Smartphone accessibility tips

This guide connects you to resources for setting up your iPhone for accessibility for hearing loss. This information is provided only as a resource to help you understand how to use an iPhone's accessibility features. Many, but not all, of these functions are available on iPad as well.

General set up

Apple Support's iPhone User Guide covers setup basics, Wi-Fi connection, Apple ID sign in, iCloud and more.

Set up accessibility 

Accessibility settings let you customize the phone to meet your access needs. To get started, check out Apple's Accessibility features for hearing on iPhone.

Some of your options include:

Get live captions of spoken audio

Blink the iPhone light for notifications (for incoming phone call or text message)

Connect your hearing aids (stream a phone call directly to compatible hearing aids for better sound quality)

You can also Change iPhone sounds and vibrations for phone calls and text messages to sounds that you can hear better and/or vibrating alerts you can feel.

And more!

How do I get to my home page? 

To get to your home page you simply SWIPE UP from the bottom of any screen you’re on. For more information, see Apple's User Guide Learn gestures for iPhone models with Face ID. You can also watch this short video, Open apps on iPhone.

How do I make a phone call? 

The icon for making a phone call depends on which app you prefer to use.

iPhone phone icon iPhone Call icon, this should be on the bottom bar automatically 

CaptionCall icon CaptionCall Mobile icon

CaptionMate icon CaptionMate icon

ClearCaptions icon ClearCaptions Mobile icon

InnoCaption icon InnoCaption icon

How do I read/send a text message?

 iPhone messages icon Messages icon, this should be on the bottom bar automatically

Apple Support has full instructions in Send and reply to messages 

How to quickly find all the apps on your phone (App library) 

To see all the apps that are installed on your phone, scroll from the home screen all the way to the right. This will open your app library, showing all the apps installed on the phone. To search for a specific app, you can type the name of the app in the bar at the top of the screen where it says “App Library:” 

How to use CaptionCall 

To use CaptionCall you’ll have to forward your calls from your phone number to your CaptionCall app. Here’s how: 

  1. Open the CaptionCall Mobile menu options by tapping on the menu icon
  2. Tap Call Forwarding 
  3. Tap Enable 
  4. Tap Got it! 
  5. Call the pre-filled activation code. 

Do you want your phone number displayed to people you call? You’ll need to set up My Caller ID. Using My Caller ID will display your usual phone number when you make outgoing calls, so your friends and family know it is you calling. 

  1. Open the CaptionCall Mobile menu by tapping on the menu icon. 
  2. Tap My Caller ID 
  3. Tap I agree 
  4. Tap Add Feature! 
  5. Tap Done. 

Learn more on Sorenson’s CaptionCall Mobile page. 

How to use CaptionMate 

CaptionMate's website explains how CaptionMate works and what you need to get started.

How to use ClearCaptions Mobile 

To use ClearCaptions Mobile, you need to call them first at 1-866-996-1498. They will verify that you are deaf or hard of hearing so you can start using ClearCaptions. Learn more on ClearCaptions' website. 

How to use InnoCaption 

InnoCaption's How to make a call and change caption modes video 

  1. Open the InnoCaption App 
  2. At the top right of the screen there is a Caption Mode button 
  3. Select the Caption Mode you would like to use. 
    • More about your options: 
    • ASR-EN uses automatic speech recognition technology. This is also known as speech-to-text. It is entirely computer-generated. 
    • CART captioning is provided by a person. You may experience technical difficulties or a busy signal if a captioner is not available. 
  4. Make phone calls through the InnoCaption App, and not through the green phone app icon. 

Other accessibility features

MN ACT also serves people with physical and speech disabilities. You can learn more about accessibility features for physical and speech disabilities at the following links.