Australian Federation of Disability Organisations

TEDICORE has completed its survey of Mobile phones and people with disabilities in Australia. The survey was answered by 207 people from all over Australia and with a range of disabilities and many with multiple disabilities. A disproportionate number of people were highly educated with either a degree or postgraduate qualifications.

Some key findings from the survey included:

• 77% of people stated their mobile phone was important or very important to them; and
• 65% of people use their phone for security

People did not like the following:

• cost of the phone and/or cost of phone bills
• small keys/buttons
• vibration strength being too weak
• a “confusing” or “complicated” menu
• having too many “unnecessary” additional features that are not accessible
• ringtone and voice volume being not loud enough
• numerals being too small
• certain phone brands not compatible with assistive software.

Desired features included but were not limited to:

• larger screens
• bigger buttons
• louder volume control and ringtone
• larger font
• tactile buttons
• voice activation for dialling without needing a hands free kit
• ability to use with assistive software

Only 51% of people reported getting the information they wanted and many had difficulty in phone shops.

These findings and others detailed in the report indicate the need for an overall policy to improve accessibility to mobile phones for people with disabilities in Australia.

TEDICORE has made a number of recommendations in their final report which should be up on their website soon.

The TEDICORE website can be found at www.tedicore.org.au/index.html