20/03/2026
Richard lost the sight in his left eye due to a haemorrhage and later lost the sight in his right eye from chronic uveitis. He tells us: “Occasionally I can see a little bit of light, but otherwise I cannot see at all. For a long time, this made everyday tasks very difficult, and I struggled without help.”
Richard contacted KAB as he needed help with something that was making his life difficult at the time – his phone.
Something as simple as making a phone call depended on other people. Richard recalls: “I was using a basic button phone and could only answer calls. If I wanted to ring my sons, I had to contact a carer through my lifeline so they could come in, look up the number, and dial it for me. The carers were always helpful, but I often felt like a burden, especially when they were busy. It was frustrating and disheartening to rely on others for something so small but so important.”
That’s when Richard decided to contact KAB to ask about a phone that allows him to be more independent.
Through KAB’s Assistive Technology Team, he was introduced to the Synapptic phone.
“Peter helped me to get a new phone and patiently taught me how to use it. At first, I was nervous. New technology felt daunting, especially when I couldn’t see it. But with Peter’s guidance, it quickly became easier. Now with my new phone, I can simply touch the screen and slide my finger down it to activate the voice control and ask the phone to call my sons. Being able to talk to the phone and have it talk back to me is the best part.”
The Synapptic phone can also read out the phone’s battery percentage, which is an important feature for Richard. With support from Peter, he now has a phone that works for his needs. It has given him confidence, freedom and his independence back.
He tells us: "This phone has really saved my life."
