How we check
We check so you don't have to.
We checked the technology on Cosign with adults (18 and up) in mind. That doesn't mean it can't be explored for younger people. Each person, along with their caregivers, family and support or treatment team, decides what's right for them.
Two devices can look the same online. Same photo style, same promise, close to the same price. Then one arrives and needs a hub you didn't know to buy, a phone you don't have, or a monthly plan that was never in the headline price. Families and support teams lose hours to that kind of surprise.
Cosign does that checking first. Every listing is written around a real need at home, and every listing shows the date it was last checked. Here is what we look at.
Cosign is a guide. Listings are sorted by need to help families, people with disabilities, and provider organizations explore options, and what works always depends on the person's specific needs.
What we check on every listing
1. The need it meets.
We start with the need, not the brand. Listings are grouped by everyday needs like remembering medication, getting help when something goes wrong, or staying in touch with family. Each listing says in plain words what the device helps with.
2. Who it might fit, and how it is used at home.
Every listing describes how the device can be used in a real home, with a clearly illustrative example, and says whether it suits families, provider teams, or both. When a product works only for some people, we say so. When a maker names the age range a product was built for or approved for, we show it on the listing in the maker's own terms, for example 'Manufacturer states: designed for ages 4 to 16.' That is the maker's statement, not a rule from Cosign. A product built for children may still be worth exploring for adults, and the reverse, and that choice belongs to each person and their team. When a product needs a prescription before it ships, we say so.
3. Whether it is the right kind of product.
Some products look like assistive tools but are built for something else. If a product is not made for the need it seems to meet, we leave it off and say why, so nobody buys the wrong thing.
4. What it takes to make it work.
We list what has to be in place before it helps anyone: Wi-Fi, a smartphone, a particular tablet or phone brand, a hub sold separately, a home phone line, the right outlet, wiring, or a ceiling height. We rate setup as low, medium or high effort, and we say when a specialist, such as a speech-language pathologist, an occupational therapist or a low vision clinic, can help with fit and setup.
5. What it really costs.
We show the regular price, not a sale price. When a sale was running on the day we checked, the listing says so. We show a price range and a separate line for the monthly cost, and we only write "None required" after checking that the device works without a plan. If a feature you would expect needs a paid plan, we say which one. If someone may qualify to get it free, such as captioned phone service for people who qualify, we say where the rules are explained. Prices come from the maker's own page, or from a named seller when the maker does not sell direct.
6. How it treats the person using it.
The person using the device comes first. When a product can share information with someone else, like location, dose alerts, or a camera or video call that connects on its own, the listing says "Talk with the person first," and it describes uses the person chooses. We note when a device has no camera, when an alert stays inside the room, and when the person decides who sees their information. We describe support, not watching.
7. Known limits.
If a maker or a public agency has flagged a limit, we pass it on. For example, fingertip oxygen readers can read less accurately on darker skin, an issue the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has flagged, so those listings say to treat readings as a guide. If a product is not cleared to detect what its marketing suggests, we say that too.
8. A mix of makers.
We look past the biggest brands to smaller and specialty makers, including makers of communication, vision, hearing and access tools, so no single company fills a need.
Each listing is checked against the maker's or retailer's page, and the last-checked date is shown on the listing. Discontinued products are removed, and out-of-stock items are marked. If something looks wrong, you can report a problem.
How a listing gets on Cosign
- We start from a need. For example: "knowing a parent got up safely this morning," or "a way to say 'I'm tired' without speaking."
- We find real products that meet it. Only products you can buy today. Pre-orders, waitlists and products that are out of stock stay off the list until they are ready.
- We check the facts on the maker's or retailer's page. Price, monthly cost, what else you need, who it is for, and any limits.
- We show the date. Each listing is checked against the maker's or retailer's page, and the date is shown on the listing.
Held for later
Some products are not ready to list. We keep them on a held list, with the reason, and look again later. Common reasons:
- It is pre-order, waitlist or crowdfunding only.
- It is out of stock or sold out at the maker.
- The maker shows no price, or only asks you to call for a quote, so we can't confirm what it costs.
- It looks discontinued, or the maker has said support may end.
- It is not the right kind of product for the need.
How we re-check
A listing is not a lifetime pass. Prices change, plans change, apps update, and companies get sold. Every listing shows a Last checked date, and each listing is checked against the maker's or retailer's page. Discontinued products are removed, and out-of-stock items are marked. If a reader tells us something is off, we check that listing again.
How something comes off Cosign
Anything can come off, including a sponsored product and anything with a business relationship to House of CINO. A listing comes down or goes back to the held list when:
- It stops being sold, or stays out of stock.
- The price or plan changes and we can't confirm the new one.
- An update makes it harder to use for the people it was listed for.
- The company starts sharing information in ways people did not agree to.
- Support stops answering.
- We learn we got something wrong.
When a listing changes or comes down, the listing says so and says why.
Tell us
If you use something listed on Cosign, we want to hear how it is going, the good and the not so good. Contact us. What you tell us is part of how we check.
Questions people ask
How does Cosign decide which devices to list?
Cosign starts with an everyday need at home, finds real products you can buy today, and checks each one on the maker's own page for price, monthly cost, what else you need, who it might fit and any known limits. Each listing is checked against the maker's or retailer's page, and the date is shown.
Does Cosign show sale prices?
No. Cosign shows the regular price and notes when a sale was running on the day it checked. Each listing also has a separate line for the monthly cost.
How often are listings checked?
Every listing shows the date it was last checked. Each listing is checked against the maker's or retailer's page. Discontinued products are removed, and out-of-stock items are marked.
Why are some products held instead of listed?
Products that are pre-order only, out of stock, missing a price on the maker's page, possibly discontinued, or not the right kind of product for the need are held with the reason until they are ready.
What does "Talk with the person first" mean on a listing?
It means the device can share information with someone else, such as location, alerts or video. The person using it should agree first and choose who sees what.