How a blind/visually impaired person uses a phone

[@Michele59]

Using a cell phone in public has always been a concern of mine for exactly the reason stated in your video. I've shared this on Facebook for obvious reasons. Thank you for making this video and giving me more confidence to use mine in public. X

[@JuanAlcazar]

It really can be something that can make someone think twice about using their phone un public if they’re blind or low vision. But do think of it as using another mobility aid like a cane since when we do use our phones when out in public, a lot of times it’s to help us find our way to a destination.

[@amandaclov8996]

Thanks so much for making this video! I was so sad when I saw that photo on my friend's timeline, so I'm sharing your video with them.

[@JuanAlcazar]

Thanks for sharing the video. It’s always good to have a few more people know that the blind and visually impaired can use technology like smartphones and computers. It was really upsetting when I first saw that picture as well.

[@KateBlackSpence]

I came for the same reason and shared this as well.

[@mirnotion]

Thank you SO, SO, SO much for putting yourself out there to rise awareness for your community. I've shared this with everyone I know. Thank you for educating us, it's key.

[@JuanAlcazar]

Thank you so much for watching and sharing the video. Really means a lot to hear that. This is a topic I can get passionate about because one would think that in this day of smartphones and other technology that doing a simple online search can answer that question of if blind people use technology.

[@TheInkyAbys]

This helped a whole bunch, I have a character that's blind and I've been doing research to further develop them properly. Thanks for this video!

[@tatsumakigei]

I'd like to know the stories you've published :) and which platform you use

[@TheInkyAbys]

@@tatsumakigei ah sorry I haven't published anything, still in high school right now and I don't post my art because... well honestly I'm not good sorry. But one day I'm gonna make a graphic novel and have been working on it, but I'm still on that creative puke part. ((Basically just writing and drawing everything and going through it with a fine tooth comb later, plus all the world building and other designs that need to be straightened out))

[@fashioneyesta]

This was such a great video! I’m so glad so many of us have made videos and blogs on this topic because it really shows us as a strong community 👍🏻

[@JuanAlcazar]

Agreed. I was surprised in a good way in how so many people were blogging and posting about this. I’m glad that the community has done its best to raise awareness with the hashtag.

[@bluehourafterglows]

Well, I am not a visually impaired person but I want to thank you for making such an informative video. I learnt a lot! Much respect for all of you and the engineers and the scientists who have made such an technological innovation. What a time to live in!!

[@JuanAlcazar]

Thank you, and it’s definitely a pretty good time to be a visually impaired or blind tech user right now. Things should always continue to get better, but things are also a lot more accessible today than compared to even ten years ago thanks to assistive technology.

[@BarknoorZ]

This was really nice and informative, I remember you talking about that picture before (not sure where) but it's nice to see an in-depth description of all the things that can be done with your phone. Definitely always a good idea to NOT judge people from what we first see.

[@JuanAlcazar]

Thank you and I felt like I needed to add my thoughts on this since a lot of the blind community had already given their thoughts about it. Not just that though but also because it was a bit personal for me too.

[@robodd4694]

One of the great positives of being Blind is never judging at first sight. Lol! It takes time and lots of learning about a subject before we form opinions.

[@BlindtoBillionaire]

hey Juan, this is a great video. I was actually using my phone at the airport the other day and Corey laughed and said you could be a meme. LOL thanks for another great video, you are so talented!. Matt

[@JuanAlcazar]

Yeah but hopefully it’s the good type of meme where people are laughing with you and not at you because I’d hate for that to happen. I mean I just saw in one of your videos that it’s a habit to look down at your phone or at a piece of paper even if you can’t read it

[@darquequeen2323]

I use magnification and high contrast usually. On bad days or websites where that’s not efficient or possible, I use VoiceOver and turn off my screen. I used to be self conscious about it, but now, I don’t care. I do what works for me. Great video, as always! 👍🏽 😉

[@JuanAlcazar]

Thank you and it’s great to hear your perspective on how you use accessibility features. Was it tricky when you first started using VoiceOver with the screen curtain?

[@myvisuallyimpairedlife5674]

I don't care what other people think. All I know is my cell phone has been one of the last things keeping me feeling normal. My phone has helped me tremendously through my visual impairment. Making this comment alone was a hard task for me when I first became visually impaired. But now, feel like a professional as if I could write a novel just by speech to text. Also, I am staring at my phone right now but all I see is a mush of colors and Light. But it just feels right knowing it's in front of my face. Makes me feel partially human. Awesome video.

