Recognizing Where Accessibility Is Being Implemented, Featuring TabBuddies

Posted on May 29, 2025    Posted by Athena Scalzi      35 Comments

Recently, while scrolling on Tik Tok, I saw a video from Tab Buddies where they were promoting their product, aptly named the Tab Buddy. It’s a small gadget that helps you open soda cans, and they even have a bigger version that can open larger cans like canned vegetables or soup cans, even cat food cans. Here’s a video giving a rundown of their product and the different versions they sell:

Replying to @aliteralcommunist Thank you for the love and for giving us a jumping off point to delve into one of our most frequently asked questions- which Tab Buddy is best for me? Let’s discuss 💕🥫✨ #tabbuddies #tabbuddyxl #accessibility #kitchengadgets #kitchenhacks #arthritis #assistivetech #disability #nailhacks

♬ Lo-fi pop, summer, cute, ice cream(1238712) – Gloveity

When I first saw this, I was intrigued. I’d never seen something like this before, but the product immediately made sense to me because I’m someone who has had acrylic nails before. When you have really long nails, it can be hard to do a lot of regular tasks, like opening a soda. Even if you just have a regular manicure, a lot of activities risk chipping your polish or nails. I distinctly remember that opening soda cans was not the only issue I faced with long nails, but it was certainly a frequent one.

In the comments of the video I saw talking about their product, there were tons of comments from people saying they didn’t understand why someone would pay money for something you can just do normally, and that they were a waste of money and plastic, and represent over-consumerism. Tab Buddies actually does address a lot of these comments, and one thing they said that really stuck with me was “if you don’t see a need for it, it probably isn’t for you.”

While I had immediately thought of how useful it would be for someone with long nails, I hadn’t even considered how much it could help someone with arthritis, carpal tunnel, fine motor issues, and tons of other things that make something as “simple” as opening a can of soda difficult. Heck, I’ve even been on the other side of the nail thing by having too short of nails, where everything I interact with hurts because I tore my nails off too short again (part of why I got acrylics in the first place was so I wouldn’t rip my nails off).

There’s a whole myriad of reasons, disability or not, why someone might find a Tab Buddy useful. Plus, I have had so many times where a can is simply really hard to open. Mostly tinned fish cans. Those suckers do not want to open! I wish I had had one of these back when I did a tinned fish review.

Anyways, what I’m getting at here is that just because you think it’s unnecessary or useless, doesn’t mean it actually is. And I have a personal example of this I’d like to share.

I think it was just about three years ago when I was perusing the pasta aisle in Kroger. Then I saw it. A bag of fully cooked pasta that you put in the microwave for 60 seconds. And then I thought to myself, “man, how lazy can someone get.”

I regret this thought a lot. But, as soon as I thought it, I immediately began thinking of ways in which this product would be useful. Fully cooked pasta in a bag that you can just heat up could be so useful in instances of houselessness, a power outage, an inability to access clean, running water, a lack of pots and pans, so many reasons! Not to mention if you’re struggling with depression, OCD, ADHD, or anything else that can make cooking a meal for yourself challenging. Or maybe you’re just a busy mom, or a college student, it could literally be helpful to anyone and everyone.

I remember standing in the aisle and quite literally immediately began addressing why I had the ignorant, negative reaction I did to bagged, fully cooked pasta. I think a lot of people could stand to do the same in Tab Buddies’ comments.

Accessibility is important, and products that provide accessibility are necessary, even if you don’t initially see why.

Personally, I’m glad I stumbled across Tab Buddies. I’m about to order like five of these suckers. I love their fun designs, especially the calico cat paw, this rainbow, their citrus collection, and this adorable snowman. Of course, if the designs aren’t your style, their classic, minimalist style comes in plenty of different colors and sizes. I personally really want an XL one for the dang tinned fish cans I mentioned. All of their designs come with a keyring strap or a keychain hole so you can take yours with you anywhere!

Did any of the designs catch your eye? Have you heard of these before and I’m just late to the scene? Let me know in the comments, and have a great day!

-AMS