Accessibility for iPhones!

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What does accessibility mean?
According to dictionary.com accessibility is defined as:
● The quality of being easy to approach, reach, enter, speak with use, or understand
● The quality of being usable, reachable, obtainable, etc.
These are in regards to accessibility on a different device such as iPhone, Android, tablet,
etc.
5 Types of Accessibility Features for iPhone
There are many different features under accessibility but here are 5 that will be mainly
discussed:
1. Display and Text Size
2. Audio Descriptions
3. AssistiveTouch
4. Keyboards
5. Voice Control
Display and Text Size
You can adjust the display of the text and even adjust the text size! There are many sub-features within this that you can
change, that Apple outlines for iPhones.

● Bold Text: Display the text in boldface characters.

● Larger Text: Turn on Larger Accessibility Sizes, then adjust the text size using the Font Size slider.
This setting adjusts to your preferred text size in apps that support Dynamic Type, such as Settings, Calendar, Contacts,
Mail, Messages, and Notes.
● Button Shapes: This setting underlines text you can tap.
● On/Off Labels: This setting indicates switches turned on with “1” and switches turned off with “0”.
● Reduce Transparency: This setting reduces the transparency and blurs on some backgrounds.
● Increase Contrast: This setting improves the contrast and legibility by altering color and text styling.
Apps that support Dynamic Type—such as Settings, Calendar, Contacts, Mail, Messages, and Notes—adjust to your
preferred text size.
● Differentiate Without Color: This setting replaces user interface items that rely on color to convey information with
alternatives.
● Smart Invert or Classic Invert: Smart Invert Colors reverses the colors of the display, except for images, media, and
some apps that use dark color styles.
● Color Filters: Tap a filter to apply it. To adjust the intensity or hue, drag the sliders.
● Reduce White Point: This setting reduces the intensity of bright colors.
● Auto-Brightness: This setting automatically adjusts the screen brightness for current light conditions using the built-in
ambient light sensor.
Display and Text Size cont.
Here is how to find this setting!

Go to settings, accessibility, display and text size, and there you go!
Audio Description
On the Apple website, Apple explains that for the Audio Description feature it allows for you to use this audio
description if you have video content that includes audio descriptions of scenes, iPhone can play the
descriptions for you.

Go to settings, accessibility, audio description and there you go!

AssistiveTouch
According to Apple, AssistiveTouch helps you use iPhone if you have difficulty touching the screen or pressing the buttons. You can use
AssistiveTouch without any accessory to perform actions or gestures that are difficult for you. You can also use a compatible adaptive accessory
(such as a joystick) together with AssistiveTouch to control iPhone.

Apple outlines that with AssistiveTouch, you can use a simple tap (or Apple also explains how to customize AssistiveTouch!
the equivalent on your accessory) to perform actions such as the
following:
● Customize Top Level Menu: Tap an icon to change its
● Open the AssistiveTouch menu action. Tap minus or tap plus to change the number of
● Go to the Home Screen icons in the menu. The menu can have up to eight icons.
● Double-tap ● Single-Tap, Double-Tap, Long Press, or 3D Touch:
● Perform multifinger gestures
● Perform scroll gestures Assign custom actions that run when you interact with
● Activate Siri the menu button. 3D Touch is available only on
● Access Control Center, notifications, the Lock Screen, or the
supported iPhone models.
App Switcher
● Adjust the volume on iPhone ● Create New Gesture: Add your favorite gestures.
● Shake iPhone ● Idle Opacity: Adjust the visibility of the menu button
● Take a screenshot
● Use 3D Touch when not in use.
● Use Apple Pay ● Confirm with AssistiveTouch: On an iPhone with Face
● Use Emergency SOS ID, confirm payments with Face ID by using
● Speak screen
● Adjust dwell settings AssistiveTouch instead of double-clicking the side
● Restart iPhone button.
AssistiveTouch cont.

Go to settings, accessibility, touch, AssistiveTouch and there you go!

 Keyboard

Apple has many features for the keyboard accessibility feature. You can adjust the onscreen (software)
keyboard on iPhone. If you use an external (hardware) keyboard with iPhone, you can customize
keyboard shortcuts and change settings such as the key repeat rate.

You are able to adjust the internal keyboard and can customize what different keys do on an external
keyboard!
Keyboard cont.

Go to settings, accessibility, keyboard, and there you go!

Voice Control
With voice control, you are able to control the iPhone with just your voice! You can speak
commands to perform gestures, interact with screen elements, dictate and edit text and more!
You can also set up different options:
● Language: Set the language and download languages for offline use.
● Customize Commands: View the available commands and create new commands.
● Vocabulary: Teach Voice Control new words.
● Show Confirmation: When Voice Control recognizes a command, a visual confirmation appears at the top of the screen.
● Play Sound: When Voice Control recognizes a command, an audible sound is played.
● Show Hints: See command suggestions and hints.
● Overlay: Display numbers, names, or a grid over screen elements.
● Attention Aware: On an iPhone with Face ID, Voice Control wakes up when you look at your iPhone and goes to sleep
when you look away.
Voice Control cont.

Go to settings, accessibility, voice control, and there you go!

References

“Get Started with Accessibility Features on IPhone.” Apple Support. Accessed June
28, 2022. https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/get-started-with-accessibility-
features-iph3e2e4367/ios.

Images from personal iPhone.