Browsing web pages overloaded and crammed with content, is unpleasant for many shoppers, and can even be impossible to navigate for people with vision loss. Despite all that, I often find myself, on Amazon, in a navigation nightmare, and wonder why would anyone design a page like this? Sometimes I give up the hunt, and sometimes I fight my way through, thinking there must be a better way. And then, a more accessible option shows up.
Innosearch.ai is a shopping platform created with the needs of low vision and blind users in mind. Their attention to accessibility for screen readers, also benefits all visual users with a clean and clear interface. The design embodies the KISS principle, keeping it simple and uncomplicated. So easy, in fact, that I made my first ever purchase on a mobile phone with a screen reader, using VoiceOver on iPhone.
The first product I purchased on InnoSearch.ai, through a link on my phone, was an Oral B rechargeable toothbrush. A simple search delivered options from online retailers including Walmart, Amazon, Oral B and eBay. I found, and selected, the toothbrush I wanted at the right price, reviewed the product details, and clicked the “Buy Now” button. Finding ApplePay, at the top of payment options sealed the deal because it meant there was no need to create (yet another) online account and password. The order was placed. The package arrived at my door in less than 24 hours…and the shipping was free.
As the name indicates, InnoSearch.ai is an innovative approach to resolving accessibility issues, for every online store and billions of products. The customer does not pay a premium for this service, InnoSearch makes a commission on every sale, paid by the store. The customer does not pay for shipping and has a 30-day window for free returns. It’s all powered by AI, of course, including the “Ask InnoSearch” and the Shop By Phone chatbots. , you can search and Book Flights here too. See the videos below for video demos, by Sam Seavey, The Blind Life, for shopping online and shopping by phone.
They mean well, of course they do, but when it comes to asking a family member for technical support or help learning a new skill, things can quickly go sideways. What starts as a loving gesture, often turns into a test of your patience, and theirs. There is no need to blame age or ability for what seems to be an emotionally charged exchange with the geek you love. It’s all about family dynamics, which is why tech support is best delivered by a qualified non-relative.
Here are some tech support and training resources specifically helpful for older adults.
Senior Planet from AARP – call hotline at 888-713-3495 for answers to troubleshoot tech related questions. Learn about their free, online and in-person classes for older adults. Topics covered include computer basics, internet navigation, social media, using smartphones and tablets. They also offer classes on specific apps, online safety, and using technology to manage health and finances. SeniorPlanet.org
Public Library – More and more libraries are offering free tech support and training programs. They may have regularly scheduled classes and even individualized help administered by qualified volunteers. Contact your local library today and inquire.
Apple – The Apple Stores offer free personal setup, numerous workshops scheduled daily, Genius Bar to help you solve issues or fix problems, and Accessibility Support 24/7 by phone at 877.204.3930 for people with visual, hearing, learning and physical impairments.
HadleyHelps.org offers an impressive series of video tutorials, for adults with vision loss, on Android, Apple, Computer Skills, Books & TV, Alexa and Zoom. If you have questions, reach out to Hadley by phone at 800-323-4238, or email [email protected].
Microsoft’s Disability Answer Desk at 800.936.5900 provides free technical support to customers with vision or hearing impairments and other disabilities, on Microsoft products and accessibility features. This includes assistance with Windows, Office, Xbox, and adaptive accessories.
Community and Senior Centers – are offering more in the way of technology support and training, as well. Contact your local center and ask about their programs. In this setting, you’ll be learning from and with your peers.
Before you begin to expand your horizons, here are a few tips that can help you ease into the learning process with realistic expectations.
Focus on learning one thing at a time. Classes and workshops may cover more elements than you can absorb in one session. Be happy to learn a couple of new things each time and come back for the rest later.
Know the key to successful learning is rooted in repetition. You don’t learn to do something on the first try. Repeat it 20 times and suddenly you are the master. Learning to navigate a touch screen is mostly about how many times you touch that screen every day. After a while, it’s just second nature — ingrained in your sense memory.
A learning curve causes discomfort across the entire spectrum of age, whether your eyesight is good, or not. Keep things in perspective by allowing yourself credit for your successes.
