I recently came across a resource that is a great option for someone who needs to access the internet, but either doesn't have internet at their home or can't afford internet access. TeleTender is a service that allows the blind and visually impaired to access the news, weather, email, webpages, and even Facebook by using their telephones. The organization currently has six different phone numbers that people can use to access the service. If you don't have long distance and want TeleTender to provide a local phone number, send an email to numbers@teletender.org and they'll do their best to get a local number for you.
Even though I have good access to the internet and a computer that is accessible to me, I wanted to test out the service for our readers. My overall impression is that this is a good alternative to accessing the web on a computer. Setting up my email was a bit challenging, but once I got my email address and password entered in correctly, accessing my email was very simple. There is even an option to compose new emails or to reply to emails that are received.
I also tested out the news, internet, and Facebook features. In all three cases, using the features of the service was easy. For screen reader users that like having a lot of control over how they browse, this experience is going to possibly be frustrating, but I feel like TeleTender is not aimed at advanced screen reader users.
Some of the additional features of the service include: being able to speak selections rather than using the phone keypad, ability to increase or decrease the speed of the voice, and ability to change your time zone.
Source: Go to sourceCategory: Resources
hello I am spreading the word on teletender.org I sent this link teletender.org to meetings siminars lecshers get together conferences &conventions &chapter meetings! I told thim about teletender.org and teletender's feachers&services I love telender!teletender.org!
disciple1211 Tuesday, 21-Jan-2014 10:49 PM ET:
I really appreciate that you let us know about this interesting and useful resource. I hadn't heard of it and wonder when it launched. while I have a computer, I regularly work with students who might want to access the Internet but who don't have a computer. I've been doing a lot of testing with the service and find their support rather responsive. I sent a message to them with a question, via the system itself, and received a response within a day. Oddly enough, the response was not a voice message but a message using Tom from Nuance as the voice. I've seen that there are tweeks constantly being made to the system, including six additional U.S. and one canadian phone number added to the list.
happychikao Friday, 24-Jan-2014 10:23 AM ET:
i love tt! I told eyes on success Nancy goodman Torepy&PeaterI Torpey info jist www.eyesonsuccess.net/eos_podcast for more info eyesonsuccess.net mee and Patrick & a tt teletender rep. will demo tt this Saturday at adaptive services division202-727-2142 in Washington dc. better then others tt. teletender teletender.org! is the best. Better then any1elce
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For the past three years Alena has been a feature writer for the online magazine Matilda Ziegler. She has also been a contractor for the Oregon Commission for the Blind, helping blind adults learn to use adaptive technology. She is studying to be a teacher of the visually impaired at Portland State. You might also recognize her from the Serotalk podcast Triple Click Home.
