[BlindTlk] [BlTlk] getting a cell phone...

[Judy Jones]

Hi, Madison,

You've spent most of the time telling us why you don't want a cell phone. If you don't want one, don't get one.

However, if you're like me and willing to be talked into something at times, just because you're exploring, will gladly help.

I do have a BlindShell Classic 2, the 3 is even better. And while those phones are feature rich, as far as feature phones go, they aren't nearly as productive as a touch screen phone, and cannot do some of the things I need a phone to do, because of the community activities I am involved in. So my main driver is my Samsung device I use for phone, text, e-mail, running a communitywide Facebook group, watching videos, listening to audio, and virtual conferencing.

Blind people use touch screen phones all the time, and do not need a physical keyboard but can type directly on the screen, like anyone else.

However, if all you want to do is talk and text, as do many people, the most accessible phone would be the BlShell Classic 2 or 3. The 3 is the better phone, but will cost more.

I started using a cell phone with Talks screen reader back in 2005, and learned the T9 texting, meaning using the number pad to input letters. I got so where I could type in a letter per second, alternating between two fingers doing the typing. Like anything else, it takes practice.

Just know that blind folks aren't limited when it comes to touch screen phones, either Android or Apple.

If all you want to do is talk and text, like many people, sighted or blind, one of the BlindShell phones would be your best bet. 

If you don't want a cell phone, don't get one, but I think if you do, you will like the convenience.

All phones have great e-mail list support.

Let us know what you decide.
  



sent from Judy's Android braille tablet

----- Original Message -----
From: madisonolivialanemartin483--- via BlTlk <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
Date: Sunday, November 02, 2025 10:00 PM
To: Blind Talk Mailing List <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
CC: madisonolivialanemartin483 at gmail.com
Subject: [BlindTlk] getting a cell phone...

Hi all,
My family keeps bugging me about getting a cell phone and I know I really should
get with the times and get one but I just can't stand touch screens and don't
trust dictation. There's a phone that's meant for visually ipaired people who
don't want/can't use touch screens but it only has numbers so typing would be
rather difficult and one of the main reasons my parents want me to get a phone
is for texting. I know you can use a keyboard but I don't really see the point
in getting a phone just to use a keyboard with it. Like I said I know I really
should get with the times and have a cell phone but they're just so expensive
and I highly doubt I'd use it for much more then talk/text so I'm not really
sure what to do. Any thoughts? Thanks for any thoughts and please don't judge me
as I'm not trying to knock Apple or Google.
Madison
 
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