[@JuanAlcazar]

That’s awesome that you’ve used your phone to dona lot more than some people would use it for. Hey I say go for that novel idea. It’d be pretty awesome to say you wrote it with just speech to text.

[@myvisuallyimpairedlife5674]

@@JuanAlcazar I was only being sarcastic about the novel thing. I could only imagine the editing process that would be included with that idea. LOL But I sure would love to try some kind of software that allows me to properly dictate a whole novel. I don't currently have enough Vision to go back improperly edit text. But I am also newly visually impaired and have only been this way for about one year. So I am still learning new things everyday. Before I lost lost my vision due to optic nerve damage I did a write a lot of short stories and I wrote One novel years ago. Was not good so I'm sure if I tried to dictate a novel it couldn't be any worse. LOL Thanks for the reply and I have to say I love your videos. You are very talented.

[@JuanAlcazar]

Ah I see, oops. I guess sarcasm doesn’t translate well when it’s typed out. Hey you never know, maybe they’ll be able to have something where you can edit long voice to text recorded files. Have you considered trying to write another short story? Not with voice dictation but rather using touch typing to pull it off?

[@myvisuallyimpairedlife5674]

@@JuanAlcazar I'm going to try anything I just need to be introduced to it first. In my state of New Hampshire after 8 months they finally approve me for funds to help me with my vision loss. So I am getting future OT and refreshed Kane training. So hopefully they show me some things when it comes to a computer. I know where all the keys on the keyboard are however oh, I was never a pro at typing. I will eventually figure out something and yes I would love to write another short story or perhaps finish the probably 100 but I never finished after starting. LOL that was sarcasm by the way. LOL Hey, thanks again for the reply it's nice to know when you're probably a very busy guy doing what you do that you take the time to comment back. Highly appreciate it buddy.

[@JuanAlcazar]

Hey no problem. I try my best to reply back to comments. Wishing you the best of luck with the additional training and the possible new writing in your future. Take care.

[@nazanvisions]

This is great!! Thank you for putting this together, sometimes I get scared to get my phone out to, but we shouldn’t be. Keep up the good work jc!

[@JuanAlcazar]

I’m hoping that because of this hashtag that we aren’t feeling so self conscious about using our phones while using our canes or walking with our guide dogs. Thank you for the kind words Naz.

[@nazanvisions]

@@JuanAlcazar i didn't know about this hashtag until I watched this video! Might have to do a video myself!! no wories :) take care!x

[@robodd4694]

THANK YOU! Such a great video. I am legally blind as well as Deaf (wear CI) so I get ignorance flying at me from both disabilities. My CI does NOT allow me perfect hearing. Not at all. So I get the "you're not Deaf because you can hear me". I have a huge love/hate of my CI. And just like with the CI showing as a symbol that I'm Deaf, my white cane basically does the same. It states I'm Blind....in till I'm not. I've actually have been confronted and verbally assaulted by ignorant people who just have to voice their stupidity. Or even the constant explanations to people who are just curious. Which is perfectly natural but don't understand that I'm just sick of explaining my level of sight and hearing....Or people with expectations, their own ideas of what Deaf/Blindness and/or Deaf-Blindness means. Like they expect me to be far worse and incapable like I'm their own living and breathing Helen Keller (who was all myth). Or replies to me even here...most never on the subject but on, I'm not really Deaf-Blind because I'm using youtube. On a side note, I really hate the label "Legally" Blind. Just what does that mean? And it confuses people who don't understand. I've been asked...so you went to court and got legal? Did I get legal papers? Then it becomes a joke. Or what is non-legally Blind? Sighted? HATE that label! What happened to just saying visually impaired? People understand that. Do I say I'm legally deaf? NO. When I was HH I said hard of hearing. So I wish the community would stop using that idiotic label.

[@LifeAfterSightLoss]

Well done Juan! Excellent production and a great message! We should all be confident when we go out and about. Thanks for the info!

[@JuanAlcazar]

Thank you Derek. Glad you liked the video and this was helpful for me too since talking about that insecurity of mine has gone down since seeing everyone’s posts.

