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

Mon Nov 3 15:44:01 UTC 2025

Sorry, Sami, option for what???

Judy
sent from my Android phone

On Mon, Nov 3, 2025, 3:14 AM Sami Osborne via BlindTlk <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
wrote:

> I'm curious why exactly you can't stand touch screens as well, since as
> Judy said, many many blind people around the world can use them quite
> efficiently. There are some blind people who also have some sort of sensory
> impairment (possibly including nerve damage, although I'm obviously no
> expert on that) which prevents them from being able to use a touch screen
> and do other things with their hands, although I'm unclear as to whether
> this might be the case for you or not.
>
> If you know Braille, another option with the iPhone in addition to the
> onscreen keyboard or pairing your phone with an external keyboard is to
> type using Braille Screen Input, which is what I use. I've been using Apple
> devices since late 2012 when I turned 15, and have been using the onscreen
> keyboard right up until last year, when Apple made substantial improvements
> to Braille Screen Input even though it was initially introduced during the
> fall of 2014. Oh my goodness, I think it's so much more efficient than
> using the onscreen keyboard, especially since I've been using Braille for
> ten whole years BEFORE I ever got an iDevice; I've been reading and writing
> in Braille since the age of 5 years old, and consequently have developed
> into quite a fast reader/writer.
>
> Judy, do you know if there exists a similar option on Android or the
> BlindShell?
>
> Going back to you Madison, as Judy and others have stated and implied
> before me, there are really no limits, none at all, for blind people of any
> kind when it comes to finding the right fit phone which meets your
> particular needs and specifications.
>
> Have a good week,
>
> Sami On Nov 3, 2025 3:37 AM, Justin Williams via BlindTlk <
> blindtlk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> >
> > I have an iPhone, and a Bluetooth keyboard to pair with it.
> >
> > I prefer that for typing, and I use voice over for texting.
> > And or the keyboard occasionally when I am texting.
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: BlindTlk <blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Judy Jones
> via BlindTlk
> > Sent: Monday, November 3, 2025 1:33 AM
> > To: blindtlk at nfbnet.org
> > Cc: Judy Jones <sonshines59 at gmail.com>
> > Subject: Re: [BlindTlk] [BlTlk] getting a cell phone...
> >
> > 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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