July 29, 2024
With a few taps, you can update your smartphone to make it more accessible. Learn how people with low vision, dexterity limitations, cognitive delays or hearing issues can activate these tools.
Everyone can — and should — enjoy the full features of their smartphone.
For those with low vision, dexterity challenges, cognitive delays or hearing issues, activating a variety of accessibility features on your mobile phone can make it easier and more enjoyable to use.
Cox Mobile Phone Accessibility Support
Cox Mobile supports accessibility features for iPhones and Android devices.
Hearing Aid Compatibility (HAC) syncs with wireless technologies to reduce microphone noise, making it easier to use cochlear implants and hearing aids with cellphones. All wireless hearing-aid-compatible devices get rated with ANSI standards. If you're shopping for a mobile phone to use with assistive hearing devices, look for the ANSI rating. The higher the rating, the better the performance.
Another supported feature is Real-Time Text (RTT). This allows text messages to send immediately in real-time, much like a verbal conversation. The receiver can see the words as the sender is typing. For example, the RTT feature makes communicating non-verbally with a 911 emergency operator faster and smoother than traditional texting.
Besides the accessibility features supported by Cox Mobile, iPhones and Android devices have their own sets of accessibility tools that you can activate.
Here's how to get started:
iPhone: Activate these features when you turn on your phone for the first time.
Android: Download the Android Accessibility Suite app to activate these features.
1. Voice Commands
Voice commands let you perform various functions by speaking instead of typing.
iPhone: VoiceOver is a screen reader that speaks what's visible on the screen including clickable text, the name of the person calling or what app your finger is on. VoiceOver is also compatible with a connected keyboard or braille display. Go to Settings and tap Accessibility. Then, select VoiceOver and toggle the switch to the On position.
Android: To use your phone without seeing the screen, activate the TalkBack screen reader option to navigate via sound and touch. Go to Settings and tap Accessibility. Then, select TalkBack.
2. Adjusting Color Modes
Inverting color modes can help low-vision users boost screen visibility.
iPhone: Choose between Smart Invert (reverses all colors, except in images) or Classic Invert (reverses all colors). Go to Settings and tap Accessibility. Then, select Display & Text Size. Toggle the On switch for Smart Invert or Classic Invert.
Android: The colors on the screen reverse, so traditional black text on a white background becomes white text on a black background. Go to Settings and tap Accessibility. Choose Color and Motion, then Color Inversion. Toggle to the On option.
3. Touchscreen Settings
For those with low fine motor control, tremors or other dexterity issues, adjusting the way your smartphone responds to touch may help.
Android: Users can activate the Touch & Hold Delay, which requires your finger to stay in place for a longer period of time before registering the action. Go to Settings and tap Accessibility. Then choose Touch & Hold Delay. Choose the Short, Medium or Long option.
iPhone: You can adjust how your phone registers swipes, taps and other gestures. Make the action longer, or shorter, adjust how swipe movements occur and even tell the phone that multiple touches should register as just one touch. Go to Settings and tap Accessibility. Then, select Touch. Choose Touch Accommodations. Then update as needed.
4. Display/Text Size
Make reading your phone easier by increasing the size of the text. This feature shows up on everything from ebooks and emails, to social media feeds and text messaging.
Android: Go to Settings and look for Font Size. To make the font/text bigger, move the slider to the desired size.
iPhone: Go to Settings and tap Display & Brightness. Then, select Text Size. Move the slider to the desired text size.
5. Live Captions
For those with hearing issues, allowing your smartphone to produce real-time captioning of audio can make it possible to better understand phone calls, podcasts and videos.
Android: Go to Settings and tap Sound, then choose Live Caption. Toggle to the On position.
iPhone: Go to Settings and tap Accessibility. Then, select Live Captions and toggle to the On position.
6. Sound Recognition
Did you know your smartphone can alert you when specific sounds happen around you? For those with hearing issues or cognitive delays, this function makes it easier to realize when the doorbell rings, the oven timer beeps, a smoke alarm sounds, etc.
Android: Go to Settings, and tap Accessibility. Then choose Sound Notifications. In the Settings area, choose Active. Then, program the sounds you'd like your phone to recognize.
iPhone: Go to Settings and tap Accessibility. Then choose Sound Recognition and toggle to the On position. Then, choose Sounds and program the sound you want your phone to recognize.
7. LED Flashing Alerts
These benefit people with low vision, hearing issues or cognitive delays. When there's an incoming phone call or other notification, the screen, flash on the camera or flashlight feature will illuminate to get your attention.
Android: Go to Settings, then Notifications. Select the on position for Camera Flash or Screen Flash. You can also select the color for the Screen Flash option.
iPhone: Go to Settings, tap accessibility and choose Audio & Visual. Toggle the LED for Alerts option to On.
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