Post originally published September 1, 2017 and updated June 13, 2025
Apple did announce significant updates to Siri at their WWDC 2024 conference, emphasizing a smarter and more capable Siri powered by their new Apple Intelligence platform. New Siri was presented as the central component of the advancing Intelligence, designed to better understand natural language, relevance and context personal to you. It was about time, Siri was getting a major update.
Even the first Siri announcement, in June 2024, made clear it was not actually ready to roll out, and would not be available with the release of iPhone 16 and iOS 18 in September, as would be expected. But the first small delay to December 2024, was pushed to Spring 2025, then Fall 2025, then to sometime in 2026.
Apple has released other Apple Intelligence features, including a version of ChatGPT connected to Siri, however they did not make up for the undelivered promises. In addition, the iPhone 16 and iOS 18 roll out was marred by glitches and bugs. Some of the issues have been resolved in software updates, but others persist for some users, including unresponsive touch screens, slow refresh, finicky Face ID, AirPods keep disconnecting. Accessibility issues include VoiceOver muting, cursor jumping and Speak Screen not speaking. Some problems are fixed with a reboot, temporarily, In some cases Apple Accessibility Support suggested turning off all Apple Intelligence in settings, for now.
On June 20, 2024 a class action lawsuit was filed against Apple by shareholders who allege the company misled them about the progress of its AI integration, particularly with Siri, resulting in financial losses. The lawsuit claims Apple exaggerated its AI developments, specifically related to Siri’s advancement, ultimately reducing iPhone sales and Apple’s stock price.
The post below was published following the original WWDC 2024 with a video preview of AI features to come. Apple has since removed that video from public access. Here’s a new video that highlights the Apple Intelligence features available now.
Siri, Accessibility & Apple Intelligence
Publish Date: June 27, 2024
Rumors of Siri’s demise have been greatly exaggerated. At the 2024 World Wide Developers Conference, Apple extended a golden life preserver to the iconic voice assistant, finally saving it from years of embarrassment and pledging to grant it a new respectable position. A mea culpa of sorts, if not to Siri, to loyal Siri users everywhere. The Siri reboot is empowered by Apple Intelligence, including a partnership with ChatGPT. So yes there is a possibility Siri will go rogue, but let’s hope Apple has figured out how to keep it friendly.
Siri has been a primary accessibility tool, for people with vision loss, since its 2011 launch on Apple iOS. The conventional wisdom was that iPhone users with vision loss would adopt the VoiceOver screen reader, many did, but many more did not. While on staff at the Lighthouse in New York, I encountered a steady stream of inquiries from visually impaired people, and their families, asking for “talking computers.” It took some time before I realized they were not looking for technology that would talk “to” them, they wanted technology they could talk to. We may be finally getting closer to a truly conversational and universally accessible solution.
Maybe, having not rushed into the frenzy, Apple can avoid the pitfalls of competitors, including Google, Microsoft and Open AI itself. Still that is no guarantee of success, but we can wish them well. At his conference keynote, Apple’s CEO, Tim Cook said, “I’m excited that we’ll introduce profound new intelligence capabilities that will inspire developers, delight users and make our platforms more useful than ever.”
According to Apple, the next generation Siri has a new design and is even more capable and integrated.
With a more extensive knowledge of your device settings, Siri will help you learn new features with step by step directions
Richer language understanding, will help Siri be better able to decipher what it is your trying to say
Siri will be able to update Contacts
Describe a photo or message you’re looking for and Siri will find it
The official website says, Apple Intelligence is “Built into your iPhone, iPad and Mac to help you write, express yourself, and get things done effortlessly.”
Writing tools will proofread, edit and summarize
Prioritize time sensitive emails and summarize long messages
Record audio from Phone or Notes app and get summary of transcript
Smart Reply generates suggested response to emails
Create custom Genmoji images
A work in progress, Apple Intelligence is free for users, and will be available in beta as part of iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS Sequoia this fall in U.S. English.
Since it’s initial launch in 2017, the Seeing AI app from Microsoft is the gift that keeps giving to visually impaired people. We embraced the intelligent camera for it’s ability to translate text, images, objects and environments into spoken words. Even as it inspired many competitors, Seeing AI has maintained it’s prominent position. As the software continued to improve, the app’s interface did not change much…until now.
