Tech for Everyone: Making iPhones Accessible to Users with Vision Loss!

Angel Pacheco, Program Administrator at Lighthouse Guild speaks at the recent DOROT Tech Event about how to make iPhones accessible to users with vision loss.

Questions & Answers with Angel Pacheco

How do we turn off “enter passcode and face id”

Go to settings, then Face ID & Passcode, there you will see “iPhone Unlock” select the on/off switch.  When it goes grey, you have turned it off. 

Further down the menu you will find “Turn Passcode Off”.  When selected, a message will pop up confirming you want to remove the passcode.  Select “Turn Off”.

How can I turn on the captions for Zoom?

Find the 3 dots on your screen that says “More” and click. You should see an option to click “Show Subtitle”

What are the apps we saw today?

Seeing AI, EyeNote, TapTapSee

Do you have recommendations on other phones because my mother keeps pressing the numbers and therefore cannot use an iPhone?

There are numerous accessible cell phones available today.  I suggest looking at the www.maxiaids.com site as they have a few available.  Ask if you can try before you buy to determine if it’s usable and meet your needs.

Other phones, do you know any other than Jitterbug which made a very complicated new phone for seniors?

There are numerous accessible cell phones available today.  I suggest looking at the www.maxiaids.com site as they have a few available.  Ask if you can try before you buy to determine if it’s usable and meet your needs.

Any way to make “messages” larger, period?

If you enlarge the text in messages, it will enlarge the text everywhere it can.  To enlarge the text on an iPhone, go to Settings, then select Accessibility, then select Display & Text Size, then select Larger Text.  Use the on/off button to the right of Larger Accessibility Sizes.  If it is green, it is on, if it is grey, it is off.  Ensure it is on.  Go to the bottom of the screen and there you will find the slider bar and be able to decrease or increase the size of the text. To increase the text, slide the dot to the right and to decrease, slide to the left.  You will see the text in the current window increase and decrease as you adjust the size.  Once you are done, simply exit and your setting will remain.

Will the Fall programs at Lighthouse Guild be online or in person?

Tech Pals is in person and a requirement is that you must be visually impaired.

Similar apps in android?

Yes, there are Accessibility Apps for Android, but they are not for every Android model cell phone.  Higher end Android phones perform better while lower end Android phones can run slower and possibly crash.  Try these apps at your own risk:

• Android Accessibility Suite (formerly Google Talkback) Free
• Envision AI Free to try, then subscription or one payment of $200 – Similar to the Seeing AI iPhone app.
• Lookout by Google

Here is a helpful link to learn more about accessibility features on the Android.

DOROT

Lynn Hewett & Catherine Bravo DOROT: 917-441-3706 or technologyhelp@dorotusa.org

If you have any general questions about other Lighthouse Guild Programs and Services, please contact Lisa Miller, Outreach and Referral Coordinator, at MillerL@lighthouseguild.org or 212-769-7820

Angel Pacheco’s direct number: 212-769-7850

Email: pachecoa@lighthouseguild.org