Throughout your life, you've probably used the telephone without thinking about it very much. If you've experienced recent vision loss, this pleasurable activity can become problematic.
Common telephone problems for adults who are blind or have low vision can include:
If you have low vision, you may find it helpful to place a flexible-arm or gooseneck lamp near the telephone to help you see the numbers more clearly. You can learn more about lighting at Home Modifications [1] on this web site.
There are many simple, low-cost solutions that can help you continue to use the telephone with ease and comfort. By using the following tips, techniques, and suggestions, you'll likely be using your telephone again -- with confidence and accuracy -- within a very short period of time.
Telephones, calculators, and numeric computer keypads use the same arrangement of numbers. You can practice locating the numbers on the telephone keypad without actually dialing by either (a) not lifting the receiver or (b) not pushing the "phone" button on a cordless telephone.
The telephone shown here is available from Independent Living Aids, Inc [3]. For additional information on telephones and telephone adaptations, see Sources of Products for Independent Living [4].
If you are blind or have low vision, you are eligible for these programs. Your local telephone service can supply you with the correct forms and information.
For more information about voice-activated, auto-dial, or programmable telephones and telephone adaptations, see Sources of Products for Independent Living [4]. Telephone technology is always evolving, so it’s a good idea to always ask about new items entering the market.
Read our discussion of cell phones [6] for people who are blind or have low vision.
There are several different types of telephones, accessories, and adaptations that can be helpful if you are blind or have low vision. For more information about any of the following products, see Sources of Products for Independent Living [4]:
"Big Button" telephones [3] have large black numbers on a white background, or large white numbers on a black background.
Large Print Telephone Push Button Number Stickers [10]: Have 3/4" by 3/4" bold black numbers on a white background. They are also available in white numbers on black, black numbers on yellow, and yellow numbers on black.There are a number of ways to keep telephone numbers and record messages, depending upon which reading and writing method you're most comfortable with. See Reading and Writing [5] to learn more about a variety of helpful methods, including handwriting [11], braille [12], large print [13], and cassettes, CDs, and iPods [14].
Whatever method you choose, it's a good idea to store your writing materials next to the phone and keep emergency numbers separate (such as doctors, police, and hospitals) so that you can access them quickly.
You can use accessibility features of commercial programs such as Microsoft Office's Outlook, a program that has a calendar, address book with telephone numbers, reminders, and email. You can set options such as size of font, color, sound, and keyboard shortcuts to the Outlook tasks you perform most often. Read about Outlook's accessibility features [16].
Newer computers have built-in accessibility features that may help you use any software more easily, including the calendar software you prefer. For Apple Computer users, here is where to learn more about Apple computer's built-in accessibility tools [17]. For computers running various versions of Windows software, read about Microsoft product accessibility features [18].
Links:
[1] http://www.visionaware.org/home_modifications
[2] http://www.visionaware.org/labeling_marking
[3] http://edge.affiliateshop.com/public/AIDLink?AID=095806&BID=10078&Redirect=/prodinfo.asp?number=186254
[4] http://www.visionaware.org/sources_of_products_for_independent_living
[5] http://www.visionaware.org/reading_and_writing
[6] http://www.visionaware.org/how-to-use-cell-phones-vision-loss
[7] http://edge.affiliateshop.com/public/AIDLink?AID=095806&BID=10078&Redirect=/prodinfo.asp?number=812456
[8] http://edge.affiliateshop.com/public/AIDLink?AID=095806&BID=10078&Redirect=/prodinfo.asp?number=186258
[9] http://edge.affiliateshop.com/public/AIDLink?AID=095806&BID=10078&Redirect=/prodinfo.asp?number=756953
[10] http://edge.affiliateshop.com/public/AIDLink?AID=095806&BID=10078&Redirect=/prodinfo.asp?number=185401
[11] http://www.visionaware.org/writing-tips-low-vision-vision-impaired
[12] http://www.visionaware.org/what_is_braille
[13] http://www.visionaware.org/large_print
[14] http://www.visionaware.org/listening
[15] http://www.visionaware.org/pda-features
[16] http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/outlook/HP030842211033.aspx
[17] http://www.apple.com/education/accessibility/technology/
[18] http://www.microsoft.com/enable/products/default.aspx
[19] http://www.visionaware.org/vision_rehabilitation_services
[20] http://www.visionaware.org/find_vision_rehabilitation_vision_services_in_your_state