Well, Apple actually serves the real deal. When it comes to helping folks with physical disabilities, Voice Control on iPhone isn’t just a nifty feature—it’s the full-course meal. It’s independence, empowerment, and, in some cases, sanity in your pocket.

And yet… my mom? The queen of “I don’t need help” energy? She refuses to use it. We’ll get to that

So, What is Voice Control on iPhone?

Picture this: you can control your entire phone using only your voice. No tapping, swiping, or finger Olympics needed. Apple dropped this gem with iOS 13, and for people with limited mobility, it was basically a superhero cape.

You can:

• Open apps

• Scroll through Instagram (without doom-scrolling strain)

• Dictate texts, emails, or even novels

• Edit text like a grammar ninja

• Navigate almost everything—all with your voice

It’s like having a digital servant that doesn’t judge your late-night Google searches.

How to Activate Voice Control (Even If You’re Technologically Cursed)

It’s easy enough that even my mom could do it (again, she won’t—but she could).

1. Go to Settings > Accessibility > Voice Control

2. Toggle it on

3. Start talking like a boss

Commands you can try:

• “Open Safari”

• “Scroll down”

• “Tap Like” (when I post my gym selfies, obviously)

• “Replace ‘oops’ with ‘totally intentional’”

It even labels things on screen so you can say “Tap 6” and boom, it works. Magic? No. Just Apple flexing.

Why It’s a Game Changer for People with Disabilities

Let’s say you’ve got ALS, MS, or you’ve survived something traumatic (like me) and lost mobility. Or maybe you just broke your dominant arm trying to show off doing push-ups. Doesn’t matter—Voice Control means you can:

• Call your kids

• Send texts

• Scroll TikTok

• Order DoorDash

• Control your smart lights and thermostat

• Literally do it all, hands-fre

It’s the kind of tech that turns “I can’t” into “Watch me.”

Now Back to My Mom…

My mom is wonderful. Smart. Strong. Loving. But stubborn like you wouldn’t believe. Her fingers cramp, her hands shake sometimes, and she’ll call me just to ask how to “find the Google.”

I said, “Mom, just turn on Voice Control—you don’t even need to touch the screen.”

Her reply?

“I’m not talking to my phone like a weirdo.”

Yet this same woman talks to her plants. Make it make sense.

Custom Voice Gestures: Like a Remote Control for Life

One of the coolest things? You can personalize it. Set up voice shortcuts like:

• “Lights out” = activates Dark Mode

• “Goodnight” = turns off notifications

• “Netflix and chill” = opens Netflix and dims the screen (okay, that one’s mine)

And it even adapts to your speech patterns. Slurred? Slow? Fast? Mumbling like you just woke up? It learns you.

Conclusion: A Freedom Device in Your Pocket

The iPhone isn’t just another overpriced rectangle. For people with disabilities—or anyone needing a little extra help—it’s freedom. Voice Control gives users the power to operate their phones, manage their lives, and stay connected. All without lifting a finger.

And to my mom, if you’re reading this—yes, this is your sign to finally try Voice Control. I promise the phone won’t talk back.

Remember that time your mom hurled her phone at the wall because she didn’t want to “learn all that tech stuff”?
We laugh about it now, but that moment says a lot about human nature. Most of us have been there—faced with something unfamiliar, feeling frustrated, maybe even a little embarrassed, and thinking, “Forget it, I’ll just live without it.” That resistance isn’t really about the phone. It’s about the discomfort of change, the fear of looking foolish, and the craving for the comfort zone. Whether it’s learning a new skill, starting a fitness routine, or tackling a big life goal, the same reaction shows up. And the key to pushing past it? Knowing when you’re relying on motivation—and when you need self-discipline to step in.