Did You Know: VoIP Product Accommodations, What is Available for People with Disabilities?

Over the last few years, the VoIP Industry has made great strides in adapting products to become more accessible and easier to use for people with disabilities. This type of commitment to adaptive technology, like VoIP products, has opened new doors for people with disabilities. According to the Von Coalition, in their article, Connecting People With Disabilities to New Opportunity, “VoIP is an especially promising technology for the 54 million Americans with disabilities — able to provide new benefits not possible in today’s legacy phone network.” 

The VoIP Industry has created numerous adaptations and features to make VoIP products more accessible and user-friendly for people with disabilities. Some of these include:

Text-to-Speech: Integration of TTS allows conversion of text into spoken words, aiding users with visual impairments. Conversely, STT translates spoken words into text, assisting those with hearing impairments.

Closed Captioning: VoIP platforms often offer closed captioning for video calls, making it easier for users with hearing disabilities to follow conversations.

Compatibility with Assistive Technologies: VoIP applications strive to be compatible with various assistive technologies such as screen readers, magnifiers, and voice recognition software, ensuring a seamless experience for users with diverse needs.

Customizable User Interfaces: Many VoIP products allow users to customize the user interface, adjusting font size, contrast, or color schemes to accommodate individuals with visual impairments.

Keyboard Shortcuts and Voice Commands: Incorporating keyboard shortcuts and voice commands provides alternative methods for control, benefiting users with mobility or dexterity challenges.

Real-Time Translation Services: Some VoIP platforms integrate real-time translation services, facilitating communication between users who speak different languages or have difficulty understanding certain accents.

Some of the top options for VoIP Phones that feature some of the above options are: 

Cisco’s 8880 Series: IP phones with accessibility features, such as high-contrast screens, ergonomic designs, and compatibility with hearing aids. They also offer optional key expansion modules for additional customization.

Grandstream’s GXV3370: This phone includes a 7-inch touchscreen display, making it accessible for users with visual impairments. It supports video calls and has features like screen magnification.

Yealink’s SIP-T54W: VoIP phone with a backlit display, large buttons, and adjustable font size, catering to users with visual impairments. It also supports hearing aids.

HP/Poly’s VVX Series: This series includes a range of VoIP phones with accessible features. It offers high-quality audio, customizable settings, and options for expansion modules to enhance functionality.

Snom’s D735: An executive VoIP phone with a large color display and customizable function keys. It supports hearing aids and offers a user-friendly interface.

JPL Mono Headset: A professional headset that has been designed with an inductive coupler for compatibility with most hearing aids.
The added accessibility and features on VoIP products for people with disabilities have made VoIP technology a top choice for many organizations and institutions to create inclusion and opportunities for everyone to thrive in various environments. These new adaptations do not only apply to VoIP phones but other VoIP technologies as well. If you have questions or comments please leave them below, give us a call at 1-800-398-8647, or visit us online at www.voipsupply.com.