The Seeing AI interface has been consolidated into 3 main tabs labeled: Read, Describe and More. The idea was to streamline what was previously a dedicated “channel” for each feature. The result does not seem simplified, at first, and it takes some getting used to. Here’s how the reshuffled tabs lay out.
Seeing AI graphic image with app icon overlay. Image credit: Microsoft
READ Tab
The first tab combines three channels, from previous versions, for reading Short Text, Documents and Handwriting. Point the camera at any text, or handwritten words, and it will read instantly. Taking a picture of the text may improve accuracy and will allow you to ask for more information.
DESCRIBE Tab
In the second tab, take a photo of an environment and it will be described to you in detail, including recognition of objects and people. This feature offers option to have photos in your library described, and to ask for more information or explore image by touch.
MORE Tab
The third tab is home to all the remaining channels, seven in all, each standing on it’s own.
PRODUCT – Reads barcodes and accessible QR codes. Audio guidance helps you find the code, then scans it. In the grocery store, for example, the code might identify the brand and flavor on the ice cream container, or the fat content of the milk, or if the bread is wheat or white.
PERSON – Use the camera to scan and tell you about the people nearby. Facial descriptions include an estimate of age and expression. Set face recognition to announce the name of someone you know when they come into view.
CURRENCY – Select the paper currency you wish to identify (choose from 17 currency options) and hold the camera over a single note to hear the value.
WORLD — An experimental combination of artificial intelligence and augmented reality helps you navigate unfamiliar indoor spaces in 3D guided by spatial audio using headphones. Caution is advised and feedback is appreciated.
FIND MY THINGS — Teach Seeing AI to recognize the items you often find yourself searching for, like keys, wallet, AirPods, sunglasses, etc. Follow the prompts to take videos of the item and save it to your list. Once set up, the camera can scan the environment to help you locate the selected item through audible beeps that quicken as you get closer to it.
COLOR – Point the camera at an item and it will identify the color.
LIGHT – For users with no light perception, this channel indicates intensity and direction of light through audible tone and pitch changes.
The Seeing AI app is available for iOS on the App Store, and for Android on Google Play.
Get quick help at the upper right corner on every channel.
Feedback helps improve the app, so do share your thoughts through the app menu or by email to [email protected].
Post originally published on Jan 19, 2018 and most recently updated Apr 16, 2025
Many variations on the concept of smart glasses followed a lack-luster launch for Google Glass in 2014. Only recently has one, of the numerous attempts at smart glasses actually gained traction, and it’s not a clunky headset with a hefty price tag. This product developed in a partnership combining technology from Meta with classic sunglass designs from Ray-Ban.
With 2 million already sold, and another 10 million being produced, it’s fair to say these glasses are the popular choice. The price starts at $300, the frames are easy to wear in public, and the technology has benefits to a wide audience, including visually impaired and blind users.
Meta’s AI powered glasses don’t enhance your vision, but they do read text, identify objects, and describe your surroundings. A compatible smartphone is required. The glasses are activated by voice commands, making the interactions conveniently hands-free. You can take photos or video, listen to music or audiobooks, and send or receive calls. When all else fails, Meta has also partnered with Be My Eyes to enable a call for help to one of it’s millions of human volunteers.
Improvements are expected as we await the release of the 3rd generation Meta glasses. The AI should see a significant reduction in the rate of erroneous responses. Information that cannot be trusted is unacceptable, and potentially detrimental to people who are blind. The battery life is fleeting, particularly in AI mode, and it too is expected to get a boost.
Watch Sam Seavey’s video review of Meta glasses for blind and visually impaired users…
Getting acclimated to a hotel room will present challenges to anyone. The difficulty increases with the progression of vision loss. Figuring out how to turn on the lights, locating and regulating the thermostat, opening or closing the blinds and deciphering how to get the shower on and which shower products are in what container, are some of the questions that need answers. It can be a hellish experience, if you are not prepared to accept some assistance.
Hilton Be My Eyes Services
Perhaps the best way to get the assistance you need as a traveler who has low vision or is blind, would be to give the Hilton and Be My Eyes partnership a try. In an industry first, the hotel chain now offers accessibility assistance through the BME mobile app. Connect with dedicated and specially trained Hilton customer care agents, and access both live and AI generated, visual assistance, on select Hilton properties.
