OR
OR
UPDATE: THIS FILE LAST EDITED 12-2008
WIRELESS
PHONES
A PUBLICATION FROM THE...
SIGHT LOSS
INFORMATION
DETECTIVE
.....ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
SHOULD THE READER WANT TO SUGGEST ANY ADDITIONS OR CORRECTIONS FOR THIS BULLETIN, PLEASE SEND YOUR IDEAS - GO TO LINK, SEND A MESSAGE, NEAR THE TOP OF THIS WEBPAGE.
NOTE: THIS INFORMATION IS NOT INTENDED AS AN ENDORSEMENT OR RECOMMENDATION, AND IS PRESENTED SIMPLY AS A CONVENIENCE TO THE READER. BECAUSE OF THE CHANGING AVAILABILITY OF PRODUCTS AND SERVICES, THE COMPLETENESS OF THIS LISTING IS NOT GUARANTEED.
IN ADDITION TO THE VISION LOSS COMMUNITY, BOTH MOBILITY LOSS AND ELDERLY INDIVIDUALS MAY FIND THE FOLLOWING OF IMPORTANCE.
FROM TIME TO TIME OUR LIVES MAY BE NEGATIVELY AFFECTED BY A NATURAL OR MAN-MADE DISASTER:
1. WIND STORM
2. THUNDER STORM
3. ICE STORM
4. EARTHQUAKE
5. WILD FIRE
6. FLOOD
7. VOLCANO
8. TSUNAMI
9. SNOW STORM
10. TERRORISM
11. HEAT WAVE
12. TORNADO
13. BROWNOUT OR BLACKOUT
14. HURRICANE
SUBSEQUENTLY, THERE IS OFTEN A POWER OUTAGE, AND SOMETIMES TRANSPORTATION INTERRUPTIONS. ALSO, LAND-LINE TELEPHONE SERVICE CAN EVEN BE LOST BRIEFLY OR FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD.
A BATTERY-POWERED BACK-UP METHOD OF COMMUNICATIONS IS A PRUDENT PRECAUTION TO PROTECT AGAINST ISOLATION AND INSURE THE ABILITY TO:
1. GET MEDICAL HELP
2. SUMMON FIRE-POLICE AID
3. NOTIFY UTILITY PROVIDERS
4. VERIFY GARBAGE PICKUP
5. CALL FAMILY-FRIENDS
6. CONTACT EMPLOYER OR EMPLOYEES
7. ORDER URGENT SUPPLIES
8. ARRANGE NEEDED REPAIRS
EITHER A CELLULAR OR DIGITAL MOBILE PHONE IS THE TECHNOLOGY SAFETY-NET IN CASE A HOME OR BUSINESS TELEPHONE STOPS WORKING, HOWEVER, CAREFULLY CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING FOR ANY WIRELESS PHONE:
1. EQUIPMENT EXPENSE
2. PROGRAMMING FEE
3. ACTIVATION CHARGE
4. MONTHLY RATE
5. DAILY MINIMUM
6. PREPAID MINUTES
7. PER-MINUTE SURCHARGE
8. MAIL-ORDERING BILL
9. EQUIPMENT ACCESSIBILITY...
- SEE SITE A TO Z INDEX FOR FCC ASSISTANCE
- SEE SUGGESTED ACCESS FEATURES BELOW
BESIDES BEING A SMART SAFETY TOOL, A CELLULAR OR DIGITAL PHONE CAN ALSO BE A GOOD PERSONAL SECURITY AID. KEEPING A CARRY-WITH-YOU TELEPHONE WHETHER AT-HOME OR ON-THE-ROAD IS A SMART CALL-FOR-HELP TOOL.
FURTHER, THE FOLLOWING ARE NATIONWIDE PHONE PRODUCTS WITH SEVERAL BUILT-IN ACCESS FEATURES:
JITTERBUG ONE-TOUCH
- CONCAVE BUTTONS FOR PRESSING ACCURACY
- 3 LARGE BUTTONS = OPERATOR, 911 AND SPEED-DIAL
- 4 MEDIUM BUTTONS = ON-OFF, UP-DOWN, YES AND NO
- PRESS OPERATOR TO EDIT YOUR PHONE NUMBERS LIST
- PRESS OPERATOR TO DIAL ANY PHONE NUMBER
- PRESS SPEED-DIAL FOR NUMBER YOU ASSIGN
- VOLUME CONTROL FOR RINGER AND CALLS
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
GREAT CALLS
PHONE: 1-800-918-8543
URL: GO JITTERBUG DOT COM
THE COOP
- BIG KEYPAD
- EASY-TO-READ SCREEN
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
VERIZON COMMUNICATIONS
LOCAL STORES OR VERIZON DOT COM
PLUS, THE FOLLOWING IS A GOOD RESOURCE:
SAN FRANCISCO LIGHTHOUSE FOR THE BLIND
CELL PHONE SEMINAR
- AUDIO PRESENTATION AND SHOW NOTES
- 1-888-400-8933
- LIGHTHOUSE - SF DOT ORG
- SEARCH AUDIO INFORMATION - KEYWORD SEMINAR
OTHER RESOURCES:
AT&T CENTER FOR CUSTOMERS WITH DISABILITIES
- 1-800-222-0300
QWEST CENTER FOR CUSTOMERS WITH DISABILITIES
- 1-800-223-3131
WIRELESS PHONE ACCESS...
A. HARDWARE CHECKLIST:
- RAISED KEYS
- SPACED KEYS (TACTILE SEPARATION)
- SIZE OF KEYS
- CONCAVE KEYS
- KEY #5 LOCATOR DOT
- TOUCH KEYPAD (OPTIONAL ADD-ON)
B. SOFTWARE CHECKLIST:
- KEY ECHO (KEY PRESSED ANNOUNCED)
- ONE-TOUCH DIALING (SPEED DIALING)
- VOICE DIALING (VOICE RECOGNITION)
- SPEECH OUTPUT (VIDEO DISPLAY SPOKEN)
- ENLARGED TEXT (VIDEO DISPLAY FONTS)
- 911 AND 411 SERVICES
THE U.S. ACCESS BOARD PUBLISHES TELECOMMUNICATION STANDARDS WHICH INCLUDE PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS OF WIRELESS PHONES PURCHASED FOR FEDERAL VISION LOSS EMPLOYEES.
- RELEVANT EXCERPTS FROM SECTION 508, PART 1194.23:
E. .......USERS WHO CANNOT SEE DISPLAYS.
K. (1) .......KEYS SHALL BE TACTILELY DISCERNIBLE.......
K. (4) .......DISCERNIBLE EITHER THROUGH TOUCH OR SOUND.
U.S. ACCESS BOARD
PHONE: 1-800-872-2253
RELATED WEBSITES...
BUY ACCESSIBLE DOT GOV
- DESCRIBES SECTION 508 APPROVED CELL PHONES
ACCESS WIRELESS DOT ORG
- CELL PHONES CONSUMER INFORMATION
- END OF TEXT