How to Choose a Phone for Someone with Low Vision or Blindness

Finding a Phone That Works With Your Vision, Not Against It

Around 453,000 Australians are blind or have low vision, according to Vision Australia. For many of them, choosing a phone is one of the most frustrating decisions they face. The devices that work best for most people - smartphones with large touchscreens, tiny icons, and hundreds of settings - are often the hardest to use when you cannot see the screen clearly, or at all.

This guide is for people with low or no vision, and for the family members and carers helping them find the right device. We'll walk through what to look for, why standard smartphones often fall short, the difference between accessible smartphones and purpose-built phones, what safety features matter, and how Australian funding programs can help cover the cost.

Understanding the Spectrum: Low Vision vs Blindness

Vision impairment isn't one thing - it covers a wide range of conditions and degrees of loss. Understanding where someone sits on that spectrum matters a great deal when choosing a phone, because the right device for someone with mild low vision looks very different from what works for someone with no usable sight at all.

Low vision means that even with glasses or contact lenses, a person has significant difficulty seeing. They may be able to detect light, movement, or general shapes, but reading a standard screen - or finding the right button on a flat glass surface - is difficult or impossible. Common causes include age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, and cataracts.

Blindness refers to having no usable vision, or very limited light perception. Someone who is completely blind relies entirely on hearing and touch to navigate any device.

It's also worth recognising that many people's vision changes over time - particularly with age-related conditions. A phone that works today may not work in 12 months if the person's vision continues to decline. This makes future-proofing an important part of the decision: a device that relies on any visual navigation will eventually stop working for a person whose sight is worsening.

Why Touchscreen Smartphones Often Fail Vision-Impaired Users

Modern smartphones are powerful devices - but they are designed for people with full sight. Even the most sophisticated built-in accessibility features require the user to navigate a visual interface in the first place, which is exactly what vision-impaired users struggle with most.

For someone with low vision, pinching to zoom, tapping small targets on a glass screen, and managing the steady stream of notifications, pop-ups, and app updates can turn a simple phone call into a stressful and unreliable experience. For someone who is completely blind, screen readers like Apple's VoiceOver or Google's TalkBack can unlock a smartphone's features - but learning to use them takes significant time and ongoing practice. The gestures are complex, app developers don't always follow accessibility standards, and updates frequently break things that were working.

There is also a practical support issue. When an elderly person or someone unfamiliar with technology needs help with a smartphone's accessibility settings, the person helping them often doesn't know those settings either. Purpose-built phones, by contrast, are designed to be simple from the moment they arrive - and simple to explain to anyone who needs to help.

Two Approaches: Accessible Smartphones vs Purpose-Built Phones

When it comes to phones for people with vision impairment, there are two broad categories worth understanding before making a choice.

Accessible smartphones are standard iOS or Android devices with built-in accessibility features. Apple's VoiceOver and Google's TalkBack read the screen aloud, and both platforms offer magnification, bold text, reduced motion, and high-contrast display options. For tech-confident users who are motivated to learn and have reliable support around them, these features can make a smartphone fully usable. The trade-off is a steep learning curve, ongoing maintenance, and a device that is still fundamentally designed for sighted users.

Purpose-built phones are designed from the ground up for people who cannot rely on a screen. These devices typically have large physical buttons with tactile feedback, simple call-and-answer functionality, and in some cases braille configuration options. They don't try to replicate everything a smartphone does - they focus on doing a small number of things reliably and simply: making calls, receiving calls, and connecting to help when needed.

For older Australians, for people with progressive vision conditions, and for those who aren't comfortable with technology, purpose-built phones are often the more practical and sustainable choice. The goal isn't to replicate a smartphone experience - it's to stay connected and safe with minimal friction.

Key Features to Look For in a Phone for Vision Impairment

Whether you are considering a purpose-built device or an accessible smartphone, the following features make a meaningful difference in day-to-day use for people with low or no vision.

Physical, tactile buttons. For people with low or no vision, buttons that can be felt and identified by touch are far more reliable than a flat touchscreen. Raised keys, textured surfaces, and buttons with distinct shapes all help. Some devices allow rubber tactile markers to be added to specific buttons so the user can identify individual contacts by touch alone - without needing to look at anything.

Braille configuration. For people who read braille, a device that can be set up with braille labels makes truly independent use possible. Not all phones offer this - it's worth confirming before purchasing whether the device can be customised in this way, and whether that configuration is handled before the device is sent out.

