large print cell phone

For my kids, past and present who have wanted a larger print cell phone, check this link:

http://www.independentliving.com/prodinfo.asp?number=813201

Visual Impairments Specialist
W E S
http://lee.ebrschools.org/kathynicholslee
http://www.kathyskids.org
http://mskathy.proboards30.com
http://mskathyskids.blogspot.com

Article from West Central Tribune

You have been sent this article from Ms. Kathy


Blind learn mobile phone details
Don Davis - 11/14/2009

ST. PAUL — Torrey Westrom gave Lissa Thies a simple request: learn the basics of using his mobile telephone. His Motorola Q is a typical smartphone, capable of surfing the Web, sending and receiving e-mails and handling text messages, besides being used as a telephone. Even to the most technically inclined, the nearly 50 keys are intimidating. To a blind person such as Westrom, the task becomes many times tougher. "I'm probably weeks or months away from fully using the keyboard," admitted Westrom, an Elbow Lake Republican member of the Minnesota House who keeps up with legislation on computers adapted for use by the blind. Thies was among AT&T workers who Thursday and Friday helped more than 100 blind and visually impaired Minnesotans learn more about their mobile phones, from any carrier, at the Minnesota State Services for the Blind in St. Paul. It is the type of program that Westrom, the state's only blind legislator, has supported for others. This time, however, he had questions about how to use his Verizon telephone. Perhaps the most important advice Thies offered was a "get out of jail button," which returned Westrom to the home screen where he could start over. Thies, who works at AT&T Wireless' Woodbury Lakes store, at times took Westrom's finger and put it on the right button, so he could find the key later. The one-on-one help is essential for the visually impaired to learn how to use telephones, AT&T Minnesota President Bob Bass said. "They don't know what the options are," he added. For Minnesotans who could not attend the Thursday and Friday help sessions, there are options. Larry Lewis of Ohio-based Flying Blind, a company that uses technology to help the disabled, said telephone software is available to allow a phone to speak to its user, replacing the screen that sighted people use. Another program can magnify the screen for people who have partial vision. Some who are blind just want to know how to make and receive calls. But others, like Lewis, want to make full use of their telephones. Lewis, totally blind, has more than 1,100 contacts on his smartphone, which he uses by listening to a computerized voice and moving a joy stick on the phone. "I listen to the icons and press 'enter,'" he said. Lewis said only about 2,000 of the 1.5 million blind Americans use mobile phone software made for them. AT&T officials said the best thing blind people can do is to contact their local wireless provider office and set up an appointment for some one-on-one training or to contact the state-run Services for the Blind. Bass said AT&T employees provide such training because "it's a quality of life issue." Thies said the Woodbury Lakes store has no blind customers, but some with hearing problems. The company has a toll-free telephone number for disabled people with questions about wireless service. A telephone that allows a user to use voice commands is the best type of telephone for the blind, Thies said. Many phones offer that function. Westrom said he received some over-the-phone training, but it did not stick. "It's a lot better hands on." As Thies went through the options, she quickly passed over one. But Westrom wanted to know what it was. It allows the user to attach photos to telephone numbers, she replied, a bit sheepishly. "That wouldn't do me a lot of good," deadpanned Westrom, known for delivering an occasional joke about his blindness on the House floor. Back to the phone, Westrom finished adding a number for his father. Thies was happy. "You did it," she exclaimed, as happy was Westrom about the accomplishment.

National Federation of the Blind and Motorola to Cooperate on MakingCell,Phones Accessible to the Blind

National Federation of the Blind and Motorola to Cooperate on Making

Cell Phones Accessible to the Blind.

BALTIMORE, and LIBERTYVILLE, Ill., Sept. 14 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The
National Federation of the Blind, the nation's oldest and largest organization
of blind people and the leading advocate for making mainstream devices
accessible to the blind, and Motorola Inc., a leading manufacturer of cell
phones and other mobile communications devices, announced today that they have
entered into a cooperation agreement to promote technologies that improve the
accessibility of cell phones to blind consumers.

Certain future Motorola cell phones will provide verbal readouts of
information such as the time and date, battery level, signal strength, user's
phone number, caller ID information for incoming calls, missed and received
calls, and voice mail alerts. Blind users will also be able to take advantage
of verbal readouts and voice-command features for ring tone status, inputting
and accessing contacts, and various other settings. Motorola expects these
cell phones to be available in 2010. The parties have also agreed to work
together to make additional phones and features accessible to blind users.

Dr. Marc Maurer, President of the National Federation of the Blind, said: "In
an age where productivity and success increasingly depend on access to mobile
technology such as cellular telephones, it is critical that blind Americans
have equal access to today's cell phones through user interfaces that do not
require vision. The National Federation of the Blind appreciates Motorola's
commitment to making the features of its cell phone products accessible to
blind users without the need for third-party software, and we look forward to
working together with Motorola to make future improvements to the
accessibility of telecommunication technology."

SOURCE: National Federation of the Blind.

Chris Danielsen, Director of Public Relations, National Federation of the
Blind, +1-410-659-9314, extension 2330, cell: +1-410-262-1281,
cdanielsen@nfb.org; or Jennifer Erickson, Motorola, Inc., +1-847-435-5320,
Jennifer.erickson@motorola.com

.* *, ,* *.
* I love *
*. Ya .*
"*,,*"
Pass this HEART to all ur friends. If 3 come back ur n 4 good news

--
==================================================================
This mobile text message is brought to you by AT&T

Somebody sent this to my cell phone. I justa wanted to see if it would show up if I sentrit here