Blind and Visually Impaired Community
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Need help with my choosing a phone for my blind father in law. (self.Blind)
submitted by TheTacoCometh
Hello, my father law is completely blind. He currently uses an old flip phone because he needs to feel the buttons in order to use a cell phone properly. Verizon just let us know that they will no longer support his phone in 2023, so we need a new one. I have been trying to find something to help him and I'm totally lost. Here are the criteria:
1. It must work on Verizon. Verizon is the only cell phone service that works in his area.
2. It must be 4G or LTE so that it will work in 2023 and beyond.
3. Buttons must be tactile.
4. We would prefer larger buttons, but they don't need to be huge.
5. Verizon has recommended a few flip phones to us, but they are in the $300 range and have small buttons. I don't mind paying more if the phone is right, but $300 for something inadequate is a hard pill to swallow.
Are there any 3rd party phones out there that you guys can recommend? Or Verizon phones?
Thanks so much!
1. It must work on Verizon. Verizon is the only cell phone service that works in his area.
2. It must be 4G or LTE so that it will work in 2023 and beyond.
3. Buttons must be tactile.
4. We would prefer larger buttons, but they don't need to be huge.
5. Verizon has recommended a few flip phones to us, but they are in the $300 range and have small buttons. I don't mind paying more if the phone is right, but $300 for something inadequate is a hard pill to swallow.
Are there any 3rd party phones out there that you guys can recommend? Or Verizon phones?
Thanks so much!
akrazyho 8 points 1y ago
Is he opposed to learning how to use a smart phone? Both android and iOS have incredible accessibility nowadays. In that price range you can get a lot of great phones including an iPhone SE at just $400 which is gonna be supported for the next five years or so through software updates. Using voice over on iPhone will give them full access to the phone and give them access to things like audiobooks access to YouTube‘s vast Library videos podcast and even movies for audio descriptions. He can do anything like sending receive text messages check and receiving some emails check his bank accounts pay his credit cards and even have access to services like Uber so you can get around without much help at all. He can also order food using food delivery apps or shop on Amazon and if he really needs to survive she can use Be My Eyes and have a volunteer help them out for free.
I understand the need to have something tact to fold use as a phone. I also get that he’s going into the hole using a smart phone thing blind entirely because he’s never used one before but is he beyond the point of being able to use one or is he able to learn?
Maybe it’s time for him to learn how to use a smart phone and maybe you can teach him. I’ll stick with the iPhone example here do you have an iPhone or have personal access to an iPhone? There are many videos on YouTube on how to use voiceover and app with themselves have a great intro to the basics of voiceover video if you were interested. I would recommend watching that getting a little comfortable with what they’re trying to show you and teach you and then on your phone you can enable voiceover with Siri and disable it with Siri as well and give it a shot just play around with it a little bit you’ll be surprised at how accessible the phone is especially with FiOS since everything is baked into the ecosystem. *iOs
The community here is here to help if you need any help at all. In fact I’m fully blind and I made this post entirely using just my iPhone and voiceover.
I understand the need to have something tact to fold use as a phone. I also get that he’s going into the hole using a smart phone thing blind entirely because he’s never used one before but is he beyond the point of being able to use one or is he able to learn?
Maybe it’s time for him to learn how to use a smart phone and maybe you can teach him. I’ll stick with the iPhone example here do you have an iPhone or have personal access to an iPhone? There are many videos on YouTube on how to use voiceover and app with themselves have a great intro to the basics of voiceover video if you were interested. I would recommend watching that getting a little comfortable with what they’re trying to show you and teach you and then on your phone you can enable voiceover with Siri and disable it with Siri as well and give it a shot just play around with it a little bit you’ll be surprised at how accessible the phone is especially with FiOS since everything is baked into the ecosystem. *iOs
The community here is here to help if you need any help at all. In fact I’m fully blind and I made this post entirely using just my iPhone and voiceover.
TheTacoCometh [OP] 3 points 1y ago
Thanks so much. In a perfect world, I think a smartphone would work for him. He's the smartest person I know. However, he would really need a class or instructor to help him, because I completely failed when I tried to teach him a few years ago.
He's been totally blind for 40+ years and really struggles with the concepts of the internet / computer. For instance, explaining how a search works, or a website address, or even the "back" button. I tried to teach him myself, but I failed miserably. He could certainly be taught, but there are not very many resources for the blind where he lives. He lives in the middle of nowhere, New York.
If he could access the internet and all of those things you mentioned above, he'd absolutely love it. Unfortunately, he doesn't have much desire to do so because he simply has never been exposed to it.
TLDR: He just wants a basic phone to make calls.
I am going to save your post, however, and talk with him again next time I see him.
He's been totally blind for 40+ years and really struggles with the concepts of the internet / computer. For instance, explaining how a search works, or a website address, or even the "back" button. I tried to teach him myself, but I failed miserably. He could certainly be taught, but there are not very many resources for the blind where he lives. He lives in the middle of nowhere, New York.
