Hair loss affects people across all physical abilities, yet most tracking tools are designed for users who can easily hold a phone above their head and navigate visual interfaces without assistance. This guide covers practical solutions for using myhairline.ai with mobility limitations, visual impairments, and other accessibility needs.
Why Accessible Tracking Matters
Hair loss is associated with several conditions that also affect mobility or vision. Autoimmune conditions like lupus and alopecia areata, medications for chronic pain or neurological disorders, and chemotherapy treatments can all cause hair loss in individuals who may also have physical limitations. These users deserve the same access to objective density tracking as anyone else.
myhairline.ai runs entirely in the browser with no app download required, which immediately removes one accessibility barrier. Any device with a web browser and camera can be used, including tablets, laptops with webcams, and desktop computers with attached cameras.
Step 1: Set Up Your Photo Station
The biggest physical challenge in hair loss tracking is taking consistent overhead photos of your scalp. Here are solutions organized by limitation type.
For Limited Arm Mobility
If raising a phone above your head is difficult or impossible:
Gooseneck phone holder. Clamp a flexible gooseneck mount to a table, desk, or wheelchair armrest. Bend it to position the camera directly above your head. These cost $10 to $20 and eliminate the need to hold anything.
Tripod with remote shutter. Place a phone tripod on a raised surface (shelf, counter, tall table) and use a Bluetooth remote shutter button to trigger the camera. Remote shutters can be operated with minimal hand pressure.
Voice-activated camera. Most smartphones support voice commands: "Hey Siri, take a photo" on iPhone or "Hey Google, take a photo" on Android. No hand movement required after positioning yourself under the camera.
Mirror-mounted phone holder. Attach a phone holder to a bathroom mirror at an angle that captures the top of your head while you sit or stand below it.
For Limited Mobility (Wheelchair Users)
Wheelchair-mounted gooseneck. Clamp a flexible phone holder to your wheelchair frame and extend it above your head. This creates a portable, always-available photo station that requires no transfers or position changes.
Caregiver-assisted protocol. If a caregiver visits regularly, schedule your monthly scan during one of their visits. The entire photo session takes 2 to 3 minutes. Provide them with our guide on how to take consistent progress photos so the angles and lighting stay standardized.
For Tremor or Limited Fine Motor Control
Phone stabilization. Use a tripod or mount rather than handheld photography. Any camera shake is eliminated.
Large-target interface. myhairline.ai's upload buttons and navigation controls are sized for easy tapping. If additional size is needed, use your device's built-in accessibility zoom.
Step 2: Navigate the Interface with Assistive Technology
Screen Reader Compatibility
myhairline.ai is built with semantic HTML elements, descriptive alt text on all images, and ARIA labels on interactive controls. Compatibility has been tested with:
- VoiceOver (macOS and iOS)
- NVDA (Windows)
- JAWS (Windows)
- TalkBack (Android)
Key data points including your Norwood stage classification, density scores, and trend direction are presented as readable text, not embedded in images. Screen readers will announce "Density: 178 follicular units per cm2, trend: declining 4% over 3 months" rather than requiring you to interpret a visual chart.
Keyboard Navigation
All interface elements are accessible via keyboard tab navigation. The upload flow, scan history, and report export can be completed without a mouse or touchscreen.
High Contrast and Text Scaling
myhairline.ai respects your operating system's display preferences:
- High contrast mode: Interface elements adapt to high-contrast color schemes set in your OS accessibility settings
- Text scaling: Content reflows when browser zoom is increased to 200% or more, with no horizontal scrolling required
- Reduced motion: Animations are minimized when your OS preference for reduced motion is enabled
Step 3: Interpret Results Without Full Vision
For Low Vision Users
Density heatmaps use a color gradient from green (healthy) to red (thinning). If color perception is limited, the numerical density scores provide the same information:
| Density Score Range | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 170+ FU/cm2 | Healthy density for most ethnicities |
| 130 to 169 FU/cm2 | Mild to moderate thinning |
| 90 to 129 FU/cm2 | Significant thinning |
| Below 90 FU/cm2 | Severe thinning |
Each zone displays its score as plain text. Trend arrows are also described in text: "increasing," "stable," or "declining" with a percentage change.
For Fully Blind Users
The dermatologist report PDF export includes all data as selectable, screen-readable text. Your density scores, Norwood classification, and treatment timeline are fully accessible. We recommend pairing myhairline.ai tracking with regular dermatologist visits where the doctor can provide tactile scalp examination alongside your density data.
Step 4: Coordinate with Caregivers
If you rely on a caregiver for photo-taking assistance, set up a simple protocol:
- Choose a consistent day each month for the photo session
- Mark the photo angles with tape on the floor or wall so your caregiver positions the camera the same way every time
- Print or save the photo guide from myhairline.ai so your caregiver has a visual reference
- Upload together or independently, the photos can be saved to your camera roll and uploaded at any time
The entire session takes 2 to 3 minutes once the routine is established.
Step 5: Use Your Data at Medical Appointments
The myhairline.ai dermatologist report is especially valuable for users with disabilities because it reduces the physical demands of the appointment itself. Instead of requiring the doctor to spend 10 to 15 minutes examining your scalp in person, they can review your density trends, photo timeline, and treatment log from the PDF before or during the visit.
This is particularly helpful for:
- Patients who have difficulty positioning their head for clinical examination
- Telemedicine appointments where physical examination is not possible
- Patients who fatigue during long appointment times
Explore more about using the hair loss treatment tracker and learn the best practices for how to take consistent progress photos.
Start your accessible tracking routine with a free scan at myhairline.ai/analyze.
Medical disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. If you have a disability or chronic condition affecting your hair, consult a board-certified dermatologist who can accommodate your specific needs during examination and treatment planning.