The enhanced accessibility services at Hilton, for visually impaired guests, are currently available in the United States and Canada, through the Be My Eyes app, at Waldorf Astoria, Conrad, Curio Collection, DoubleTree, Embassy Suites, Hampton by Hilton, and True by Hilton, through the Be My Eyes app.
Hand with keycard opening hotel room door
Access Assistance at Any Hotel
If one of these Hilton hotels is not in your plans, no matter where you stay, communicating your needs goes a long way. Hotels are, after all, in the hospitality business, which is all about making their guest comfortable. Request the assistance you want and don’t be surprised when you get it.
Ask for Assistance. Inform the hotel staff about your vision impairment when booking the reservation and again upon arrival, so they can show you to the room, open the door and point out things like light switches, electrical outlets, temperature controls, TV remote, and anything else you want to know.
Location of Room. Request a room that is close to the elevator, and on a lower floor, for easier access.
Arriving & Departing. Ask for assistance with check-in and check-out procedures.
Mobile Technology. Utilize accessibility apps like Seeing AI and Be My AI to read signs, menus, identify objects and describe your surroundings.
Mobility & ID. Using a white cane will help you navigate unfamiliar places safely and it also indicates your visual impairment to others.
Gaining a level of familiarity with the hotel provides a greater sense of comfort and security. Remember, hotels are in the hospitality business, and that’s what this is all about.
Ride-hailing apps offer a cash-less convenience, that is often quicker and cheaper than the taxis and car services we once depended on. They also add a most welcome element of freedom to the non-driving population.
While we were patiently awaiting the self-driving car, the transportation concept, formerly known as “taxicab,” was disrupted by technology. The driver is still completely necessary, but the method of getting a ride, where and when you want it, is now transacted primarily on mobile apps. Uber and Lyft are the dominant services, and there are others to choose from depending on your location. Finding a service / app that works for you will help to keep the process within your comfort zone. If ride-hailing apps are just not your thing, there are options for ordering the cars by phone.
Making transportation more accessible, naturally has many upsides, and of course, there a few downsides as well. Here are some tips for getting yourself the smoothest ride.
Silver car with a Lyft sticker on the windshield.
Ordering A Car
With app downloaded and account created, set pickup location, select destination, choose ride type, confirm pickup, review driver details and head to pickup location.
Cars can be ordered for immediate pickup or scheduled in advance.
Uber rides can also be ordered alternatively, without the app, from a mobile phone, by calling 1-833-USE-UBER (1-833-873-8237). Car and driver details are confirmed to you by text message.
Cars from Uber and Lyft can also be ordered by phone through GoGo Grandparent, a service that manages the process and the ride for an added fee.
Hand holding up smartphone to display yellow screen for Uber Spotlight. Image credit: Uber
Finding the Car
The apps provide the license plate, make and model of the car, the name and a photo of the driver, and an alert when the car has arrived. None of these details are helpful if you are unable to identify those elements visually. In a quiet location or at a private home, the car will be obvious. On a busy city street, finding the car is usually a challenge for anyone, particularly when you are blind or have low vision.
Speak directly with the driver, through the app, and let them know you are visually impaired, and tell them exactly where you are waiting, so they can get to where you are or let you know exactly where they are.
Ask the driver to honk twice to help you identify the car.
Use Uber’s Spotlight feature, in crowded locations and at night, by tapping the Spotlight button on the bottom right corner of the app. Your phone screen lights up with an assigned color, the driver sees the same color on their screen. Holding up the light helps them find you.
To confirm you have the right car, ask the driver “Who are you picking up?,” or “What is your name?”
Order an Uber Assist or Lyft Assist, in areas where it is available, and the driver will meet you at your front door and see you to the door of your destination.
Safety Measures
Communicate your trip details to family or friends through sharing options in the apps.
There is an emergency button in most apps, but even quicker to call 911.
Give Feedback
We always recommend providing feedback. If there are ways your experience could be improved, say so. Your suggestions can ultimately benefit all ride-sharers.
Post originally published Apr 19, 2019 and updated Feb 6, 2025
More and more online publications now offer the option to listen to a recording of the article. To have quality writing read to us by professional voices is, obviously, desired and enjoyed by many and we are delighted to see it proliferate.
