 40 free virtual sessions, which are a great way to engage in professional or personal development and earn Continuing Education Units (CEUs) from home. Additionally, the Virtual Exhibitor Hall virtually allows you to attend vendor sessions to see these devices in action and explore more.
The Ability Tools team will be there in person, and we can’t wait to bring you along for the ride! We will be posting pictures and sharing our experiences throughout the event, so stay tuned on Ability Tools social media for an inside look at the ATIA experience.
10 Devices to Look Out for at ATIA 2026
- Kinemo One and Connect: These wearable “body switches” use small sensors to translate muscle movements into digital commands. Kinemo One can be programmed for up to 3 actions and can connect to 1 device. It offers simple switch actions, turning tiny physical movements into “clicks” or “scrolls” on a phone or computer. A Kinemo Connect can be programmed for up to 18 actions and can connect to multiple devices at a time. It full mouse navigation, scrolling, and even driving a power wheelchair using the same wearable sensors.
2. The Lotus Ring: A wearable, app-free controller that simplifies home automation. Users can operate lights, fans, and appliances just by pointing. To make it work, you just snap a magnetic cover over your existing wall switch; no tools or rewiring is needed. The best part is there are no apps, no Wi-Fi, and no “smart home” hubs to mess with. It uses old-school infrared (IR) technology, which means it works instantly out of the box and is 100% private.
3. Tolt Technologies Ability Drive: This innovative drive-by-eye system empowers wheelchair users to navigate independently using only eye movements. It puts transparent arrows over a live video of what’s in front of the chair. Look at the arrow to move and look away to make the chair stop.
4. eSight Go: is like a personal zoom lens for your eyes. They have built-in filters to adjust with contrast and colors, which is a huge deal for tasks like spotting a friend’s face across a room or being able to read the menu at a restaurant. The best part is the “tilt” feature; you can flip the visor up to use your natural vision for walking around, then tilt it back down when you want.
5. Chomp Champ: A wireless and rechargeable chew device designed to help with focus and self-regulation. It provides a very gentle vibration when bitten, which gives safe oral sensory input. It is a simple design that is very easy to use. It can help with calmness and sensory needs.
6. Luna Glass: A pair of AR glasses designed to ‘turn night into day’ for individuals with night blindness. Luna uses a camera to brighten dark environments and project a high contrast image onto the lenses to help people with night blindness navigate safely. They work instantly without apps or Wi-Fi.
7. Ally AI Glasses: A conversational AI assistant that is available as an app, on the web, and as 2 types of glasses. It provides instant accessibility by reading text, describing scenes, and managing daily tasks. The Ally Solo Glasses function as smart glasses that rely on a connected smartphone to process data and offer up to 16 hours of battery life. The Ally Envision Glasses on the other hand, operate more like an AI-powered assistant, with built-in Wi-Fi and approximately 6 hours of battery life. They also offer offline features such as text and currency scanning and object detection, making them usable even without an internet connection.
8. Dot Pad: A tactile display that uses over 300 pins and AI processing to instantly transform images and charts into touchable graphics and multi-line braille. It creates tactile pictures of whatever is on your computer or phone, allowing someone to feel a meme, a complex math graph, or a floor plan.
9. InnoCaption: A free, Federal Communications Commisions (FCC) funded mobile app that provides real-time captioning for phone calls, allowing users with hearing loss to choose between high-speed AI or live human stenographers. The InnoCaption App allows you to toggle between AI captions and a live human stenographer during a call. Because it’s part of a federal program, it’s completely free for anyone in the U.S. with hearing loss, and it even works with Bluetooth-enabled hearing aids and cochlear implants to stream the audio and text simultaneously.
10. Talkido: A screen-free, interactive playmate that uses smart tags to turn everyday toys and flashcards into talking tools that help children with speech. A palm-sized audio device called the “Mio” works with tags and cards. You can record your own voice and link it to these tags using a phone app. When a child taps the Mio device to a tagged object (like a favorite teddy bear or a “milk” flashcard), it instantly plays the recorded sound.
Ability Tools is attending to share the latest advances in assistive technology. Join us, ask questions, and start thinking about your AT goals for the year ahead!
