I started to use my phone as assistive technology in class back in middle school when I realized that my new phone camera could be used to enlarge some hard-to-read symbols on the page I was reading. My teacher promptly took away my phone because I didn’t have permission to have it in class, which was fully understandable, but I started thinking about how I could use my phone to help me access information with low vision, and how I would use it in my high school and college classes. While the apps I’ve used over the years have changed, many of the strategies have stayed the same, and I love using my smartphone as a tool for low vision access. Here is how I use my phone as assistive technology in class, and the free apps and accessibility features that make it possible.
How my smartphone was approved as a disability accommodation
My high school IEP and college Disability Services file both listed that I was allowed to use personal electronics such as a tablet, laptop, or phone as assistive technology for low vision access purposes at the instructor’s discretion. This meant that if my high school teachers noticed that I was using my phone to text or do other non-academic tasks, they could still take away my phone, but I was allowed to have in my backpack and use it when appropriate. A lot of the apps and features I use on my phone today weren’t available when I was in high school, but they would have been very helpful to have.
In college, I would bring my phone to class along with my tablet and/or laptop. At the beginning of the semester, I would send an email to my professors with my accommodations letter attached and go over how my listed accommodations would apply to their class, and that I use several different apps on my phone and other devices. Sometimes I would include examples of specific apps or tasks that I use my phone for so they could see how I was using it.
I did not use my personal phone during tests or exams, but I did use some of the apps and accessibility features on school-owned devices or on my personal iPad with Guided Access enabled.
Related links
- How To Create A Disability Services File
- What’s In My High School Backpack As A Low Vision Student
- Common Classroom Accommodations For Low Vision
- How To Explain Disability Accommodations To Professors
- Testing Accommodations For Low Vision Students
- How To Use Guided Access For Testing And Exams
Use the phone camera or apps as a video magnifier
When I want to quickly enlarge something in real time, I use my smartphone camera as a video magnifier by opening the Camera app and using the zoom slider/gesture to magnify it further. This works well for environmental text like signs or flyers, items written on the board, examining objects at my desk, or reading notes/feedback. One of the most common ways I would use my phone as a video magnifier in math class was to enlarge exponents, subscripts, and symbols that were usually too small for me to read otherwise.
For iPhone/iPad users, another option is to use the Magnifier application, a free built-in accessibility tool that uses the device camera. Users can customize contrast, color filters, magnification levels, and even recognize text with VoiceOver, though in my experience VoiceOver can be a bit laggy.
Related links
- Mainstream Technology and Low Vision: Smartphones
- Learning to Self-Advocate
- How To Make iPad Accessible for Low Vision
- How To Use VoiceOver With Low Vision
Scan copies of the whiteboard and scratch work for notes
My professors frequently use the whiteboard to draw diagrams and write notes, but it can be difficult for me to see what’s being written due to glare or faded markers. Instead of straining my eyes to copy information from the board, I use the free Microsoft Lens app to scan in a copy of the whiteboard so I can attach it to my notes or read it more clearly. I also use this feature when writing with my own whiteboard and will upload scans of my scratch work or whiteboard to assignments or notes. I’ve also used Microsoft Lens to scan copies of documents into my devices and imported the scans into other applications like Markup or Notability so I could annotate them further.
Related links
- How I Use Microsoft Lens With Low Vision
- Writing Aids For Low Vision: My Personal Superlatives
- Notability and Low Vision
- Using The iPad Markup Tool With Low Vision
- How I Show Work For Math With Low Vision and Dysgraphia
Troubleshoot issues with other devices
I don’t like to fully rely on a single device since technical difficulties or glitches can make it difficult or impossible to focus on learning. When troubleshooting computers, I prefer to use my phone to access troubleshooting instructions or take photos to document what is going on, because it is easier for me to hold my phone closer to my face than my tablet, and it can also double as a flashlight if I want to add additional task lighting. If I can’t figure it out on my own, I can call an accessibility support phone number either using my phone dialer or Be My Eyes Specialized Help after class or during a break.
Related links
- Why I Use Accessibility Support Phone Numbers
- Using The Microsoft Disability Answer Desk With Be My Eyes
- How I Use Be My Eyes With Low Vision
Recognize text with visual assistance apps
AI visual assistance applications like Microsoft Seeing AI, Google Lookout, and Envision AI offer text recognition features that can read text from an image out loud or display it in large print. While this isn’t a replacement for having classroom materials provided in an accessible format to begin with, it’s helpful for recognizing handwriting and other handouts, and it makes it possible for me to read text without asking someone else to read it for me. All of the apps I listed are free, though Envision AI requires users to be 18 or older to use their services.