Choice Magazine Listening (CML) predates this trend by about five decades, and it continues to provide a curated collection of quality writing from over 100 magazine publications. The collection comes together thanks to the dedicated and experienced team at CML. This publication has been available to people with vision loss, and other reading difficulties, since 1962, through the National Library Service (NLS).
Live content recording at Choice Magazine Listening.
Just before this issue came out, we worked like Santa’s elves—busily marking up proofing notes, checking the tables of contents twice for any errors, and then whisking the final pieces through the ethers to the production company—to get downloadable digital files, cartridges, and even 4-track cassettes to you for the Winter issue.
We also had a late run of outreach events that allowed us to grow our “nice list” by putting us in touch with a range of potential subscribers, partner institutions, and groups for the blind and print-disabled. Many thanks to The Andrew Heiskell Braille and Talking Book Library, Accessible Pharmacy Services, the Montana Association for the Blind, and Helen Keller National Center’s Tech Club for the chance to come chat. It’s always a thrill to get to meet new folks and tell them about our special publication. We wish our subscribers, our friends new and old, and all those who make Choice Magazine Listening possible, a Happy and Healthy New Year!
Highlights
By the time this issue is out, Donald J. Trump will have been sworn in for his second presidential term. CML will continue to be your companion during this challenging time, reaffirming human dignity through the best, most serious, and most probing writing that we can find.
In this issue, we offer you beautiful poems by John Burnside, the beloved Cuban poet, Nicolás Guillén, as well as A.E. Stallings (a CML favorite!), and Maggie Smith. As for fiction, Rebecca Bernard’s poignant short story, “The Flirt,” portrays a grieving mother seeking to recapture something of the presence of her teenage son, lost to a tragic fire, and imagining the man he might have become. J.M. Coetzee, winner of the 2003 Nobel Prize for Literature, brings us “The Museum Guard,” a disturbing tale in which a seemingly innocuous encounter with an older English writer upends the life of a young museum guard at the Prado in Madrid. “War Dogs,” by the great Korean-American writer, Paul Yoon, is a remarkable and haunting story of various generations’ memories of war, displacement, and loss. Joseph Jacobs’s charming fairy tale, “Dream of Owen O’Mulready,” dates from 1894 and is based on an Irish folk tale, though Jacobs himself, Australian born, became a leading scholar of Jewish thought and the editor of the New York weekly, The American Hebrew.
At CML, we never close our eyes to past or present injustices. In “A Record of Liberty,” Carolyn Eastman examines the historical record of slave manumission in colonial and revolutionary-era New York, and how, even when slaves were freed, their freedom was often conditioned by long delays, fees, and the whims and changing needs of their wealthy owners. Even an outspoken abolitionist, the great American thinker, Henry David Thoreau, was not untainted by America’s “original sin.” Augustine Sedgewick’s “Thoreau’s Pencils,” shows how Thoreau’s innovative pencil-making business, which elevated his family out of poverty, depended on large supplies of red cedar sourced from slave states such as Georgia and Florida. Slaves were used in logging camps and to prepare the vast lots of red cedar for sale and transport.
One group in America that resolutely rejected slavery was the Shaker community. Coming to America from England in the late 1700s, this religious group espoused gender equality, religious tolerance, and pacifism. Shakers took an active role in the Underground Railroad, assisting fugitive slaves on their journey to freedom. But Shakers also practiced extreme celibacy, resulting in ever-dwindling membership. In “Keeping the Faith,” Jordan Kisner visits the last active Shaker village in the world, at Sabbathday Lake in Maine, and speaks with one of the only two remaining Shakers, the frank and down-to-earth Brother Arnold Hadd.
In the midst of war and universal uncertainty, many in the world have taken comfort in the restoration and re-opening of Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, seriously damaged by fire in April 2019. In “The Miraculous Resurrection of Notre-Dame,” Joshua Hammer describes the extensive and complex restoration effort, involving over a thousand artisans. But the restoration itself was also an opportunity to study aspects of medieval carpentry that had been hidden from view in the cathedral’s upper framework, leading to a new understanding of the tools and techniques used by the original builders.
