The Light Switches That Changed My Life

Buildings generally aren’t designed for people with disabilities—and when your own home poses daily physical barriers, it can be incredibly frustrating. But smart home technology can offer surprisingly simple, life-changing solutions for people with disabilities, those aging in place, or anyone with temporary mobility issues.

This week, Wirecutter accessibility editor Claire Perlman and smart home editor Jon Chase join us to discuss a recent project where they retrofitted Claire's apartment with smart light switches. Because Claire uses a wheelchair and has limited arm mobility, her apartment's light switches were too high for her to easily turn on, leaving her in the dark if a helper wasn't around. Jon and Claire share how they solved this issue using switches that allow Claire to control her overhead lighting using just her voice.

They also break down the learning curve of setting up smart home devices, the frustrating realities of Wi-Fi pairing, and the best devices to start with if you want to make your home more accessible.

This episode covers:

• The limitations of standard ADA compliance: An "ADA compliant" apartment is designed to meet a wide range of needs, which may not work for every disability.
• Smart switches vs. smart bulbs: If you want to automate built-in overhead lighting, you don't need to replace your bulbs. Instead, you can replace the physical wall switch with a smart switch that wires directly into your existing setup and can be controlled via an app or a voice assistant like Alexa.
• The 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi pairing trick: If you are struggling to get a new smart device to connect to your phone during setup, it's likely because your phone is on a 5 GHz Wi-Fi network while most smart devices use a 2.4 GHz network. You can often fix this by temporarily disabling the 5 GHz band on your router until the setup is complete.
• The best smart devices for accessibility: You don't have to automate your entire home at once. Start small with high-impact devices. Smart plugs can turn any standard lamp into a voice-controlled device. Smart locks allow you to let guests or helpers in without needing to get up. Smart smoke detectors let you silence false alarms from your phone, and automated shades can help control room temperature and glare without physical effort.
• Why you should stick to name brands: When investing in smart home gear, established companies offer better cloud support, longer software updates, and more reliable compatibility with major ecosystems like Amazon Alexa and Google Home.

Products we recommend:

• The best smart switch for Z-wave users: Leviton Decora Smart Z-Wave Dimmer ZW6HD
• The best smart switch, neutral wire not required: Leviton Decora Smart No-Neutral Dimmer DN6HD
• The best smart plug: TP-Link Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Plug Slim (EP25)
• The best smart deadbolt lock: Schlage Arrive Smart WiFi Deadbolt
• The best smart light bulb : WiZ 60W A19 Color LED Smart Bulb
• The best smart shade: SmartWings Motorized Light Filtering Roller Shades
• The best smart smoke alarm: Kidde Smart Smoke + Carbon Monoxide Alarm
• The best power washer for the constant user: Ryobi RY142500 2500 PSI Brushless Electric Pressure Washer

Additional reading:

• She Was Physically Unable to Use Her Light Switches. Smart Switches Gave Her Convenience and Control.