Understanding and
using technology
Learning disabilities and mental health conditions can bring their
own communication difficulties. So can problems with memory or
understanding resulting from, for example, dementia, brain damage
or the effects of a stroke. We don’t have all the answers but here are
some ideas that can help you keep your independence.
15
Don’t make things complicated
Look for a phone with:
• large, clear, well-spaced buttons
• easily accessible memory buttons
• stored numbers that can be dialled with
just one or two touches
• speed dial buttons
• large memory buttons with space for a
picture of the person the button will call
• pre-dialling – this displays the
number as you enter it, so you can
easily fix a mistake. It also means
that you can enter numbers at your
own pace, with no worries about
being disconnected before you’ve
finished dialling.
Avoid phones that:
• have lots of buttons or keys that can
be confusing
• store functions behind menu options
that you have to scroll through
• have ‘soft keys’ with multiple functions
depending on where you are in the menu.
If you can’t or don’t want to talk to people,
look for a phone that lets you send and
receive text (SMS) messages.
For more information on phones,
see page 19.