Top Picks
British neurologist and writer Oliver Sacks became famous for his successful treatment of victims of encephalitis lethargica, a sleeping sickness from the 1920s that had left dozens of patients in decades-long states of speechlessness and immobility. Sacks’ 1973 book, Awakenings, was an account of his experience with these patients at Beth Abraham Hospital in the Bronx, and became the basis for the 1990 movie of the same name, starring Robin Williams and Robert De Niro. “Coming Alive” consists of a selection of Sacks’ lively correspondence, from the 1960s through the 1990s, to family, friends, as well as with literary and cultural figures, from W.H. Auden to Robin Williams himself.
While General George MacArthur is well-known for his role in defeating the Japanese in the Pacific during World War II, as well as for his controversial decisions during the Korean War, the story of his retreat from the Philippines and his regrouping in the small Australian Outback town of Terowie is less familiar. In “MacArthur Down Under,” Tony Perrottet revisits this phase of MacArthur’s life and career, how his presence tempered the bond between the U.S. and Australia in the Pacific campaign and beyond.
Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny became one of the most famous political prisoners in the world after his 2021 return to Russia following an assassination attempt by Russian security forces and subsequent medical care in Germany. Refusing to live in exile, Navalny was arrested at Moscow airport and spent the remainder of his life in various prisons, including the infamous Polar Wolf, north of the Arctic Circle. “Prison Diaries” is culled from the diaries that Navalny managed to keep from 2022 until his death in 2024, detailing the hardships of the Russian penal system as well as his unshakeable faith in the future. “It will crumble and collapse. The Putinist state is not sustainable. One day, we will look at it, and it won’t be there. Victory is inevitable.”
The D-B Beat
In our work, we’re always mindful of the power of literature to forge personal connections between authors and their readers. In Jeffrey Lent’s “Field Notes,” the writer shares how his own life and career were changed forever by his encounter with the works of author, poet, and memoirist Jim Harrison. Harrison’s prolific and diverse writings include many titles held by the National Library Service, which you can ask your local reader advisor about today:
Legends of the Fall (DBC05954) Warlock (DB17869) The Road Home (DB49593) Dalva (DB28211) Returning to Earth (DB66143) The English Major (DB68660) The River Swimmer: novellas (DB76433) The Ancient Minstrel: novellas (DB85337) Braided Creek: a conversation in poetry (DB59814)
And special thanks to…
Alvin S. from San Francisco, and Robert B. from Massachusetts, who both called wondering, “Where was their next issue of CML?!” Here it is, and thanks for waiting!
Happy Winter reading from Annie, Jay, Alfredo, Raquel, & Mike!
Shopping with vision loss is like a treasure hunt, minus the fun. If you are able to locate the appropriate aisle for an item, then you still have to hunt for the spot that item is hidden in. Counting on memory is useful to a point, until the store gets rearranged or the product package is redesigned. It can help to use magnifiers or apps, to identify products, however, these tools do not exactly streamline the process. Finding human help is usually easier said than done.
It just so happens, Walmart, has a solution for visually impaired and blind customers. The retail juggernaut now offers live visual assistance, through the Aira app, in all it’s US stores and online. The beauty of this arrangement is it brings you directly to a highly trained agent, who can see what you may not be seeing yourself. The shopping assistance is paid for by Walmart, not the customer, and there’s no time limit on your shopping. So, go ahead, shop to your heart’s content.
If the Aira Explorer app is not already loaded on your phone, get it on Google Play or the App Store. Open the app and instantly connect with a live visual interpreter for professional assistance navigating the store or the website, locating products, price checking, exploring in-store promotions, and getting checked out. There is much to be said for trained shopping assistants, available when you need it. You will find it incredibly refreshing to interact with a real person, not a chatbot. And, by the way, live beings easily beat artificial brains, when it comes to finding, reading and identifying all kinds of stuff.
Give it a try at a Walmart near you. (and Target for that matter) and elevate your belief in humanity. The video that follows combines technology, AI and human interaction, for a most productive outcome, featuring Aira and Meta Ray-Ban Glasses.
Accessible Shopping at Walmart for people who are blind or low vision
In the earliest days of AirPods, people would frequently ask, “Do they fall out?” and “Are you afraid you’ll lose them?” The answer to both questions was, and still is, “Yes.” But that did not deter the adoption of this product well over 100 million times. The exceptional wireless experience far outweighed the fear of loss. Apple also made it less of a concern by adding “Find my AirPods” and selling replacement pods and charging cases separately.
