User-informed recommendations for enhancing smart home services among people with disabilities

Smart home technology offers significant potential to improve independence, convenience, and daily functioning for individuals with disabilities. Despite its promise, there is limited research examining how people with different types of disabilities experience and adopt smart home systems in their everyday lives. This study aimed to explore user perspectives and suggest strategies for enhancing smart home services by conducting a cross-sectional qualitative study with 25 participants, including individuals with physical, visual, hearing, developmental, or brain lesion-related disabilities. Data were collected through disability-specific focus groups and were analyzed thematically. Four major themes were identified: motivations for adoption (e.g. convenience, safety, energy efficiency), accessibility barriers (e.g. technical complexity, inconsistent functionality), facilitators of continued use (e.g. peer feedback, increased independence), and space-specific needs within the home. Quantitative data supported these findings, with 92% of participants reporting overall satisfaction. However, concerns remained about reliability and accessibility. The findings highlight the importance of user-centered customization, simplified integration, and spatially adaptive design to promote the effective and inclusive use of smart home technology among people with disabilities.