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Find out about features that help people with disability get the most out of their smartphone or tablets.

Posted on 30 November 2021

Accessibility in Technology have come a long way in the past 15 years, especially with the introduction of smartphones and tablets in the market. Here we will explore some accessibility features and tools that provide alternative ways for people with disability to use their phones and tablets.

It all comes down to the methods we use to introduce information into our devices, and the ways we access information from those devices. For most people, entering information is based in the interactions of your fingers and the touch screen, while we receive information by looking at the screen, listening to the phone sounds and sometimes feeling the phone’s vibrations. For people with visual, hearing, or physical disabilities, using the phone may involve using different combinations of methods to input information and to access information from those devices.

Learn below about features that allow people with disability use their phones or tablets.

Useful features for people who are visually impaired:

Options to change screen contrast
Options to change font size and style
Feature to zoom on elements on the screen
Adjustable phone vibrations and notification sounds
Screen reader to read the content on the screen (Voice Over on iOS and Talk Balk on Android)
Phone Assistant to manage some phone tasks by using your voice (Siri on iOS, Ok Google on Android)
Speech to text features to write long documents, such as emails, using your own voice

Useful features for people who are Blind:

Adjustable phone vibrations and notification sounds
(Voice Over on iOS and Talk Balk on Android)
Phone Assistant to manage some phone tasks by using your voice (Siri on iOS, Ok Google on Android)
Speech to text features to write documents, such as emails or social media posts, using your own voice
Switch option to navigate your phone using physical buttons such as volume buttons
Braille display support that allows you to connect a refreshable braille display to read the contents on your screen using your fingers, and to enter text using the input keys on your braille display
Braille input apps and features (such as Braille back on Android and Braille Screen Input on iOS devices) allow you to use the touch screen to input braille code to write SMS, emails, social media posts, etc

Useful features for people with hearing impairment:

Extra loud volume for calls, ringers, and other notifications
Loudspeaker
Option to connect headphones
Hearing aid compatibility so your calls are clearer and freer from environmental noise if you wear hearing aids
Bluetooth to connect to headphones, modern hearing aids, smart watches with haptics tools and other useful accessories.
Adjustable phone vibrations so you can personalize notifications and calls
Option to use the phone flashlight for incoming calls and notifications
Closed captions for videos
Live transcription of phone calls (available in some Android phones as Live Transcribe)

Useful features for people who are Deaf:

Bluetooth to connect to headphones, modern hearing aids, smart watches with haptics tools and other useful accessories.
Adjustable phone vibrations so you can personalize notifications and calls
Option to use the phone flashlight for incoming calls and notifications
Closed captions for videos
Live transcription of phone calls (available in some Android phones as Live Transcribe)
Front facing camera with a frame rate of at least 30 frames per second required to properly record Auslan (Australian Sign Language)

Useful features for people with physical disabilities:

Automatic Answer (usually works when a Bluetooth headphone is connected)
Phone Assistant to manage some phone tasks by using your voice (Siri on iOS, Ok Google on Android)
Option to connect headphones and headsets to avoid holding the phone. Also, the headphone jack is commonly used to connect button switches
Switch option to navigate your phone using external physical buttons, sip-puff switches, no-touch sensors, and other switch devices
Voice Control or Voice Access to allow you control all your phone using your voice, in this case, apps and elements on your screen are labelled with numbers or names and you can virtually tap on those elements by calling the number or label of the element, or by asking your phone to perform basic actions on them, such as open, close, turn volume up or down, tap, save, etc (Voice Control on iOS and Voice Access on Android).
Eye Gaze apps can be installed on phones and tablets to allow people to navigate the screens of their devices by tracking eye movements
Facial Gestures option so your phone uses the camera to recognise face expressions and perform actions previously assigned to those expressions. Face expressions include raising eyebrows, look on certain directions, wink, and open mouth among other gestures. (This is a new feature available on Android 12)

Useful features for people with impaired speech:

Text to speech apps that allow what is typed on the screen to be heard and understood by others
Augmentative and Alternative Communication apps that allow your phone to quickly produce full spoken sentences by tapping on that sentence or equivalent symbols or images on your ACC app.
Apps that recognise impaired speech and can transcribe it and reproduce it in a clear, synthetised voice. This app can also be used with the smart assistant for several tasks (Google’s beta version of the Relate app was launched in November of 2021, available for Android phones)

