Hello, Everyone. My hope is to alter the blog so that it includes information for the very beginning blind person and the more experienced blind person. So today, I will focus more on a topic for the beginner.
Today’s topic deals with how to use the telephone. Blind people can use many different types of phones from a cell phone with very small numbers to a large button phone with big numbers. As a user, your job is to learn the layout of the keys.
First, let me mention that the numeral 5 generally has a dot on it to make it easy to find. This could be a dot or a raised ridge, in other words, a small tactile line. The numeral 4 is to the left of the 5 and the numeral 6 is to the right of the 5. Above the 5 is the numeral 2 and below the 5 is the numeral 8. To the left of 2 is the numeral 1 and to the right of the numeral 2 is the numeral 3. Likewise, the numeral 7 is to the left of the numeral 8, and the numeral 9 is to its right. Another way to say this is that the first, or top, row, from left to right, is 1, 2, 3; the middle row from left to right is 4, 5, 6; and the third row from left to right is 7, 8, 9. The fourth row contains the numeral 0, which is directly below the numeral 8. This fourth row has, from left to right, star, 0, pound.
Your phone may have other keys on it, but for now, we will only focus on these particular keys because all phones are different and because it is critical for you to be able to use these keys before any of the other keys will be necessary for your use. However, keep in mind that cordless phones contain on and off keys and a cell phone contains a send and an end key, and once you know the placement of the numeral keys, you can ask someone to show you the positions for these keys. Also, keep in mind that keys may be differently-shaped from one phone to another. Some keys may be square, some may be oval, some may be rectangular, etc.
I have told you the positions of the keys. How can you practice them? First, you may decide to borrow or purchase a toy phone for small children. Wal-Mart usually will contain such an item in the toy section. This phone will not have the star and pound keys, meaning the keys may be present, but their function will be different. Make sure you purchase a phone that can speak the number when pressed. Now, you can feel free to press keys at random without worrying about hitting an incorrect key. The dot may or may not be present since this is only a toy. A benefit to doing this is that you can independently determine if you are hitting the numeral you intend to hit.
Another option may be to have someone assist you in creating a tactile diagram of the phone. Make the squares/rectangles that represent the keys big enough for you to place a checker in. Now, you can play a game by having someone ask you to move the checker to a particular square. This will help familiarize you with the layout of the phone keypad. Use your imagination to make this game fun, such as by adding time to the game. Also, create your own game, or ask someone for game ideas. That someone may be a child you enjoy spending time with. Note that you could create a tactile diagram on the phone keypad with Braille numerals inside the square, and/or you can create one with all squares blank, except for a dot in the numeral 5 position. I recommend the blank template on the phone keypad because Braille is generally not on most phones, and while you could Braille your own personal phone, learning the numerals without needing the Braille will allow you to use any phone anywhere. Also, your goal is to be able to use the phone with the smallest keypad, and so you will want to practice with different-sized squares. The toy phone will help provide you some practice with this as well.
Finally, you will want to practice calling on a real phone to real people. Before doing so, you may choose to unhook the phone and explore its face and keypad. Can you identify the numeral 5? If you’re not sure, ask a friend or family member to check your guess. Then, hook the phone back up and call someone on it. The more you use the phone in a meaningful way by calling people for a purpose, even if that purpose is just to chat with a friend, the more familiar you will become with its layout. With enough practice, you will soon be able to dial numbers more rapidly, but remember it is okay to move slow. One challenge you may notice in the beginning is that you do not dial quick enough for the call to go through. Practicing with your toy phone and/or phone template should improve your speed when dialing.
Have fun, and it is okay to ask someone to unplug the phone and then to plug it back up so you can practice and familiarize yourself with it prior to making a real call on it.
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