Jamie Pauls
It might be tempting to think that smartphones and tablets are the exclusive domain of young people, but many seniors are dispelling this notion. Older adults like to travel, volunteer in their communities, and participate in many other activities that keep them active. They want to be able to stay in touch with friends and family, read the latest news headlines, and listen to music without needing to be tethered to a computer at home. But what if a person’s vision becomes less acute, or perhaps gives way to total blindness? Does a device such as an iPhone or iPad become impossible to use? Fortunately, the answer is a resounding: No! Apple has shown a great commitment to making all of its products accessible to people with a variety of disabilities, including vision loss.
Just because technology exists to help people with visual impairments doesn’t mean that those people are taking advantage of it, or even know that it exists. Sometimes, friends or family members come across beneficial technology and pass that information along to the person in need. Information on blindness is often conveyed by those who are totally blind through media such as podcasts, audio tutorials, or books. While blind people themselves may benefit from this information, a sighted person might not be able to make much use of the material because they don’t understand the concepts being discussed. At other times, information is conveyed by sighted people who don’t have the depth of knowledge on subjects of importance to blind people that the blind themselves might have. When a person is able to knowledgeably communicate information in a way that can be understood by those who have vision and those who do not, their contributions are of particular benefit to everyone.
Shelly Brisbin is a seasoned technology writer who happens to have low vision. She has recently released the 7th edition of her popular book iOS Access for All. In light of the many changes and additions to iOS 13, the latest version of the operating system that runs Apple’s line of smart devices including the iPod, iPad, and iPhone, the latest offering from Brisbin is especially significant. In the following paragraphs, I will highlight some of the reasons why I believe iOS Access for All is a great investment for anyone with low vision or no vision who is considering the purchase of an Apple mobile device, or why a sighted person who wishes to help their vision impaired friend or family member enter the world of smart devices might find this book to be an invaluable resource.
iOS Access for All is Thorough and Comprehensive
Brisbin's ability to write intelligently about issues relating to those who have vision and those who do not is evident from the earliest pages of her book. She first discusses the many purchase options that anyone, blind or sighted, must consider when buying a new Apple device. There are ten screen sizes to choose from, something that has not always been the case with Apple products, and the iPad now has its very own operating system. Brisbin gives thorough attention to details when it comes to setting up the various devices, and walks the reader through step-by-step instructions using screen magnification, VoiceOver, a combination of the two, or neither. She provides information throughout the text, as well as an appendix at the end of the book devoted to this discussion.
It is hard to imagine anyone feeling slighted after purchasing this book. A totally blind person using VoiceOver will find Chapter 3 to be a place where they can camp out for days. Likewise, the low vision user will discover plenty of information to keep them happy as well. Even those who consider themselves power users of Siri, Apple’s digital assistant, will likely discover some nuggets of information they hadn’t previously discovered. Siri is an especially important topic because it's familiar to those who know nothing about accessibility and that truly levels the playing field for blind and sighted users alike.
Features either new to iOS 13 or enhanced in this version of the OS are discussed as well, including the ability to use shortcuts to automate tasks, as well as the new voice control feature that allows much of the activity performed on your device to be carried out using the spoken word.
Brisbin showcases Apple’s commitment to users with all disabilities in her discussions of topics including guided access, switch controls, and hearing aid compatibility. She does all of this in a narrative style that is personal, funny, and professionally written.
iOS Access for All Bridges the Gap
A son who has purchased his visually impaired mother an iPhone for Christmas will find this book to be a great resource because he can learn about VoiceOver from the standpoint of someone who knows how screens appear visually and how their appearance changes once assistive technology is turned on. A daughter who is trying to help her dad learn his new iPad using assistive technology will find the quick reference commands at the back of the book to be of great help. The tech savvy senior who is comfortable learning new technology with minimal or no help will also want this book. All concepts are presented logically and in simple terms that make learning less stressful than it might otherwise be. You don’t need to be an older adult to enjoy this reference work. Even the power user of assistive technology will find plenty of useful information to digest. Finally, the chapters that discuss apps that come on every Apple mobile device and those designed either for those with disabilities or with accessibility in mind will give both the new user and the power user plenty of new programs to try.
iOS Access for All is Available for All
iOS Access for All is available in ePub and PDF formats as well as in the Apple bookstore. A single copy of the book is priced at $25, while the ePub and PDF versions of the book can be purchased together for $30. Brisbin publishes the book herself, so it is not available in a physical print copy, although many might find this format to be of great value.
Whether you are a totally blind iPhone user, a partially sighted iPod touch user, an educator who uses an iPad in your special needs classroom, or someone who wishes to help a blind person get up and running with one of Apple’s mobile products, this book is a must-have resource. An audio version of this book, marked up in a format such as DAISY for easy navigation, would be an excellent resource, as would other formats such as hard copy print and braille. It isn’t hard to imagine why Brisbin might not have the resources to make all this happen. The more people who purchase her book, the easier it will be for Brisbin to continue her writing and possibly even expand her outreach.
This article is made possible in part by generous funding from the James H. and Alice Teubert Charitable Trust, Huntington, West Virginia.
Related articles:
- An Overview of iOS 13 and iPadOS 13 by Janet Ingber
- Book Review: 31 Cool Things You Can Do with Your iPhone: From Fun to Practical to Entertaining, by Judy Dixon by Deborah Kendrick
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