Read Me the Screen

I use the desktop and laptop computers due to my disabilities. I do not use a phone.

Recently, it was brought to my attention that someone had age related difficulties reading their phone. This  problem will be universal. (A lot of people have eyesight issues as they get older.)

I have low-vision. I have a feeling this is why I fell between the cracks. I have used screen readers on my computers. A screen reader program will read out loud what is on the screen. I thought that it would be nice to have this feature on the phone (especially for people that get older).

I looked, and it is there!

This looks like a free app for the android phone.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=atlab.shineplus&hl=en

From looking at this, the iPhone has something installed.

 http://www.apple.com/accessibility/iphone/vision/ 

The iPhone also has a magnifier as well as a screen reader according to the above link.  On the computer, if screen reader isn't set up, there is a shortcut to magnify text. Just hit CNTL +. To make small is CNTL -. To reset the whole thing is CNTL 0.

I cannot give the following review, but another user does, 

As a partially sighted person I can highly recommend iPhones if for nothing else than its voice recognition and command system "Siri". You can open apps, set alarms and reminders and dictate your messages using Siri. It even answers questions.

Importantly, the iOS spell checker is infinitely more accurate than the Android one.

Apple devices do have accessibility options including screen magnifiers but most apps are not designed to work properly when the device is in accessibility mode.

I also use an app called BigFont to increase the text size beyond the limited effect of the iOS font size settings.

Finally I would never go back to anything smaller than an iPhone 6+.

The BigFont app is what I use on my android tablet - not my iPhone.

               - Jeff Hall 

I just happen to use a large font, because a reader requested it. 

How Do You Communicate?

• Trina Tbi Chambers-Bradlee But I don't really understand, Angela...how are you communicating with me? You must be able to type, or dictate... I'm just trying to understand how your condition is so severe...

  
  
  

I have used this video before.

I have used it to demonstrate that communication is possible with the severely disabled. Watch the beginning and the end. He uses his head to type. It probably scrolls through letters and then he selects one with his head. He would have to do that with each letter and space. It would take hours to complete a sentence. Before I could move my arm, I was tried out on a computer with a head mouse. If I had to still use my head to type, you wouldn't see this. I wouldn't even attempt as this would take a very long time.                                    

I am  now able to move an arm, and therefor can use a regular keyboard. All letters are before me, making it faster and easier. Faster  can still  be a while, though. Recently I timed myself on giving a response. It was a little under 15 min. It was three sentences.

You will see I answer a lot with stories like these. I try to explain everything in a story. They are canned responses. It will take me a couple days to put one together. If I still used my head, it would probably be a couple months. That's crazy! I'm not that determined.

Before I could type on a computer, I worked spelling my name on a toy. I believe it was an apple of some sort. I'd call it the Happy Apple because it would play an annoyingly happy tune. I ended up practicing quite a bit with that toy turned off.

Once able to type my name on a toy, months later, I got a computer. My accident and stroke was in 2002, and I didn't get a computer until 2004 when I was in a nursing home. I didn't use a regular mouse. I did, though, use a trackball, which can be purchased like any mouse. I had difficulty hitting keys on the computer, but an occupational therapist set up the accessibility features I did not know were already on the computer. I didn't use a regular mouse for a few years. When I went back to the hospital, I used my Mother's laptop.

I used a laptop computer in the hospital.

It was in the hospital I sent my first e-mail. Before that, it was exploring, research, and games.

Now I'm on a regular keyboard and use a regular mouse. This makes replacing old, worn-out parts easier. I only use the Sticky Keys feature in Accessibility (Ease of Access on some) as I only use one hand and need to make capital letters. (If this is the only issue  you have, just hit the SHIFT  key 5 times and click on YES.) It has gotten easier to type on the computer, but it is VERY possible for a severely disabled person to do it.

Pretty much. I only use my pointer finger to type. Also, I'm not as fast.

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"I'm just trying to understand how your condition is so severe..."

I'm not really anymore, but the definition of what was given to me says I will always be. It would seem logical to just change the definition. It also says this condition is "lacking consciousness" although the eyes are open. I am not unconscious! I think science wants to change me and the definition, but this is tied to politics. http://thoughtfulveg.blogspot.com/2013/02/failure-to-communicate.html

It's looking like it will literally take an act of congress to change this.