Useful features for people with no speech or who are non-verbal:

Front facing camera with a frame rate of at least 30 frames per second required to properly record Auslan (Australian sign language)
Text to speech apps that allow what is typed on the screen to be heard and understood by others
Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) apps that allow your phone to quickly produce full spoken sentences by tapping on that sentence or equivalent symbols or images on your ACC app

Useful features for people with intellectual disabilities:

Screen reader to read the content on the screen (Voice Over on iOS and Talk Balk on Android)
Dictation apps
Phone Assistant to manage some phone tasks by using your voice (Siri on iOS, Ok Google on Android)
Photo contact lists
Shortcut options and apps that perform full actions by only tapping them
Options to reduce the number of apps shown on your phone or to simplify your screen

Do you want to know more about those features? or do you already know about other new technologies used to help people with disability communicate via their phones or tablets? Let us know by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Latest Set of Accessibility Features Released on Android

Posted on 20 October 2021

Google recently launched a sleuth of accessibility features for their line of smartphones. These features, Project Activate and Camera Switches, allow the user to interact with the world around them via their expressions. The Camera Switches feature provides the user with the ability to navigate the Android with facial gestures. This feature is available with version 12 of the Android Accessibility Suite App. The Camera Switch feature uses facial expressions such as looking left, right, or up to access several controls, including scrolling on phones or viewing notifications. The application also provides a screenshot manual that illustrates how users can adjust the sensitivity of the software when recognizing expressions. The developers note that the feature does utilize a substantial amount of phone power, and therefore the phone should ideally be plugged in while the feature is in use. The feature can make Android more accessible for those with certain mobility impairments.

Building upon those capabilities, Google’s second feature, Project Activate, is an application that allows people to use their facial gestures to customize actions. For example, users can set a facial gesture to send a text or make a phone call. These latest features depend upon the smartphone’s front-facing camera, which can identify the user’s face for one of six expressions: a smile, raised eyebrows, opened mouth, and looking left, right, or up. The technology relies on local computing and does not save image data. In sum, these features are not creating facial recognition data or machine learning. Finally, Google released an accessibility update to the Lookout app, which reads labels and verbalizes the label's text for people with visual disabilities. The app can also read handwritten text like how it reads labels. [Source: Devin Coldewey via TechCrunch; The Verge]

You can learn more about facial gesture-powered shortcuts and switches at the Techcrunch website.

New App enables people who are non-verbal to access voice-activated smart home devices

Posted on 17 September 2021

The IDEAL Group is pleased to announce the release of the Smart Home Helper (SHH). SHH is a free Android app (available on the Google Play Store) that enables individuals who are nonverbal and individuals with speech disorders such as stuttering, apraxia, and dysarthria to issue verbal commands to voice-activated smart home devices using Android’s Text-to-Speech engine. SHH enables its users to issue smart home commands in any one of 63 languages/dialects. Smart home voice commands can easily be created, organized, and shared with other app users. SHH development was funded by The Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center for Wireless Inclusive Technologies (Wireless RERC).

Original article published by the Wireless Inclusive Technologies RERC of Georgia Tech University.

You can learn more about the Smart Home Helper app at the Google Play store.

The new Voiceitt app is available to support people with speech disabilities

Posted on 17 June 2021

Voiceitt is an accessibility app for people with speech disabilities or impairments.

It translates atypical speech to facilitate communication using your voice with people and smart assistants. Voiceitt learns how you say a phrase, so it is ready to use in everyday conversations and routines. This app will be offered for free for a limited time on iPhones and iPads. However, it is currently not available on Android devices.

While not exactly a telecommunications app (as it does not have phone call functionality) we consider this app as a very valuable resource for the speech impaired community. Please watch this space as we can foresee this app evolving to allow phone call and SMS functionality in the future.

You can learn more about the Voiceit app at the Voiceitt website.

The Telcos for All Report is now available

Posted on 10 June 2021

As the result of an ACCAN 2020 grant, the Centre for Accessibility (CFA) has completed a report on the audit the organisation carried out of the accessibility of information on the websites and associated apps for usage, plan and billing information of telcos Amaysim, Belong, Optus, Telstra, Vodafone. The report is available from the Centre for Accessibility’s website.

