Problems with public telephones

The chart is an eleven by fourteen entry grid. One axis is labeled with eleven possible problems people might encounter in using a phone. The other axis is labeled with fourteen different disabilities that will have some degree of difficulty accessing a public telephone. You can choose to view the chart by disability or by problem.

There are three levels of difficulty that someone might experience in accessing a public telephone:

  1. Few problems
  2. Some problems
  3. Many problems
It is noted where technology is available to alleviate the problem.

View the table by disability.
  1. Wheelchair user
  2. Cannot walk without aid
  3. Cannot use fingers
  4. Cannot use one arm
  5. Reduced strength
  6. Reduced co-ordination
  7. Speech impaired
  8. Language impaired
  9. Dyslexia
  10. Intellectually impaired
  11. Deaf
  12. Hard of hearing
  13. Blind
  14. Low vision.

View the table by function.

  1. Locate telephone
  2. Access telephone
  3. Read instructions / directory
  4. Lift / hold handset
  5. Use keypad / dial
  6. Read visual display
  7. Insert coins / card
  8. Determine line status
  9. Speaking
  10. Listening
  11. Terminating call

By disability


By function

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