[@LiveAccessible]

This is a super great video! Nothing wrong with the audio by the way absolutely perfect. I'm going to share this around. I think that education is so important. A lot of it is that people are ignorant of the actual facts and just have assumptions. They don't have a experience switch on some level is understandable, but they don't give people the benefit of the doubt too because they think that they understand when they actually don't. I can't remember who said it, but someone said it's not what you don't know, it's what you know that isn't right that is the problem. Or something like that. Awesome video is always! ♥️

[@JuanAlcazar]

Thanks Carrie. Yeah I think that’s part of the problem. People who think they know what’s going on when they’re not in that position themselves.

[@fugasmao1]

God bless you for what you are doing

[@JuanAlcazar]

Thank you.

[@WarriorinHim]

Thank you Juan! Very Informative and helpful! You inspire me! You and others help me get through this as well in my own Blindness

[@JuanAlcazar]

Thank you. I’ve been helped through my own difficult moments when I first came to terms with my sight loss by watching quite a few blind creators on here, so I can understand what you mean.

[@DorysStories]

It's brilliant that you are addressing this issue! I'd love to see you address other public misconceptions. Well done

[@JuanAlcazar]

I plan on addressing a few more topics like these in the future so stay tuned 🙂 I’m glad this video turned out the way it did.

[@CaylawithaC]

Great video!! I think you covered this topic very well. And yes, it’s a reflex to look at your phone. I always look at my phone when I use it even though I use voice over exclusively

[@JuanAlcazar]

It’s such an unconscious habit too. I just wish more people would understand better but also knew about the accessibility features we have at our fingertips. Then again that’s a big reason why I made the video. Thank you for saying that I covered the topic pretty well 🙂

[@lalalandnyc3510]

Thank you so much for all the information provided! I'm so glad to know you can benefit and there are so many cool and supportive apps. I didn't know. I am trying to make something to be as much inclusive as possible. Thank you for bringing awareness. It's such a cool video and important to know.

[@JuanAlcazar]

Thank you. Cell phones are pretty great tools for blind individuals these days. Granted, there’s still many areas that have to be improved. That being said, if things keep progressing as they have been since the first screen readers were implemented, as well as having blind and other disabled people being part of the process in creating and testing out those features then the accessibility will likely improve as well.

[@BLINDHAVOK]

Man this video is great. Since the picture of the woman was put out there, I have been thinking what if someone approaches me and says I'm faking it. I have a few sighted people around me who still get amazed at how I use tech and get around. This video has it all, to educate those who are unaware. Gonna post this to blind awareness. Nice one Juan :)

[@JuanAlcazar]

Thanks Kyle. I really wanted to include as much as I could without showing or talking too much about each feature and app. Thank you for sharing the video as well.

[@mistyfiedwhisper5321]

Thank you i just saw it again on facebook and posted this video to them.

[@JuanAlcazar]

Thank you so much. It’s been a topic I’ve been thinking of a lot ever since I started using my cane.

[@mistyfiedwhisper5321]

@@JuanAlcazar My mom is blind in one eye and low vision in the other...taught me really quick to view things from a perspective other than your own so... those memes got me Really upset as well... sure we can joke around but lets be good to each other at least.

[@ismewhat1234]

Great video buddy people can be so hateful and negative and that is so sad and can be scary. Sorry to the lady that this happened to💔 GOD🙏BLESS U ALL & stay safe👋👋 BYE👋👋

[@JuanAlcazar]

Yeah, it can be upsetting hearing how some people can judge other so easily especially when they don't fully understand.

[@iandizon388]

Thank you, mate. This is a great video. Very informative.

[@JuanAlcazar]

I wish people would realize that modern day phones can be used by the blind, deaf, and those with mobility issues instead of people calling out people saying they're "faking" it.

[@MsAussie83]

What kind of fool would mock someone with a disability. Like you, I am totally blind, and I use a cane. Though I don't even own a cell phone, I use a landline phone. Like you, I'm one of those girls who wants to bring awareness of disabilities into the community wherever I may be. This is why I want to start a company that specializes in products and services for people of all abilities. Whether you are sighted, blind, visually challenged, hearing, deaf, hearing challenged, speaking, speech challenged, learning, learning challenged, physical, or even physically challenged, whatever abilities or challenges you may have, my company's mission statement is "Accessibility for anyone and everyone!".

