Braille display makes communication access more accessible for the deaf-blind community

A new braille display technology aims to make mobile phones more accessible for the deaf-blind community.

Over the past decade, smartphones have become a vital form of communication. Until recently, these devices have been inaccessible for deaf-blind people, creating a barrier for communication access.

Melbourne woman Heather Lawson was born without hearing and grew up communicating via sign language. In her 20s she also gradually began losing her sight, making communication incredibly difficult.

A device, small enough to fit in her handbag, has now given Ms. Lawson, and the wider deaf-blind community, the opportunity to connect with the world.

The braille display device works by converting the words on a smartphone into brail. The braille display connects to the phone via Bluetooth and has 14 braille cells which change with the touch of a button to reflect the next passage of text. It allows users to access their emails, SMS, Facebook, apps and the internet making everyday activities such as banking and navigating public transport much easier.

Ms. Lawson says the device has made her life a lot easier and allowed her to remain independent.

Michelle Stevens is also deaf-blind; born without sight and losing her hearing in her 30’s.

Ms. Stevens loves experimenting with new adaptive technologies. and stresses the importance of organisations, of every size, ensuring their online presence compiles with web accessibility guideline.

“There’s nothing more annoying than you go to access an app and because the code has not been correctly written or written to follow the guidelines … my screen reader cannot read this.”

It is important that communication access continues to improve and this ‘lifeline’ for deaf-blind people is only the beginning of what is possible.

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