Phones
that do not have tactility, or no means to distinguish keys or to hear audio
outputs of the features and functions, will leave those with vision
disabilities out of the phone system altogether. Routine phone calls may become
insurmountable if the technological barriers are not resolved well before the
phone device enters the marketplace or as the phone services network is
established.
Since the passage of
the ADA, advocates have pushed for the enactment of various federal statutory
and regulatory changes to ensure that telephone devices incorporate
accessibility. These changes took the form of amending the nation's
Communications Act with Section 255 to mandate accessible and usable design in
telecommunications products and services if it is readily achievable for a
phone company or phone device manufacturer to do so. Section 255 also requires
Interactive Voice Response (IVR) systems to be made accessible to and usable by
people with disabilities, if readily achievable.
More recently,
advocates initiated and influenced regulations to ensure that the Federal Communications
Commission (FCC), the U.S.'s independent regulatory authority, amended its
previous Section 255 requirements for accessible and usable phone services and
equipment with the advent of Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP).
Citations
“Inclusive
Information and Communication Technologies for People with Disabilities |
Disability Studies Quarterly.” Inclusive Information and Communication
Technologies for People with Disabilities | Disability Studies Quarterly, DSQ-sds.org/article/view/167/167.
Accessed 14 Nov. 2022.
Wolske, Martin. “3A: Valued, Inclusive Information
and Computing Technology Experiences – a Person-Centered Guide to Demystifying
Technology.” 3A: Valued, Inclusive Information and Computing Technology
Experiences – a Person-Centered Guide to Demystifying Technology,
iopn.library.illinois.edu/pressbooks/demystifyingtechnology/chapter/valued-inclusive-information-and-computing-technology-experiences.
Accessed 14 Nov. 2022.
Hey Aeysha,
ReplyDeleteYou had great information. I have not really thought of how a visually impaired person would use a phone. I think a step in the right direction is maybe putting braille on phones.
Hi Aeysha,
ReplyDeleteI agree with your post; this week's lectures had me thinking about how some folks may not be as fortunate as using the technology that we have today. For instance, what are the options for a blind person or someone who may have lost their hearing? But when I'm at work, we get calls to schedule appointments for families who call with a visual ASL interpreter. It was interesting when I first learned about it, and it feels good to help someone who may struggle with those barriers. But more options would also be more helpful.