I am sighted, but within the past year my mom has rapidly gone legally blind. I am looking for recommendations on technology to help her adjust. As it is, she can barely see her phone to text me anymore and while I know that doesn't sound like much it makes her sad.
IronDominion4 points2y ago
There’s a lot of accessible features for phones, especially iPhones. Computer software too, and depending on the country, organizations they can help purchase it especially the more expensive software. Places like the US and UK have people that you can hire to teach assistive technology, or this can be done through the state if this training will help her keep employment or obtain it
DrillInstructorJan3 points2y ago
The phone thing is totally fixable; there are how-tos on YouTube about it and yes they do exist on Android as well as Apple phones. There are plenty of people on this reddit, including me, who use phones with no sight at all.
Stick around, though, because there's loads of other ways to make it easier and no matter what situation you're in, someone round here will have some sort of suggestion to help out.
whiskeyandtaxes3 points2y ago
Find a low vision specialist (ask her doctor) who will assess her needs and give advice on what technologies she might benefit from.
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rory-games1 points2y ago
I believe commentary screen reader is a better option for android, that's just my opinion though.
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randompersona222 [OP]1 points2y ago
The magnification feature doesn't always work for her, is talkback the thing that reads the text or message aloud to you?
fabulousjames1231 points2y ago
Yes. If she has a smartphone you will find voice over or talk back in setting. Screen readers read everything thats on the screen and you can send texts, use social networks et cetera. There are tutorials on youtube.
siriuslylupin61 points2y ago
Voice over on iphone and talk back on android. On windows there is either nvda or jaws. On mac there’s voice over.so yeah, lots of stuff electronic devices is fully accessible or could be made so the apple products comes with it and the android phone comes with it too. Windows you need to install or buy stuff nvda is free. Windows has narrator but narrator is pretty good but probably can’t be the main screen reader.
here_comes_thesun1 points2y ago
My android has an accessibility option called "text to speech". It only reads what you ask it to read, so it may be easier for her to use that at first to adjust.
Basically you press the icon for text to speech that is always on your screen and drag it over the area you want to read.
I'm legally blind and have enough vision to use most functions on my phone, but I need to text to speech for lengthy reading.
I'm not sure if this is available on other types of phones, but it is very useful and allows me to continue texting as a visually impaired person so defenetly have her give it a try if it is available to you.
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