The CFA will conduct an online seminar on 10 June aimed at providing information to the telecommunications sector on how to remediate identified issues, achieve 'quick wins' and improve access.

Android 11 accessibility update significantly improves voice access control

Posted on 27 November 2020

The Centre for Accessibility Australia explores the improved Voice Access feature of smartphones running on Android 11. This accessibility feature was introduced by Google several years ago and it allows you to control smartphones with just your voice. Check the full article at Centre for Accessibility’s website..

ANATAD compares Braille Input and Web Accessibility on Android vs iPhones

Posted on 03 September 2020

In the main segment of this podcast, the ANATAD team talked about and demonstrated braille input and web accessibility on the Android and iPhone platforms and when all was said and done, there was no doubt as to who the winner was. It really became apparent that one of the platforms really did need to do a lot of work to make this right sooner, rather than later. Check the podcast at Casts.io.

Workplace Technology Solutions from the National Relay Service

Posted on 27 August 2020

The Department of Communications and the Arts have issued a new version of their Workplace Technology Solutions document, which aims to help you identify which type of technologies and apps might be useful in your workplace. Topics include how to download applications, captioning private phone calls and voice messages in the office, caption virtual Microsoft Teams meetings, caption conversations and private phones calls as well. You can download a PDF version of the document from the National Relay Service website.

20 August 2020

Have you listened to the ANATAD Podcast?

Have you checked the ANATAD Podcast?

Posted by AT on 20 August 2020

The ANATAD Podcast is here to bridge the gap for blind users of technology. The aim of ANATAD Podcast is to change people's perspective of Android usage by the blind and the visually impaired. ANATAD stands for Android News, Apps, Talk And Deals.

Check the podcast to find information on useful topics related to Android phones, all discussed from the perspective of blind and visually impaired technology users. Some of their most recent episodes include discussions on Braille input and web accessibility of Android vs iPhone, use of chat apps, email check, the most recent Android versions, reviews of the newest phones to hit the market and much more!

You can check all the Anatad Podcasts from podchaser.com

Workplace Technology Solutions from the National Relay Service

Posted by AT on 27 August 2020

Topics include how to download applications, captioning private phone calls and voice messages in the office, caption virtual Microsoft Teams meetings, caption conversations and private phones calls as well.

The document will be useful to employers and job seekers alike, encouraging open conversation on individual needs in the workplace and how to cater to all staff.

Download a PDF version of the document from the National Relay Service website.

Resources for providers

Devices and Apps

If you are device manufacturer, a retailer or an app developer and you wish to have your products included on our website, please email us on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Your device or app must meet the following criteria to be listed on this website:

Phone, tablets and other communication equipment: Your device must allow two-way communications, it is designed for mainstream use, or to assist seniors or people with disabilities. We do not list office equipment or computers.
Accessories: Accessories listed on this place help seniors and people with disability access the telecommunication functions of their phones and tablets.
Apps: Apps listed on this website help seniors and people with disability access the telecommunication functions of their phones and tablets.

Training Providers

If you wish to have your organisation listed as a training provider for Accessible Telecoms, please complete the attached form and email it back to us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Note: Equipment and training providers must have an active ABN, Australian contact numbers and a physical Australian Address.

Telecom_Training_Registration_Form_-_07_2020.docx

Telecom_Training_Registration_Form_-_07_2020.pdf

About Us

The Accessible Telecoms project is Australia’s first independent and up-to-date guide to mainstream and assistive telecommunication products suitable for people with disability. This is a free service that can be used by anyone, including people with disability, their families and carers, service providers and advocates.

This service is an initiative of the Australian Communications Consumer Action Network (ACCAN) to address the lack of consolidated, independent and up-to-date information about accessibility features of telecommunications equipment available in Australia. This service is currently funded by the Commonwealth of Australia through a grant made under section 14 of the Telecommunications (Consumer Protection and Service Standards) Act 1999. This grant is funded through the Telecommunications Industry Levy.

The service was initially developed in 2018 with a 2-year National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) ILC grant. During 2021 the service was funded by Telstra, Optus, TPG Telecom, Apple, Samsung, Google, ZTE and Motorola with the assistance of the Australian Mobile Telecommunications Association (AMTA).

The Accessible Telecoms Project is supervised by ACCAN’S Inclusion Team and has been developed with the input of an advisory committee formed by experts on senior and disability matters. The input of this committee is reflected on the types of products listed on the website, the accessibility features included for each device and the accessibility of the webpage among other topics.