[@JuanAlcazar]

I really hope that you get that idea for your company off the ground. The more people are talking about things like this the better because it always seems like the disability community is very misjudged and misunderstood by the general public.

[@MsAussie83]

+JC5 Productions Perhaps they need diversity training. I'm willing to provide that too. Stevie Wonder once said, "When they tell you you can't, don't believe 'em!". I stand firm on the words of Stevie, because he, like me, knows blindness as an extension, rather than a barrier in life. My sweet love, Johnny, who's also blind, once heard a VH1 segment with Stevie Wonder, where he heard a guy say, "White people are useless when they're blind." Both Johnny and I, though we're not violent in any way, swear we want to kick that guy in the pants! I bet his comment left Stevie in tears. It definitely did that to Johnny, and it sure as heck did the same for me! What if we told him that people of his kind were nasty gutter rats? How would that make him feel?

[@driver55]

Great video thank you. And people shouldn’t be so quick to pass judgement. Its a big problem in today’s world. Seek the answers before attacking people. Blessings. 🙏

[@JuanAlcazar]

I think part of the problem is that some people aren’t aware of these accessibility features that exist in their phones. Like even with some accessibility features for other disabilities, I sometimes forget that a certain feature can do a task in a certain way.

[@driver55]

@@JuanAlcazar yes that is def part of the problem. I have a cousin who is visually impaired and when i helped him i was amazed and the features in the settings. Better tech is needed, but at least it’s far better than years ago.

[@VHPINC]

Thanks for producing this video. I think the most unusual thing anyone has ever said to me was that “you don’t look blind”. I knew what she meant but it still was not very thoughtful. Are use my cell phone and tablet all the time with voice to text and to read things to my self. Thanks again for sharing.

[@JuanAlcazar]

Thank you. It can be a difficult thing for people who don’t understand to realize that visually impaired and blind people use all kinds of technology.

[@JuanAlcazar]

Thank you. It can be a difficult thing for people who don’t understand to realize that visually impaired and blind people use all kinds of technology.

[@jena9176]

THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS.

[@danah552]

thank you for posting this. makes me think back to that phrase "there's an app for that". I'm not visually impaired other than needing real strong contacts or glasses, yet, but i have conditions that could cause sudden blindness, and my greatest fear is not being able to make a phone call because i can't see my phone to pull up the keypad and punch numbers or pick a contact. voice calling rarely calls the right person for me. So, my biggest question is how does a blind person make a phone call?

[@JuanAlcazar]

There’s a couple of ways of how to make a phone call if you’re blind. One would be using the screen reader software from the phone itself and going into the phone app to place a call. Another way would be to use Siri, and that does the trick if the person you’re calling happens to be in your contact list. If you’re low vision, you can use screen magnification to increase the size of everything and making it easier to find buttons on the screen to tap.

[@theblindlife]

Very well done!

[@JuanAlcazar]

Thank you Sam.

[@cloudy121212]

exactly this was well put together anyone can use a phone thats why all the stuff is available to help, i dont no what else to say but well put together video

[@JuanAlcazar]

Actually the awesome thing about smartphones is that all those accessibility features are available at no additional cost. A lot of times special devices for those of us who are disabled can be rather pricey so to know that a device already comes with these features is great.

[@davidbickmore7888]

Great video! Thank you

[@JuanAlcazar]

Hey thank you for liking the video 🙂

[@kaylakidwell91]

Awesome video. I use a combination of Large Text, Zoom, and Smart Invert Colors, to use my iPhone and iPad. I also use the Magnifier on my iPhone. On bad days, I use VoiceOver with the screen curtain.

[@JuanAlcazar]

That definitely sounds a lot like me when I’m using my phone. I’m so happy that there’s a smart invert option too so that pictures at least look like their original selves.

[@kaylakidwell91]

Exactly! I just wish that Smart Invert wouldn’t Invert the color of Emojis. 😔

[@hannahkate18]

thanks for this video! I This was super informative 10/10

[@JuanAlcazar]

Thank you. It can be something easy to overlook when one isn’t using those accessibility features, but it’s great that they’re there because it allows for so many people to use a phone or other tech compared to if those settings weren’t there.

[@colinains]

Thank you. Really useful info.

