Telephone users with disabilities

Telephones - What features do disabled people need?

Image of blind person using public transport.

Blind people are not able to use their vision for dialling on a telephone, and rely upon tactile and audible signals.

For those who do read Braille, tactile displays will be useful, but a synthetic speech display mode would have a wider utility. Braille readers are less than 300 per million.

Essential Features
Enlarged keys.	Dial-out buffer memory.
Tactile key markers.	Tactile Display.
Standard key layouts.	Plug-in display.
Synthetic speech display.	Key feedback - audible.
Desirable Features
Guarded/recessed keys.	Plug-in keyboard.

Disability category links
Hearing impairment - moderate.	Speech impairment - severe.
Hearing impairment - severe.	Limited dexterity.
Deafness.	Limited use of hands/arms.
Visual impairment - moderate.	Weak grip.
Visual impairment - severe.	Hand tremor.
Blindness.	Cognitive impairment.
Deaf-blindness.	Restricted mobility (lower limb).
Speech impairment - moderate.

How disabilities affect telephone use

Users with disabilities - the numbers

User categories and definitions

Telephone Features

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Published by Royal National Institute of the Blind on behalf of PhoneAbility
supported by Department of Trade and Industry and British telecommunications plc