Related links
- All About Visual Assistance Apps For Visually Impaired
- Reading Handwriting With Assistive Technology
- Microsoft Seeing AI And Low Vision
- Google Lookout App For Low Vision
- Using The Envision App With Low Vision
Access web content with a simplified reading display
I don’t like using split screen views very much since they can distort the formatting of large print text, so if I have to read an article during class or access other web content while taking notes, I will open it on my phone and use a simplified reading display, which applies a consistent font size, font style, and background color to digital text. This helps me avoid horizontal scrolling or constantly zooming in/out on a page.
Many web browsers offer a built-in simplified reading display, such as Reading View (Safari) or Immersive Reader (Microsoft Edge). I’m also a fan of Google’s Reading Mode app for Android, which makes it possible to open a simplified reading display from several different apps, not just the web browser.
Related links
- Simplified Reading Displays and Low Vision
- Mainstream eReader Apps and Low Vision Accessibility
- How I Use Microsoft Immersive Reader With Low Vision
- Google Reader Mode and Low Vision
Use a calculator application with accessibility features
Starting in high school, I was approved to use a calculator application on my computer or tablet during math class, though this was often challenging when the teacher would have us do math activities or rotations while walking around the room. Since I couldn’t safely use my tablet or laptop while standing in these situations, I also had the same calculator applications installed on my phone, which also took up less space on my desk. Plus, using my phone made me feel like I didn’t “stand out” as much and reduced the anxiety behind feeling “different” for not using the same calculator or technology as everyone else. I have an entire post on different calculator apps for low vision accessibility, which is linked below.
It’s worth noting that I was approved to use the same calculator apps that I used in class for exams and standardized tests, but I could not use them on my personal phone. Usually they were displayed on a school-owned device or on my personal iPad with Guided Access enabled so I couldn’t use any other apps.
Related links
- Five Accessible Calculator Apps For Low Vision
- Math Test Accommodations For Low Vision
- How To Create An Accessible Formula Sheet
- Five Apps I Use In The Science Classroom As A Low Vision Student
Take photos or freeze the display to zoom in further
Sometimes it can be difficult for me to make out the details of an image or object due to the lighting or not being able to lean in close enough to look at it. In these instances, I will take a photo with my camera, Microsoft Lens, or visual assistance app to “freeze” the display so I can zoom in further. Within my phone gallery, I can also add additional filters and adjust the lighting/contrast to help make other details “pop” or locate other areas of interest. I can also add these filters to screenshots or other downloaded images to adjust how the colors are displayed.
Related links
- Using PicsArt To Simulate Low Vision
- Learning To Explain Usable Vision
- How To Access Images Without Alt Text
- How I Use Google Assistant While Traveling
Type quick reminders and notes
I’ve discovered that if I write something down quickly in a planner or on a piece of paper and throw it in my backpack, there’s a chance I won’t find that paper again until after I’ve graduated, or that my handwriting will be messy enough that I won’t be sure what I wrote down to begin with. Instead, I find it easier to write down quick reminders or notes to myself using an app like Notes, Google Keep, or the Sticky Notes feature on my Android home screen. All of these notes will sync across devices and provide options for creating lists, short notes, agendas, or similar content that can then be displayed with large print or read with a screen reader.
Related links
- Assistive Technology For Dysgraphia
- How To Create A Custom Android Home Screen With Microsoft Launcher
Synchronize content across multiple devices
Sometimes I’ll find something interesting on my phone that I want to read on another device, so I’ll use applications that make it possible for me to share content across multiple devices or platforms. For example, by having the same web browser app installed on my computer, phone, and tablet, I can share tabs or links with a specific device or organize bookmarks or other saved content in folders. Another option is to share content with a bookmarking tool like Omnivore or Wakelet, which has several options for multimedia content and can also be used for free.
For users that want to share online content directly into a reading application, I recommend checking out the free Send-to-Kindle tool available with the free Kindle application. This is a great way to save content for offline reading and have it displayed in large print sizes.
Related links
- A to Z of Assistive Technology for Reading Digital Text
- Omnivore App Accessibility and Low Vision
- Wakelet Accessibility Features For Low Vision
- How I Use Send-To-Kindle With Low Vision
Other ways I use my phone as assistive technology in class
- Smartphones are also a useful tool for getting to and from classrooms, and I use my phone frequently for wayfinding and helping me navigate hallways. Learn more about this in Smartphone Apps For Orientation and Mobility and Using GPS Apps On College Campuses: College O&M
- It can be challenging to hear my professors or understand what they are saying, so captioning apps like Google Live Transcribe can be a helpful supplemental tool (though no match for CART or professional captioning/interpreters). Learn more in Using Google Live Transcribe With Low Vision
- For my virtual classes, I’ve used the Chromecast feature to mirror my phone display with a TV so that I could enlarge my screen further. Read more in Ways I Use My Google Chromecast For Virtual Learning
- Want to learn more about smartphones for low vision? Check out Mainstream Technology and Low Vision: Smartphones
- Looking for more low vision app recommendations? Visit Websites And Apps Archives | Veronica With Four Eyes (veroniiiica.com)
