Smartphones game-changers for blind people
Phone it Forward program encourages donations of older phones
KITCHENER — A smartphone is far more than a fun distraction for Glen Wade.
It’s a vital tool to help the blind Kitchener man navigate daily tasks and work with more ease than ever before.
Wade wants more people who are blind or partially sighted to benefit from the technology through a new CNIB campaign called Phone it Forward.
“The goal is to get technology into the hands of blind and visually impaired people who can use it most,” Wade said.
People and companies can donate old smartphones that are gathering dust and get a tax receipt for their value.
The devices are wiped and loaded with helpful apps for their new owners, who also get training to make the best use of them.
“Know that your old phone can make a positive difference in the day-to-day life and the professional life of someone who is blind or visually impaired,” Wade said. “I know what it’s done for me.”
While most Canadians own at least one smartphone, nearly half of CNIB clients don’t have one.
“A big part of that is affordability,” Wade said.
Unemployment for people with sight loss is triple the general unemployment rate in Canada. Many are struggling on a low income and can’t afford a phone.
That prompted the CNIB Foundation, with support from Fixt Wireless Repair, to launch the first program of its kind that refurbishes smartphones to benefit someone who is blind. More than 500,000 Canadians are living with significant sight loss.
“All kinds of devices would qualify,” Wade said. “The more, the better.”
Wade uses his phone for a multitude of tasks.
He completely lost his sight when he was six due to hereditary cancer in his eyes.
Aids used to be cumbersome, expensive and of limited use.
But all that has changed with the smartphone, which now comes with many built-in accessibility features and more handy apps can be added.
“This truly adds another layer to this independence at my fingertips,” said Wade, 53.
“It gives me flexibility and more options.”
Wade demonstrated a few useful tools on his phone. Holding his phone over a business card, it read the contact information aloud.
Then he put it next to a bottle and, after the bar code was scanned, the phone told him what’s inside.
Skype is invaluable for his job as manager of a quality department at Rogers Communications. Rather than be tethered to a computer or special desktop equipment, he has flexibility with his phone.
“It opens up doors that we didn’t have before,” Wade said.
Find out more at phoneitforward.ca.