*ACCAN is Australia’s peak communications consumer organisation representing individuals, small businesses and not-for-profit groups as consumers of communications products and services. ACCAN focuses on goods and services encompassed by the converged areas of telecommunications, broadcasting, the internet and online services, including both current and emerging technologies.

To learn more about ACCAN, visit www.accan.org.au

Have questions about Accessible Telecoms? Please email your enquiry to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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Teletypewriter (TTY) Type and Listen Calls

Type and Listen Calls are ideal if you have difficulty speaking or communicating on the phone, can hear adequately, and don't use a computer or mobile phone.

You type your message and listen to the responses.

Use a TTY (telephone typewriter).

How it works

TTY Type and Listen

In this type of call you type your side of the conversation on your TTY keyboard and the relay officer reads it aloud to the other person on their phone. You then listen to the other person speak directly to you.

Relay officers are the central link in the phone call. They stay on the line throughout each call to help it go smoothly, but do not change or interfere with what each person says.

Equipment

You will need a specialised fixed-line phone known as a TTY.

A TTY has a keyboard where you can type your side of the message. (There is also and a small display screen for users who can't hear and need to read the responses.)

The main model of TTY for Type and Listen calls is the Uniphone, a combined TTY and telephone.

In most cases you can rent a TTY for about the same cost as an ordinary phone through the disability equipment schemes offered by Telstra and Optus.

Adding a speakerphone to your TTY

You may find it more convenient to have a speakerphone connected to your TTY so you don't have to hang up the receiver each time you type. (Note that you will have to turn off the speaker button each time to prevent "jumbling" of your messages.)

It is possible to use a Superprint TTY and speakerphone together on some phone lines only. However it does not work in all situations and we recommend that you trial it first.

You may be able to rent a speakerphone from your telephone company for the same cost as a standard phone.

Other equipment

You might find other equipment useful, such as a phone arm, flashing light or phone double adaptor. This will depend on your personal requirements.

Contact the NRS Helpdesk for more information on disability equipment schemes, and where to obtain TTYs and other specialised equipment that you might need.

What does it cost?

Relay calls within Australia are free. However, you will be connecting to the internet and charges for your data use will depend on your internet or mobile data plan.

If you want to make calls to phone numbers overseas or premium-rate (1900) calls you will need a prepaid phone card or an NRS account.

Further information and useful links:

TTY Type and Listen Fact Sheet

Teletypewriter (TTY) Options Fact Sheet

Making a Type and Listen Call Instruction Sheet

Answering a Type and Listen Call Instruction Sheet

Making a Type and Listen Call to Emergency Services Instruction Sheet

NRS Service Features Web Page

Numbers for calling a NRS User

NRS App – Apple App Store

NRS App – Google Play

*The information contained in this document comes from the National Relay Service Australia.

Download: NRS807 Type and Listen Calls - Version 1 (DOCX)

Video Relay

Video Relay calls are ideal if you want to make a call using Auslan to someone who speaks English and uses an ordinary phone.

This is a video-based relay call using a camera and the internet, so you sign your message, and you watch the signs on the screen.

Use a computer, laptop, tablet or smartphone.

How it works

Video Relay

In this type of call you can use Auslan to communicate with a relay officer via the relay service website or app. Then, the relay officer translates from Auslan to spoken English to the person you are calling and signs back their part of the conversation to you.

Equipment

You will need:

A computer (with a webcam), a tablet or a smartphone.
A Skype account and username (free to download from the internet and open an account) or NRS app
A good broadband connection with both download and upload speeds of at least 1.5 Megabits per second.

Note that broadband speeds can vary depending on a range of environmental and technical factors such as connection type, distance from the exchange (in the case of ADSL) and the number of people using the same connection. Go to this page to test if your connection is fast enough to make a video relay call.

You can also use a smartphone with a good camera and a good internet connection.

What does it cost?

Relay calls within Australia are free. However, you will be connecting to the internet and charges for your data use will depend on your internet or mobile data plan. In most cases data is part of a monthly cap. Bear in mind that video calls use quite a lot of data, so check your plan.

If you want to make calls to phone numbers overseas or premium-rate (1900) calls you will need a prepaid phone card or an NRS account.