Exclusive smartphones, assistive devices, accessibility app and
more now available for customers with disabilities
MONTRÉAL, Feb. 29, 2016 /CNW/ -
Bell today announced a new portfolio of products and support
services to make mobile communications more accessible for
customers with speech, cognitive, physical, hearing and vision
related disabilities. With screen readers and hearing aid
compatibility, video conferencing, assisted messaging and voice
calling services, Bell's accessible products help customers take
full advantage of their smart devices.
"Nearly 14% of Canadians 15 and older* live with a disability
and often face barriers that limit accessibility to the many
benefits of mobile technology," said Blaik
Kirby, President of Bell Mobility. "Bell is helping break
down these barriers with our leading lineup of accessible products
tailored to meet the needs of all our customers."
Information about Bell's portfolio of accessible products and
services is available at the new online Accessibility Services
Centre at Bell.ca/Accessibility. Designed to meet the Web Content
Accessibility Guidelines AA rating, Bell's Accessibility Services
Centre provides enhanced navigation for screen readers and
keyboards. A Mobile Device Selector tool is also available to help
customers find devices with features such as screen magnification,
TTY compatibility, external Braille support, and guided access
mode.
Doro 824 and Doro 824C smartphones exclusively at
Bell
Tailored to customers with moderate visual, cognitive
and physical needs, the Android powered Doro 824 is a smartphone
featuring easy tap targets and icons, large text, bright colours,
hearing aid compatibility, and a dedicated emergency button.
The fully customizable Doro 824C is the most complete smartphone
available for blind customers, including all the features of the
Doro 824 plus dedicated accessibility apps and a tactile keypad
overlay. The Doro 824 and Doro 824C are available for $49.99 and $249.99
respectively on a 2 year term with applicable rate plan.
Mobile Accessibility app
The Mobile Accessibility app
is a screen reader application that integrates with the Android
operating system to enable blind and low vision customers to better
navigate their devices.
The Mobile Accessibility app is available at no charge to Bell
customers with an Android device via the Accessibility Services
Centre at Bell.ca/Accessibility.
Tecla
Developed by Canadian startup Komodo OpenLab,
Tecla is a portable and hands free device that enables customers
with physical upper body limitations to easily use Android or iOS
smartphones and tablets without touching the screen.
With Tecla, customers have a solution to get online, make calls,
send messages, read books and more through assistive switches such
as buttons, sip and puff controllers, head arrays, joysticks or
wheelchair driving controls.
Normally retailing for $613.90,
the Tecla Kit, which includes a mount, is available to new and
existing Bell customers at the subsidized price of $200.
In the coming months, Bell will also be introducing a dedicated
wireless rate plan for the approximately 357,000 Canadians** that
are deaf or hard of hearing.
To develop its new accessibility products, Bell worked closely
with members from Alliance for Equality for Blind Canadians (AEBC),
Canadian Association of the Deaf - Association des Sourds du
Canada (CAD-ASC), Canadian
Association of Retired Persons (CARP), Canadian Hard of Hearing
Association (CHHA), La Confédération des organismes de personnes
handicapées du Québec (COPHAN) and Neil Squire Society. The CRTC
approved funding for a number of these initiatives from Bell's
deferral account.
For more information, please visit Bell.ca/Accessibility.
*
http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/89-654-x/89-654-x2015001-eng.htm
** http://cad.ca/issues-positions/statistics-on-deaf-canadians/
About Bell
Bell is Canada's largest communications company,
providing a comprehensive and innovative suite of broadband
communication services to residential and business customers under
the Bell Canada and Bell Aliant brands. Bell Media is Canada's premier multimedia company. It has
assets in television, radio, out of home and digital media,
including CTV, Canada's #1
television network, and the country's most-watched specialty
channels. To learn more, please visit Bell.ca.
The Bell Let's Talk initiative promotes Canadian mental health
with national awareness and anti-stigma campaigns like Bell Let's
Talk Day and significant Bell funding of community care and access,
research, and workplace initiatives. To learn more, please visit
Bell.ca/LetsTalk.
Media inquiries:
Caroline Audet
514 391-5263
caroline.audet@bell.ca
SOURCE Bell Canada