The accessibility factors are significant, for all users, visually impaired or not. Once connected to your device AirPods re-connect easily and pause automatically when you take them out of your ear. No more getting tangled up in wired buds or constantly pairing the dropped connections on Bluetooth earpieces. Feel free to use a pod in just one ear, or both. A full charge on AirPods provides up to 5 hours listening, or 3 hours talk time, and the wireless charging case rapidly recharges the Pods for up to as many as 24 hours of use.
The FDA Approved AirPod Hearing Aid Feature
In the true spirit of accessibility, AirPods Pro 2nd generation can also serve as an over the counter (OTC) hearing aid for adults with low to moderate hearing impairments. The Hearing Aid Feature (HAF), is a software only medical mobile application that can test the users hearing needs and adjust accordingly.
More About the AirPod Options
There is also a Live Listening feature, which helps everyone hear better in extremely noisy environments, such as parties, concerts, industrial and recreational activities.
In the earliest days of AirPods, people would frequently ask, “Do they fall out?” and “Are you afraid you’ll lose them?” The answer to both questions was, and still is, “Yes.”But that did not deter the adoption of this product more than 100 million times.The exceptional wireless experience far outweighed the fear of loss. Apple also made it less of a concern by adding “Find my AirPods” and selling replacement pods and charging cases separately.
The accessibility factors are significant, for all users, visually impaired or not. Once connected to your device AirPods re-connect easily and pause automatically when you take them out of your ear.No more getting tangled up in wired buds or constantly pairing the dropped connections on Bluetooth earpieces. Feel free to use a pod in just one ear, or both. A full charge on AirPods provides up to 5 hours listening, or 3 hours talk time, and the wireless charging case rapidly recharges the Pods for up to as many as 24 hours of use.
Communicating with Siri is a totally touch-less activity. Say, “Hey Siri, play the OE Patients Podcast.’ “Hey Siri, call Lucinda on mobile.” “Hey Siri, check my AirPods battery level.” “Hey Siri, turn up the volume.” “Hey Siri, what time is it?” Let Siri “Announce Message” as they arrive.Select the contacts you wish to allow and Siri knows not to interrupt if you’re on a call.It’s worth noting, while AirPods are compatible with non-Apple devices, the Siri features are not.
All that popularity has naturally spawned more AirPod options. The original AirPods are quite satisfying, or go ahead and splurge on Air Pods Pro for better sound quality and the adjustable in-ear fit and the peaceful state of active noise cancellation. Should the fear of loss still grip you, consider Power Beats Pro, another premium wireless Apple earbud with a design that holds it very securely in your ear. Prices range from $159. to $249. and you can always Google for the best sale price of the day. There is also the AirPods Max, at $549, a wireless headset, considered the highest in fidelity.
Apple AirPods and AirPods Pro side by side on blue background.
Airlines are making noticeable efforts to provide accessibility services to all travelers and you don’t have to be a frequent flyer to enjoy the benefits. Attention to accessibility is a valid priority when choosing your air travel accommodation. Delta Air Lines is definitely one to watch and an excellent barometer for what customers should expect. Here we look at their newest accessibility innovation, dedicated accessibility support service and the advisory board that keeps it moving in the right direction.
A Better Flight Map for All to Follow
The ever-popular flight map is getting an upgrade on Delta Air Lines and it’s focused for visual accessibility. The new map has a cleaner design, a high-contrast display, larger text and larger icons. The more inclusive version was created to provide better access for visually impaired customers, and as we know, the increased legibility is likely to improve the flight map experience for all travelers. The accessible map is rolling out now. A voice narration feature is also in the works.
The flight map announcement, published on Delta News Hub, included a statement from Ekrem Dimbiloglu, Managing Director of Customer Experience, he said, “No one better connects the world than Delta. To truly fulfill that promise, we must ensure every customer can connect with their journey in a way that enhances their experience and makes them feel valued and cared for. We are proud to be the first airline to launch this technology, setting the standard for inclusive travel experiences across the industry.”