High-contrast design. For people with low vision who can still make use of some sight, strong contrast between buttons and casing makes a real difference. Bold, clearly delineated buttons against a contrasting background reduce visual confusion and reduce the mental effort required to use the phone.

Voice announcements. A phone that speaks its status aloud - announcing battery level, signal strength, and current time on request - keeps the user informed without needing to look at or interpret anything. This is a standard feature on well-designed assistive technology phones and a surprisingly significant quality-of-life improvement for blind users.

Simplified dialling. The ideal phone for a vision-impaired user allows them to call a contact with a single button press - no menus, no scrolling, no searching through a contacts list. One button, one person. Answering a call should be equally simple: pressing any button accepts it, so there's no need to find the right key under pressure.

Loud ringtone and clear speakerphone. Many people with vision impairment also have some degree of hearing difficulty, particularly older users. A loud, clear ringtone ensures they don't miss calls, and a strong speakerphone allows them to hear conversations clearly without holding the device to their ear.

A dedicated SOS button. A clearly identifiable emergency button that can be pressed in a crisis - triggering a call to family members or a 24/7 monitoring service - is one of the most important safety features a phone can have for anyone living with vision impairment, particularly those who live alone.

Safety Features: Why They Matter More Than You Might Expect

Vision impairment increases everyday safety risk in ways that are easy to underestimate. Navigating unfamiliar environments, missing hazards underfoot, being unable to read important information quickly, and struggling in low-light conditions all contribute to a higher risk of falls, accidents, and disorientation.

When choosing a phone for a vision-impaired person - especially one who lives alone or spends time outdoors independently - safety features are not optional extras. They are core requirements.

GPS location tracking lets family members or carers see where their loved one is in real time. For someone who is blind or has very limited vision, being able to share their location with a trusted support network provides genuine reassurance - on both sides. If something goes wrong, help can reach them faster.

Fall detection automatically identifies a significant fall and triggers an alert, even if the person cannot reach their device or press a button after the incident. This is particularly important for vision-impaired users who may be more likely to fall and may have greater difficulty calling for help afterwards.

24/7 monitoring connects the device to a professional response centre staffed around the clock. If an alert is triggered, trained operators assess the situation and can contact emergency services or nominated contacts on the person's behalf. For vision-impaired Australians who live alone, this kind of around-the-clock backup significantly reduces the risk of a serious situation going undetected.

KISA devices combine communication and safety in a single lightweight device worn around the neck. You can learn more about the features available for people with low or no vision on our phones for vision-impaired Australians page.

What KISA Offers for Vision-Impaired Australians

KISA makes purpose-built safety and communication devices designed for people who need simplicity, reliability, and tactile usability. For vision-impaired users specifically, several design choices set KISA devices apart from both standard smartphones and generic senior phones.

No screen. The KISA Phone has no display. This is intentional: without a screen, there is nothing to read and nothing to navigate visually. The entire interface is physical - large, mechanical buttons with clear tactile feedback. For someone with little or no usable vision, this is a significant advantage over any touchscreen device, including those running accessibility software.

Braille configuration. The device can be set up with braille labels as part of the purchasing and configuration process. A blind user can identify buttons and contact positions entirely by touch, without needing any visual information.

High-contrast design. For users with low vision who can still make use of some sight, the physical design uses contrasting colours and raised tactile markers to make button identification as clear as possible.

Voice announcements. On request, the device announces battery level, signal strength, and local time - keeping the user informed without any visual interaction required.

Single-button dialling and any-button answer. Each contact is assigned a dedicated button. One press dials that person. Answering an incoming call is just as simple - pressing any button on the device accepts it. For a vision-impaired user who may feel uncertain about finding the correct key, this simplicity matters enormously.

KISA Reminders. At set times, the device can prompt the user with a voice announcement for medication, appointments, or daily routines. This is delivered as audio, not a visual notification.

Multilingual configuration. Contact names, back-panel labels, and all device configuration can be set up in any language. This makes KISA devices accessible to vision-impaired Australians from non-English-speaking backgrounds who may find their first language easier to work with.

The device is lightweight and designed to be worn on a lanyard around the neck, keeping it within easy reach at all times. The SOS button on the back can be pressed in any emergency to alert up to five nominated contacts simultaneously and connect to KISA's 24/7 monitoring service.

Funding Options for Vision-Impaired Australians

The cost of a purpose-built assistive technology device can be a barrier - but Australian funding programs exist specifically to help with this. The right pathway depends on the person's age and circumstances.