[@JuanAlcazar]

Thanks. What info are you referring to if I may ask?

[@colinains]

Hi Juan. Just nice to see a video about phone use, some which is new info to me, being partially sighted, but I'm not yet using most of the available options. I expect my sight to get worse, so it's useful for the future. Good job.

[@JuanAlcazar]

Oh OK. Sorry about that. I guess I was just a little confused when I first read the comment. Hopefully you are able to use some of these features with more ease after seeing them in this video. May I ask what your eye condition is?

[@colinains]

JC5 Productions I've had glaucoma for almost thirty years. My consultant agreed to register me as partially sighted two years ago. I have very poor peripheral vision, and I'm unable to see well in low light or bright light. My sight deteriorates progressively. I stopped driving two years ago, so getting places isn't easy.

[@rielahussein9963]

Hi thanks for this video! Which Phone do you use? 😊

[@JuanAlcazar]

I currently use an iPhone 13 Pro. I used an iPhone XR before that.

[@charlie6849]

Great video!

[@JuanAlcazar]

Thank you 🙂

[@larrytestut4655]

As a visually impaired individual i use voiceover on my phone when I use voice dictation as well I use the voice over to so whenever I’m dictating a message or something the voiceover will speak back to me

[@JuanAlcazar]

Voice dictation with VoiceOver is awesome. Well...when it understands every word we say haha. Still though, VO is such an awesome feature that I wouldn’t be able to use my phone as efficiently if it wasn’t for it.

[@larrytestut4655]

@@JuanAlcazar Do you mean voice control inside accessibility

[@lifeathand1062]

I agree sir I am legally blind 20/200 with optic nerve damage and I can still do alot but it doesn't change my vision

[@JuanAlcazar]

Definitely there's much a legally or totally blind person can do. Sure there's a few things that do require vision, but the majority of things can be done by someone whose vision is impaired.

[@Confused_Philosopher]

One of my brothers is going blind. He is blind in one eye now and his other eye is going blind. I sent a link of this to him.

[@TripReviews]

This is also my fear, using my phone or camera while using a long cane. I can imagine the thoughts going on in people’s heads. “Hey how can a blind guy see a phone?” Well I can to a degree with the accessibility features. I gave up on trying to read newspapers a long time ago and not just because their reports are usually not accurate but because the print is too difficult to see so it’s easier to use an iPad or a phone to read news or whatever as I can magnify the print and make it bold etc.

[@JuanAlcazar]

It can be frustrating because most people don’t realize that there are accessibility settings in a smart phone.

[@michelletodd4893]

❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@WarriorinHim]

yes! I feel that, I got told, “Your not blind!” follow me, and you will hear about it

[@izzycleo7284]

This never dawned on me till my brother recently lost his sight to glaucoma after 50 years. I came across this video looking for a easier way for him to use his phone. He's getting better but there are still hiccups. Is there a certain method or system to use a smartphone for the blind, or is it all trial and error?

[@JuanAlcazar]

There’s actually a series of videos by the Hadley Institute for the Blind and VIsually Impaired on how to use an iPhone with both low vision and blind settings. You can find those tutorials here on KZbin actually. Just do a search for Hadley iPhone tutorial or something along those lines. Hope this helped.

[@Your-worst.nightmare24]

I am a caregiver, and I am teaching my client how to use a smartphone. He is 100% blind, no light or shape detection. I set up talkback and google assistant so he can make phone calls by voice command. Last couple of updates, messed up everything. I am lost as I have an apple and he has an android...last time I had android (Galaxy S3) long time ago. Whats the best way to configure his phone?

[@JuanAlcazar]

While I don’t know how to use TalkBack, I have a friend who posted a series of tutorials on how to use TalkBack. I’m going to link the first video in the series here so hoping this helps you out kzbin.info/www/bejne/bXbXemZvf9V7aqc

[@JuanAlcazar]

If for some reason the link isn’t clickable then just do a search on KZbin for “Live Accessible TalkBack 101”.

[@romer9570]

Nice video

[@JuanAlcazar]

Thank you so much 🙂

[@andypratt9326]

I have friend that is blind she needs help sometimes with her phone otherwise she dose well

[@gregor3264]

great video!

[@JuanAlcazar]

Thank you.

[@JuanAlcazar]

Thank you.