If he could access the internet and all of those things you mentioned above, he'd absolutely love it. Unfortunately, he doesn't have much desire to do so because he simply has never been exposed to it.
TLDR: He just wants a basic phone to make calls.
I am going to save your post, however, and talk with him again next time I see him.
Littlebiggran 3 points 1y ago
My husband just gave me an iPhone and I hated it.
I wanted a simple old fashioned flip (clam) phone. I am familiar with Samsung Galaxy Smart Phones but eventually I won't be able to use them as my vision fails.
But for now I give up the iPhone for an old Samsung again. I know the layout. I set up Google Assistant and large font and magnification.
I feel too old to figure out the iPhone blind apps and gimmicks without lessons. And lots of repetition.
I'm thinking a clam phone, unlocked, is ideal. But I haven't seen any yet. If I do, I will add those paint bumps I have put on the washer and microwave.
I was in Eastern and Central Europe for a few years, and I may ask my friends over there if there is an old unlocked flip phone. Use that solely for calls and sms texts.
And maybe find a way to grasp job to use an iPhone with training. But I am with your dad... my motto is K.I.S.S.
I wanted a simple old fashioned flip (clam) phone. I am familiar with Samsung Galaxy Smart Phones but eventually I won't be able to use them as my vision fails.
But for now I give up the iPhone for an old Samsung again. I know the layout. I set up Google Assistant and large font and magnification.
I feel too old to figure out the iPhone blind apps and gimmicks without lessons. And lots of repetition.
I'm thinking a clam phone, unlocked, is ideal. But I haven't seen any yet. If I do, I will add those paint bumps I have put on the washer and microwave.
I was in Eastern and Central Europe for a few years, and I may ask my friends over there if there is an old unlocked flip phone. Use that solely for calls and sms texts.
And maybe find a way to grasp job to use an iPhone with training. But I am with your dad... my motto is K.I.S.S.
TheTacoCometh [OP] 2 points 1y ago
This is exactly how he feels. I have to be careful not to confuse my desires with his. :)
Littlebiggran 1 points 1y ago
The tube of paint to make bright bumps make a huge difference for me setting up dials and digital. I can't see the dials on washer dryers because even if I bend over them, I can't see the settings. Maybe he can use those.
akrazyho 3 points 1y ago
Most states have resources for schools or classes that he can go to and take and learn how to use a smart phone. He would have to do some traveling in his case but these places do accommodate students and housing for free underneath the state program. Have you reached out to your local lighthouse for the blind or your state to see what programs are available for him?
It sounds like he can learn how to use a smart phone given a little bit of time and a little bit of work on his end. I’m gonna use an iPhone for an example here but it’s 100% the same with an android device. He doesn’t need to learn how to use voice over for the iPhone he can just learn how to use Siri and get both phone calls and text messages and basic information including things like whether stocks or just random tidbit of information from Siri. That way on his own time he can learn voiceover if he chooses to. All I need to do is ask Siri to send Mike a message and say hey what time are you going to grab dinner tonight and cereal asked me if my message to Mike says hey what time are you gonna grab dinner tonight and would you like to send it and all I have to do is say yes. I can also ask Siri to read my unread text messages or read my messages from Mike. Most importantly I can tell Siri to hey call Mike Erick immediately calls Mike.
You can get a pretty good phone for $100 if you want to go that route and get a pretty good android device or a pretty good iPhone obviously used if you just wanna use Google assistant or Siri and its most basic form.
He would have to use the very basic feature voiceover where you two finger double tap the answer call and two finger double tap to hang up a call but beyond that it’s very straightforward if he wants to use it and it’s most basic form plus the phone will read out who’s calling you.
It sounds like he can learn how to use a smart phone given a little bit of time and a little bit of work on his end. I’m gonna use an iPhone for an example here but it’s 100% the same with an android device. He doesn’t need to learn how to use voice over for the iPhone he can just learn how to use Siri and get both phone calls and text messages and basic information including things like whether stocks or just random tidbit of information from Siri. That way on his own time he can learn voiceover if he chooses to. All I need to do is ask Siri to send Mike a message and say hey what time are you going to grab dinner tonight and cereal asked me if my message to Mike says hey what time are you gonna grab dinner tonight and would you like to send it and all I have to do is say yes. I can also ask Siri to read my unread text messages or read my messages from Mike. Most importantly I can tell Siri to hey call Mike Erick immediately calls Mike.
You can get a pretty good phone for $100 if you want to go that route and get a pretty good android device or a pretty good iPhone obviously used if you just wanna use Google assistant or Siri and its most basic form.
He would have to use the very basic feature voiceover where you two finger double tap the answer call and two finger double tap to hang up a call but beyond that it’s very straightforward if he wants to use it and it’s most basic form plus the phone will read out who’s calling you.