NDIS - for people under 65 with a vision impairment

The National Disability Insurance Scheme funds assistive technology for Australians under 65 who have a permanent and significant disability - and vision impairment qualifies. KISA Companion is the NDIS-funded KISA device. It may be claimable under the Assistive Technology budget category in an NDIS plan, and for lower-cost items (generally under $1,500) a formal AT assessment may not be required - though it's always worth confirming this with your support coordinator or plan manager.

For a full explanation of what the NDIS covers and how to access funding for communication and safety devices, visit our NDIS assistive technology page.

Support at Home - for people 65 and over

For older Australians with vision impairment, the Support at Home program (which replaced the Home Care Package in November 2025) provides government-funded assistance for people living in their own home. The Assistive Technology and Home Modifications (AT-HM) budget within Support at Home is specifically designed to cover equipment that helps people remain safe and independent - which can include purpose-built communication devices.

KISA Guardian is the recommended device for Support at Home-eligible Australians aged 65 and over. To understand how the program works and what it covers, visit our Home Care Package and Support at Home page.

If you are unsure which funding pathway applies to your situation, speaking with a KISA team member is a practical first step. They can help clarify eligibility and explain what documentation may be needed to support a claim.

How to Choose the Right Device for Your Situation

Every person's needs are different, and the right phone for a vision-impaired person depends on several factors. Working through these questions before making a decision will help narrow down the options.

How much vision does the person currently have? Someone with mild low vision who can still read large, high-contrast text on a screen may manage with an accessible smartphone. Someone with severe low vision or no usable vision is generally much better served by a screen-free device with physical buttons and voice feedback.

Is the condition likely to progress? If vision is expected to deteriorate further, it is worth choosing a device that does not rely on any visual navigation at all. A purpose-built phone with tactile buttons and voice announcements will remain usable even as vision declines - a touchscreen-based solution may not.

Does the person live alone? For someone without a carer at home, safety features move from useful to essential. A communication device that also functions as a personal alarm - with GPS tracking, fall detection, and 24/7 monitoring - provides a significantly higher level of protection than a basic phone.

What is the person's relationship with technology? Someone who has used smartphones confidently for years may adapt well to accessibility features on an iOS or Android device. Someone with little or no technology experience - or someone who finds change stressful - will usually find a purpose-built device far less overwhelming to learn and use day-to-day.

Who will set up and support the device? Purpose-built devices like KISA are configured before delivery: contacts, braille labels, reminders, and device settings are all established in advance. This means the device is ready to use from the moment it arrives, without requiring the user or their family to work through complex settings. For many families, this practical support during setup is one of the most valuable parts of the experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best mobile phone for vision impaired people in Australia?

The best phone depends on the degree of vision loss and the person's lifestyle. For people with mild to moderate low vision, an accessible smartphone with screen magnification and high-contrast settings may work well. For people with severe low vision or complete blindness, a purpose-built screen-free device with physical buttons, voice announcements, and braille options is usually the more practical and sustainable choice. KISA's vision-impaired phone range is designed specifically for people who need to operate a phone entirely by touch and hearing.

Can the NDIS fund a phone for someone who is vision impaired?

Yes. Assistive technology devices for communication and safety can be funded under the NDIS for eligible Australians under 65 with a vision impairment. KISA Companion is the NDIS device in the KISA range. For lower-cost items, a formal AT assessment may not be required - but it is worth confirming the details with your support coordinator or plan manager before purchasing.

What features should a phone for a blind person have?

The most important features for someone who is completely blind include: physical buttons with tactile feedback, braille configuration options, voice announcements for device status (battery, signal, time), single-button dialling, a loud speaker, and an SOS emergency button. A screen-free design removes all need for visual navigation and remains usable regardless of how vision changes over time.

Is there government funding for phones for vision-impaired seniors in Australia?

Yes. Australians aged 65 and over with vision impairment may be able to access funding through the Support at Home program, specifically through the Assistive Technology and Home Modifications (AT-HM) budget. This is separate from the NDIS, which covers people under 65. An aged care advisor or a KISA team member can help clarify what is available and how to access it.

Can a KISA phone be set up in a language other than English?

Yes. Contact names, back-panel information, and device configuration can be entered in any language during the purchasing process. This makes KISA devices suitable for vision-impaired Australians from non-English-speaking backgrounds who are more comfortable using their first language for daily communication.