[nfb-talk] Accessible Business Phone Systems

Thu Jan 23 15:11:42 UTC 2014

My office uses Sisco Unity, but I do not know what phone system.  So far it has been pretty accessable.  Someone else helped me put my password in, but I am not sure if I could have learned or if we just did it that way for convenience.  I work for the National Cancer Institute of NIH at Shady Grove.  I will try to find out what phone system we are using.

Terry Powers

-----Original Message-----
From: Michael Bullis [mailto:bullis.michael at gmail.com] 
Sent: Sunday, January 19, 2014 1:14 PM
To: 'NFB Talk Mailing List'
Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] Accessible Business Phone Systems

Yes, thanks.  I'm familiar with that product.  I'm having trouble with the concept that, fifteen years after cisco built the underlying framework for accessible phone systems no carrier employs it.
That's pretty annoying and something that needs advocacy and outrage from our community.

-----Original Message-----
From: nfb-talk [mailto:nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of David Andrews
Sent: Saturday, January 18, 2014 8:49 PM
To: NFB Talk Mailing List
Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] Accessible Business Phone Systems

There is software to make voip phones accessible, called access-a-phone.  It isn't cheap, but it works.

Dave

At 09:27 AM 1/18/2014, you wrote:
>Hi folks:
>
>I'm reaching out to you because I can't find an accessible business 
>phone system and wonder if you have been able to do so.  My 
>organization is growing.  We now have eighteen employees.  Our current 
>phone system is pretty much inaccessible.  Oh, well, if you're blind, 
>you can answer the phone and check messages.  All the rest of the 
>system-call forwarding, conferencing, looking at your recent call list, Etc., are inaccessible.
>
>
>
>My organization wants a modern voip phone system in which one can 
>manage calls from the desk phone, from ones pc, and from one's smart phone.
>
>If someone calls you at your desk, the call can also be seen on your 
>computer and smart phone.
>
>Unfortunately, in every instance that I've looked at, the apps that 
>provide such services aren't accessible.  It turns out that cisco, 
>fifteen years ago, developed the underlying architecture to allow for 
>full access to
these
>systems for people who are blind or deaf,  but, the companies that 
>create them haven't developed the apps for access.  For example, in the 
>case of Comcast, they have apps for desktop and iphone, which, with 
>small modifications such as labeling buttons, would be accessible, but, 
>as you might expect, it isn't a priority with Comcast to make such 
>changes any
time
>soon.  Apparently fifteen years just hasn't been enough time.
>
>Even their iphone app could be made accessible with the simple act of 
>changing a graphic to a button and some minor labeling.  But, alas, 
>that's too much to ask if one wants it in this decade.
>
>So, since I know that you run anorganization that employs many blind 
>folks I'm wondering if you have had any success at a fully accessible, 
>modern phone system-one that allows you to call forward, see who has 
>called, conference call, access your phone from your desktop or laptop, 
>or, from your smartphone (either android or iphone)?
>
>Interestingly, one solution would be to buy really old phones.  What do 
>I mean?  Buy phones that have what I call hard buttons.  These are 
>analog phones that have a button for hold, button for forward, button 
>for conferencing, Etc.  Unfortunately, such phones aren't necessarily 
>forward compatible with current voice over ip systems.
>
>
>
>So, I'm writing you for two possible things.
>
>1.        Do you have a fully accessible phone system that I've just missed
>in my research?
>
>2.       Do you have contacts with major voip providers such as Verizon,
>Comcast, 8x8, AT&T, who could take on the mission of making their 
>systems accessible?
>
>
>
>I should mention that I am familiar with ipblue and Tenacity.  They 
>will provide us with piggyback programs for the pc that will make some 
>company's phone systems accessible in combination with jaws for that environment.
The
>work-arounds start at $750 per station and go up from their.  But, 
>still,
no
>ability to use these systems with your smart phone.
>
>Any advice or thoughts would be appreciated.
>
>
>
>My desires in life are simple.  Two of them, always lingering in the 
>back
of
>my mind have been, a fully usable phone system and pay stubs that I can 
>read.  The pay stubs is easy.  The phone system doesn't seem to be.
>
>I'm hoping you can help me realize this one.
>
>Thanks in advance for forwarding this to anyone who may have answers.
>
>Mike Bullis
>
>Executive Director,
>
>The IMAGE Center of Maryland
>
>Office: 443-275-9394
>
>Cell:443-286-9001

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