It’s a difficult time for expenditure. International tariffs, highlighted by the Trump administration, are affecting certain consumer goods more than others, especially electronic devices reliant on imported components. The base prices of laptops are seeing marked hikes. Products like gaming systems, automobiles, and even intimacy items have encountered price changes as the government modifies its tariff regulations. Less apparent industries, such as Hollywood, are also experiencing uncertainty.

At the same time, entrepreneurs and investors are keeping a close eye on industry developments as the Trump administration’s Big Beautiful Bill brings increased regulatory ambiguity for those trying to keep their edge.

Entities like the Consumer Tech Association (CTA), which advocates for consumer tech firms prioritizing accessibility and provides foundational grants to initiatives aiding the elderly and individuals with disabilities, have been outspoken regarding the unintended repercussions of the government’s economic strategy.

“Make no mistake: American consumers, families, and workers will experience real hardship,” stated CTA CEO and Vice Chair Gary Shapiro.

In a volatile pricing landscape, smaller firms dedicated to creating accessible technology are under pressure, already maneuvering through a convoluted economic and regulatory terrain. The challenges faced by these companies are particularly significant, as they cater to one of the largest consumer demographics — even those who aren’t disabled in their younger years frequently utilize visual, auditory, or respiratory aids as they advance in age.

Increased tariffs, elevated stakes

Primarily classified under the medtech category, companies within the accessibility sector are striving for medical and scientific authority, alongside generating sufficient consumer demand for products such as adaptive mobility devices, braille technologies, and other innovative tools for individuals with disabilities.

Adaptive products — often distinctive technology — are viewed as niche, although they are essential for many individuals globally. Assistive technologies may remain in regulatory uncertainty for years before they can reach medical professionals and subsequently consumers, with insurance companies exerting substantial influence. This renders success in this sector more complicated and riskier than other technology fields, as elaborated by Sarah Thomas, founder and CEO of accessibility consulting firm Delight x Design and an advisor in age tech — the newly coined term for human-centered technologies tailored to serve and adjust to an aging populace.

In comparison to new laptops and gaming consoles, accessibility tools are “a necessity, not a luxury,” remarked Thomas. Even without additional economic pressures, accessibility devices and assistive technologies are already surprisingly costly. Power wheelchairs, for instance, can vary from a few thousand to tens of thousands of dollars. Hearing aids have an average price range of $1,000 to $4,000. Cutting-edge technologies can be even pricier, and financial aid or insurance reimbursement is never guaranteed.

Tim Balz, a former SpaceX engineer and founder of the smart seating enterprise Kalogon, has spent 15 years in the wheelchair industry and is acknowledged for developing the world’s “first smart wheelchair.” Kalogon is now at the forefront of AI-driven pressure control and adaptive and responsive seating, aimed at mitigating the risks of pressure injuries for wheelchair users.

Balz, who has transitioned to investing in startups, noted that companies frequently increase their product MSRPs to stay competitive with insurance providers, but in doing so, they exclude individuals who might have been able to afford a device out-of-pocket.

Initially a nonprofit, Kalogon has opted to rethink how to leverage capitalism as a force for good. “The leading cushion was conceived 50 years ago and hasn’t genuinely evolved. We developed a product that was wholly focused on addressing the customer’s needs,” Balz stated, “by striving to do what was right rather than what was simple.”

Neal Weinstock, founder and CEO of Soliddd, is creating AR- and VR-powered smart glasses intended to assist those with macular degeneration and other types of vision impairment. Weinstock shared that after 15 years of trials and a successful launch at CES this year, the business is just now enabling users to get prequalified and test the glasses through a partnership with the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary at Mount Sinai.

“We genuinely prioritize our scientific and medical authority,” Weinstock expressed. “There are 200 million individuals globally who absolutely require the first product we can introduce, and we can only produce a few thousand.”

Affordability is accessibility

Medtech entrepreneurs like Weinstock and Balz embark on their ventures already wrestling with pricing and access. Many are now additionally burdened by exorbitant import fees. Thomas mentioned a startup focusing on dementia assistance products that is currently facing a $30,000 tariff bill simply to order more stock — without having registered any sales. Other tech companies within Weinstock’s network have encountered million-dollar tariff bills while their inventory is held at the nation’s shipping ports, despite attempts to relocate manufacturing domestically. Likewise, a manufacturing colleague of Balz had to downsize staff to manage seven-figure expenses linked to shipping containers.

Populations are aging, and the number of individuals utilizing assistive technology is steadily increasing, which signals a market opportunity there.
– Neal Weinstock

The additional costs incurred from tariffs mean these companies must decide whether to absorb the differences or alienate