Apple is bringing a major accessibility upgrade to Apple Vision Pro with visionOS 27, and this time the focus is on power wheelchair users who rely on alternative drive systems for mobility. The new feature uses the headset’s precision eye tracking system to offer a responsive control method for compatible wheelchairs, giving users another way to navigate independently without relying on traditional joystick controls.
Apple says the feature launches in the U.S. with support for Tolt and LUCI alternative drive systems, while both Bluetooth and wired accessories will work at launch. The company also confirmed that it plans to expand support for more wheelchair systems over time.
Eye tracking becomes a real mobility tool
Unlike many eye-controlled systems that require frequent recalibration, Apple says the Vision Pro setup continues working reliably in different lighting conditions while maintaining responsive tracking performance. That matters because users who depend on eye-driven controls often deal with inconsistent tracking in real-world environments.
“The option to control my power wheelchair on my own is gold to me,” said Pat Dolan, founder of GeoALS and a member of Team Gleason’s patient advisory board, who has lived with ALS for 10 years. “With this new feature, Apple is developing life-enhancing technology for the people who need it most.”
Apple also highlighted how the feature fits into its broader accessibility strategy powered by Apple Intelligence.
“The accessibility features our users rely on every day become even more powerful with Apple Intelligence,” said Sarah Herrlinger, Apple’s senior director of Global Accessibility Policy and Initiatives. “With these updates, we’re bringing new, intuitive options for input, exploration, and personalization — designed to protect users’ privacy at every step.”
More accessibility features coming with Apple Intelligence
Alongside wheelchair controls, Apple previewed several new accessibility tools across its ecosystem.
VoiceOver and Magnifier improvements
Apple Intelligence now helps VoiceOver describe photos, scanned documents, bills, and visual content in more detail. Users can also ask follow-up questions about what appears in the camera viewfinder using the Action button on iPhone.
Magnifier also gains spoken controls such as:
- “Zoom in”
- “Turn on flashlight”
- Ask questions about documents or surroundings
Voice Control gets natural language support
Voice Control now understands conversational phrases instead of requiring exact command labels. Users can say phrases like “tap the purple folder” or “tap the guide about best restaurants” while navigating apps.
AI-generated subtitles for videos
Apple also introduced automatic subtitles for videos that do not already include captions, including personal recordings, shared clips, and streamed content. The feature works on iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, and Vision Pro using on-device speech recognition for privacy.
Additional visionOS accessibility upgrades
visionOS 27 also adds:
- Vehicle Motion Cues to Reduce Motion Sickness
- Face gestures for taps and system actions
- New eye selection controls using Dwell Control
Apple plans to release these accessibility updates later this year as part of its next software cycle across the Apple ecosystem.
