Old iPhones can change lives

The release of the iPhone 4S will see people selling or storing old iPhones but we are asking Australians to consider donating them instead.

Picture: Steve Lightfoot / Melbourne Weekly - Michelle Stevens ordering coffee with waitress, Erin.

Old iPhones can change the lives of people who are both deaf and blind.

People may think their iPhone is outdated, but deafblind people are making do with much older technology that is difficult to adapt for their needs.  

Mobile phones provide a vital connection to the outside world for deafblind people who are often very isolated because of barriers to communicating they face.

The iPhone is a particularly good phone for deafblind users because it comes with in-built accessibility, such as speech output and the option to increase text size. Deafblind users are also able to connect it with their Braille readers and keyboards.

The high cost of new technology means many deafblind people can’t afford it, especially when you add the cost of the adaptive technology required and the cost of mobile phone plans.

Any donations received will be directed to the deafblind people who access our Ablelink centre.

You can donate your iPhone in one of the following ways:

• Drop it off at Ablelink – Level 3, Ross House, 247 Flinders Lane Melbourne
• Drop it off at our Camberwell office at 616 Riversdale Road
• Post it to PO Box 1213, Camberwell Victoria 3124

Donations will be taken with or without accessories, e.g. chargers and headphones, but chargers would be greatly appreciated.