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Intellectual Disability Phone

I'd like to tailor an iPhone to my son's needs; he is 24 and has intellectual disabilities.

I would like a simple opening screen showing a few app icons (phone, music, photos, camera, other); a screen with photo icons and speed dial for the few people he would call; GPS location shared to another device; a screen that identifies his downloaded music by icons; an app that turns (incoming) text into speech; the ability to have speaker phone as the default; a way to hide internet and other apps.


My son does not read or count. He does navigate his iPad fairly well, mostly to watch youtube, and take pictures, but his ability to navigate screens and apps is quite limited. I would like him to have an iPhone for his own feeling of independence, the ability to call someone, as well as the GPS locator to allow him some independence to be without a caregiver.


Is it possible? Does anyone know (by experience) how to create any of the items on the above wish list? My general internet searches never give quite enough information to know whether something will work for me, and the amount of semi-information is overwhelming. Your help would be much appreciated!

iPhone 7

Posted on Jan 3, 2020 8:04 PM

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Posted on Jan 7, 2020 7:17 AM

You can delete lots of the installed apps.


Remove built-in Apple apps from the Home screen on your iOS 10 device or Apple Watch - Apple Support


Apps you can't remove can be moved to a folder which can be tucked away on another page.


You can also restrict apps using Screentime:


Use Screen Time on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch - Apple Support


You can make short cuts for calling people:


https://www.appleiphonereview.com/tutorials/iphone-speed-dial/

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Jan 7, 2020 7:17 AM in response to BetterAccessFenelon

You can delete lots of the installed apps.


Remove built-in Apple apps from the Home screen on your iOS 10 device or Apple Watch - Apple Support


Apps you can't remove can be moved to a folder which can be tucked away on another page.


You can also restrict apps using Screentime:


Use Screen Time on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch - Apple Support


You can make short cuts for calling people:


https://www.appleiphonereview.com/tutorials/iphone-speed-dial/

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Jan 7, 2020 7:03 AM in response to BetterAccessFenelon

Hi there, BetterAccessFenelon.


I see that you'd like to have your son's iPhone set up in the best way for him to use. You definitely have a well-thought-out list of what you'd like to accomplish in order to do this. I'd like for you to contact Apple Support to speak with the Accessibility group for this.


Apple - Support - Product Selection — After selecting this link, type "accessibility" in the Search topics field, and choose "Getting started with Apple accessibility features" from the Results. Then select how you'd like to start the conversation.


Take care.

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Intellectual Disability Phone

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