iPad & Deaf-blind Accessibility

by Kim Paulk
All Apple images copyright Apple Corp. 2011

Deaf-blind Consumer & Technology Advocate

Equal Access would be...

Full-featured screenreader Up to 200 times magnification

White text on black option

Ready for refreshable braille displays

FREE & already installed

Can it happen?

What? It's here? Now?

Millions of people have one already?

IT'S THE APPLE iPAD!

Learning about iPad Impact for deaf-blind youth & DB...

Features/tools

Accessibility
What apps can do Built-in apps Accessibility apps

Built-in Universal Access is what makes Apple products have meaning for people who have hearing and vision losses

Computing with Apple is enjoyable for DB Youth

Can start using it when friends do! Easy to learn Accessibility features are instant on/off Braille output easy to use (and cool!) They will always be able to use it as vision/hearing decline

VoiceOver Screenreader
Speaks all items & text Adjustable verbosity Adjustable speaking rate Simple gesture controls Works with apps INCLUDED Works with about 50% of App Store apps Many languages

Zo

om

Magnify until single icon fills screen Custom instant zoom Control by gestures (touch)

White on Black

Reduces Glare & eye strain

What Can Apps Do?

Hardware Cameras (2) Light sensor Microphone Speaker Motion gyro Touch screen Headphone Jack Possible Uses (apps) Bar codes/Magnifier/Skype Detect light Voice control/speech recognition Amplifier/speech - tone output Orientation Spatial awareness Hearing aid T-Coil /external speaker

 ALL apps INCLUDED are VO compatible

Contacts
Calendar Safari web browser Notes More

Assisstive Apptitude
Dragon Dictate Dictate text, then copy into other apps

SoundAmpR
Digit-Eyes (iPad 2) EyeNote (iPad 2) Magnifiers (iPad 2) CaptionFish

Hearing aid - FM type amplifier

Read barcodes & create labels Identifies US currency Magnify objects using camera

Lists Closed Captioned Movies & Theaters playing nearby

Communication Apptitude
Relay apps

W/Braille Device = DBC (DBcommunicator)

Purple VRS Z4 Mobile Sorenson iW Relay AT&T VL5 Convo Mobile

Text apps

NOTES (built in) BUZZWORDS:

Create & organize communication 'cards'

Standard Apps can also be useful and/or VO accessible

Sign4Me Flashlight Banking Dictionaries Cookbooks

 Collaborate with others - everyone can use iPad together!

Endless possibilities for deaf-blind youth

Collaborate with others - everyone can use iPad together with voice, braille & text interactively Levels the playing field
Their peers' iPads are also accessible!

iPads have been requested as AT devices for HKNC Students

Impact
When has a deafblind teenager had as much fun and cool tech as their peers?

3 Deaf-culture young adults at HKNC purchased their own iPhones! An estimated 100,000 blind people now own iPhones!

Assistive Accessories
Portable tactile keyboards Refreshable Braille Devices Tele coil neck loops for hearing aids Portable BoseTM speakers Digital AV adapter cable - mirrors iPad Cases - with clips, stands, keyboards,
etc.

Portable Wireless Bluetooth Keyboard

$70 - Available @ Apple, Walmart, Web

Refreshabraille 18
By APH

Wireless Bluetooth

Many other
brands/models also

$1700 +

T-Coil $40 + Loops

Neck loop & ear hook styles
with & without microphone (telephone use) Powered models for more amplification

Portable Bose Speakers

Drastic improvement in speech & screenreader comprehension Less Strain & frustration

$200+

Greater participation

Establish an Apple Tech Support System

Who will help setup accessibility & devices? Who will train consumer? Who will troubleshoot for consumer?

FYI:
Wi-Fi - built-in

3G - optional
No USB port - transfer files via iTunes and/or 'cloud' services Requires iTunes(free) & credit card to install Apps

Today we learned about iPad's:

Impact for deaf-blind youth Features & tools Accessibility: VoiceOver, Zoom, White on Black What apps do Built-in apps Assistive technology apps & more

Apple Resources
iPad User Guide/accessibility chapter: located in Safari web browser under bookmarks Apple and/or YouTube apple.com/accessibility www.apple.com/accessibility/voiceover/reasons .html Macvisioinaries and other VoiceOver Listservs

Other Resources
Handy Tech Training Guide and/or Course: www.handytech.us
Disability related app search database & Webinar coming soon to Georgia Tools for Life: www.gatfl.org www.tecear.com/: one source for TeleCoil neck loops www.afb.org/aw: Accessible cell phone reviews National Braille Press: www.nbp.org: "Getting Started with the iPhone: An Introduction for Blind Users" & "26 Useful Apps for Blind iPhone Users"