The other day I was browsing the web when I came across the information about Apple’s new IPhone 3gs. I had never been interested in an IPhone due to the fact that I am a visually impaired individual and the touch screen and text was just not compatible. To my surprise I found that the new IPhone 3gs has a number of accessibility options that would make the IPhone accessible to me as a low vision cell phone user!
So I started digging around. I learned about unlocking the 3gs, I learned about how the accessibility options worked and where I could purchase the IPhone 3gs. Unfortunately I also found out that I would not be able to purchase the IPhone 3gs without entering into a 2 year contract with AT&T Wireless. At this point I was willing to pay off my T-Mobile contract and go through the process of switching to AT&T.
Unfortunately I’m on SSI and have credit problems from not having much money so AT&T wanted a deposit of $750!!! That’s about what i get each month to live on from SSI anyway.
I know some would say that if I have bad credit and little money I don’t need such a luxury item. It isn’t about the apps, the itunes, the phone itself. It is about the option to be able to enlarge the screen and pan around it as I do with my ZoomText computer program. I want to be able to see my phone without holding it up to my nose. I’d like to be able to use the GPS feature so I am not getting lost in unfamiliar territory.
Unfortunately AT&T and Apple have made it nearly impossible for those who really need the accessibility options to even use them.
So I’m left with a phone that i can barely see in hopes that someday maybe AT&T and Apple will take the hint and offer these accessible IPhone 3gs phones to those of us who do have visual impairments either without a contract or without such a ridiculous deposit.
I won’t hold my breath though.