TheTacoCometh [OP] 3 points 1y ago
Using Siri only is an option I didn’t think about. The closest place he can take classes is in Syracuse, which is about 3 hours away. There’s just no way for him to get there. How long would a class take?
WorldlyLingonberry40 3 points 1y ago
Check out the Blind Shell Classic 2
akrazyho 2 points 1y ago
He would have to be taken there and dropped off and he would stay there until he’s done and comfortable with the course. They would house and accommodate him for free underneath the state for his long as he needs to be there for example to take as many courses as he would like. He can stay there up to like six months if he chooses to if he wants to learn everything the school has to offer but of course it’s varies by state in my state of six months if you want to go for every course. Don’t quote me on this but a technology course for learning how to use your device with accessibility methods usually runs about a month. The school does offer all the courses he could ever want if he wants to learn how to become a blind independent member of society. He should also be able to choose what courses he wants to take based on what he wants to learn for example he can do the technology course and then he can do the orientation and mobility course which is basically learning how to use a cane in public and for getting yourself around and for learning how to use it in places like a grocery store or doctors office and such. It is totally up to him if he wants to go that route but if you’re up for you can also teach them yourself and which if he’s as smart as you say he is he can probably learn about two weekends how to use his phone using voiceover or talk back for android.
guitarandbooks 3 points 1y ago
I have been blind for 26 years now. When I switched from an old school flip phone with buttons to the iPhone, I thought I had made a big mistake! When I took it out of the box, it was just a flat piece of glass. I thought nope, there is no way I can use this because I can't feel the buttons!
​
After that first day though, that thought has never crossed my mind. The way they implemented all the various touch gestures and the different ways you can explore/navigate what's on the screen, it just makes sense. It is very user friendly for a totally blind person.
​
Do you happen to have an iPhone or an iPad? Or, do you have an Apple store nearby? it'd really be worth him having a look at one in action. It may change his mind! Failing that, there are many demos online of totally blind people using the iPhone with Voiceover he could listen to. dictation and Siri do make life easier as well.
​
I teach iOS with voiceover but I'm one state over so couldn't do it in person. Doing it via Facetime or Zoom is an option though. You can drop me a pm if that would interest you...
​
After that first day though, that thought has never crossed my mind. The way they implemented all the various touch gestures and the different ways you can explore/navigate what's on the screen, it just makes sense. It is very user friendly for a totally blind person.
​
Do you happen to have an iPhone or an iPad? Or, do you have an Apple store nearby? it'd really be worth him having a look at one in action. It may change his mind! Failing that, there are many demos online of totally blind people using the iPhone with Voiceover he could listen to. dictation and Siri do make life easier as well.
​
I teach iOS with voiceover but I'm one state over so couldn't do it in person. Doing it via Facetime or Zoom is an option though. You can drop me a pm if that would interest you...
TheTacoCometh [OP] 1 points 1y ago
Thank you so much! I will talk with him and see if there is any interest.
We did have him try with my iphone a few years ago, but there was so much to learn it was information overload, due in no small part to my inadequacy in teaching it, I'm sure. :)
Again, I can't thank you enough for your help.
We did have him try with my iphone a few years ago, but there was so much to learn it was information overload, due in no small part to my inadequacy in teaching it, I'm sure. :)
Again, I can't thank you enough for your help.
wnolan1992 3 points 1y ago
I think the BlindShell might fit your needs. I work for NCBI and a lot of our people use them. Big buttons, speaks the menus, has email.
Might be worth a look.
Might be worth a look.
TheTacoCometh [OP] 1 points 1y ago
Thank you so much, I am leaning this direction, but I need to discuss with him first. :)
OldManOnFire 3 points 1y ago
Have you checked out $1?
TheTacoCometh [OP] 4 points 1y ago
upon further review it does appear that Jitterbug uses the verizon network. Now I need to find out how much it will cost me! I'll take any more ideas you might have. :)
OldManOnFire 3 points 1y ago
That's the only one I know, sadly.
TheTacoCometh [OP] 2 points 1y ago
I have, but they have their own network. I'm not sure it would work in the remote area of the country they live in. :(
bradley22 2 points 1y ago
Check out the Shell phone.
TechnicalPragmatist 1 points 1y ago
An iphone would grately enhance his life, independence, and connectivity.
CaramelToffee12 1 points 1y ago
There probably _are_ technology classes in your area that are able to help him learn, or at least someone online (or even in person possibly) that teaches accessible smartphone use. A smartphone is SO much more accessible to the blind than any phone you’re describing. It can be android or iPhone, they both have great accessibility features. It’s a struggle for any older person to learn to use new technologies, blind or not but I promise it’s worth it.
TheTacoCometh [OP] 1 points 1y ago
I will mention it to him, but he's a fairly simple guy. I think if I can get him started he would run with it, but he's also pretty stubborn. :)
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