Screenshot of Delta’s new flight map in Accessibility Mode (Image credit: Delta)
Advisory Board on Disability
Accessibility advances and services at Delta are informed through a valued collaboration with their Advisory Board on Disability. The board is comprised of frequent flyers, who are also customers with disabilities. Advisory board members provide feedback relating to services, training, communication, policies and procedures.
Dedicated Phone for Accessibility Services
Delta Air Lines Accessibility Services phone line is: 404-209-3434. A special and all-inclusive service from Delta, for customers with accessibility needs, book your air travel and accessibility assistance, all together.
This article was originally published April 1, 2017 and most recently updated on October 23, 2024.
With a welcomed emphasis on accessibility and inclusion, numerous companies now offer specialized support services for customers with vision loss. They are there to help you get the most out of their products and to ensure your devices are set right to accommodate your needs. This is an effort we greatly appreciate and are delighted to spread the word.
Call to speak with an accessibility specialist who can help you buy books and other products, or get you directly to tech support for Amazon devices and services including Alexa, Kindle & Fire Tablet. Hands raised triumphantly for accessible and inclusive smartphones.
Arrange the assistance you need for navigating the airport, security screening, location of gate, seat number, connecting flights, baggage claim and ground transportation.
For users of Apple’s iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, Apple Watch, or Mac – this is a gift. It is a special support line reserved for customers with vision, hearing, motor, and learning impairments. Senior AppleCare specialists are available 24/7 to help you get your Accessibility Settings right, answer your questions, and resolve your technical issues. They’ll even teach you a thing or two.
AT&T
National Center for Citizens with Disabilities (NCCD)
Call Comcast’s Accessibility Support Center to speak with a specially trained representative about accessibility features. You can also communicate via email at: [email protected].
A special and all-inclusive service from Delta, for customers with accessibility needs, book your air travel and accessibility assistance, all together.
Google
To request a call back, from a Google Disability support specialist, complete this online form.
Call an accessibility specialist at Google through the BeMyEyes app on a smartphone or tablet. Click the ‘Service Directory tab’ button on the app’s home page, select Google in the Technical tab.
Google Technical Support: 855-971-9121 may (or may not) be able to help with accessibility questions, depends on the specialist you connect with.
Contact an accessibility specialist at the LinkedIn Disability Answer Desk through the Be My Eyes app, on a smartphone or tablet; click the Specialized Help button on the apps home page, then select Technical to get to LinkedIn.
The features you need to make your PC ‘vision friendly’ are built right into Windows – unfortunately, many people don’t know that. Microsoft recognized this as a significant problem and put in place a support team specialized in accessibility. So dial them up and get your computer set up to work for you (not against you). And, to make it even easier on yourself — allow them remote access to your PC and they can make the adjustments.
Peloton
The Accessibility Team at Peloton will answer your questions and give you a call, if you request it by email to: accessibility@onepeloton.com.
Contact the Accessibility Team at Samsung for answers to questions, large and small, about all Samsung products. Reach out by phone or email: [email protected] to request a call back.
For general support in the U.S. contact Samsung at: 800-726-7864 by text or voice.
Get help from your smartphone or tablet with any questions you may have about Spotify, the world’s largest music streaming service. Speak to a trained customer service specialist on BME; go to Specialized Help, Technical, then Spotify.
T-Mobile has an Accessibility Support web page. It says, “T-Mobile will provide accessible support for wireless network service and billing inquiries. Please contact our Accessibility Customer Care at 1-833-428-1785 if you have any questions or need special assistance. For additional support, please contact Customer Care.”
Arrange the assistance you need for navigating the airport, security screening, location of gate, seat number, connecting flights, baggage claim and ground transportation.
Free 411 for your home phone and for your mobile phone. Get your bills in the format of your choice…large print or digital. They can help you with anything else pertaining to your home phone service.
It can sometimes be challenging to get information about accessibility features that make your mobile phone, or tablet, work for you. Questions about enlarging text, using voice commands effectively, or using the screen reader, often remain unanswered when posed to your store representative. That should be the case no more – now there is a customer service and technical support center dedicated to helping people maximize the accessibility features built into all of Verizon’s mobile devices. Let them help you get your device set just right for you, from 8am – 9pm EST, Monday – Friday.
We will continue adding Accessibility Support services as we discover them. Please let us know if you know of any before we do, and we’ll share by posting to this list.
