User is blind and cannot reliably enter a passcode. What, now? Tell passcode to nearest passer-by and ask that person to enter it? Anyone have a practial answer?

Most of the time the phone can be unlocked with Face ID or TouchID (depending on the model). When the passcode is absolutely required, such as after a restart, turn on VoiceOver, as described in this support link→Turn on and practice VoiceOver on iPhone - Apple Support. You can turn it on several ways, the easiest being with Siri: "Siri, turn on VoiceOver". When it is on as you touch the screen it tells you what you have touched, but doesn't respond to the touch. You must double tap to activate the "button" you want to use. So you tap on the screen until you find the keypad buttons for the passcode, then double-tap on each one. With a little practice all you need to find is the first one, then you can memorize the positions of the others.

Hi LJCJR

Welcome to the Apple (user-to-user) Community.

Re: "User is blind and cannot reliably enter a passcode. What, now?

Tell passcode to nearest passer-by and ask that person to enter it? Anyone have a practial answer?"

Am no expert in this area, yet your questions surely deserve some response or acknowlegement.

There may be some clues in Apple support's online iOS17 articles (links below) .... yet I do not know

and could be way out / wrong ... contacting Apple for accessibility support may be the way to go:

See: How to contact Apple for accessibility support - Apple Support

Set up vision-related accessibility features on iPhone - Apple Support

Use a braille display with VoiceOver on iPhone - Apple Support

says: "When you edit text, the braille display shows the text in context, and your edits are automatically converted between braille and printed text. You can also use a braille display with input keys to control your iPhone when VoiceOver is turned on". Wondering if braille can be used in the passcode field ?

List of: Braille displays supported by iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch - Apple Support

and

Common braille commands for VoiceOver on your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch - Apple Support

Eg: says:

"Start dictation when in text field: Dot 1 + Dot 5 + Dot 6 + Space bar"

"Select all: Dot 2 + Dot 3 + Dot 5 + Dot 6 + Space bar"

Hear iPhone speak the screen, selected text, and typing feedback - Apple Support

"Hear selected text: Select the text, then tap Speak". (could check what was typed in Braille ?)

Apple also has an Accessibility Support website:

Accessibility Support - Official Apple Support

All the best :-)

Thank you kindly for your reply, and your further information.

Noticed a USB assistive device article (link below) that may have a useful clue:

Eg: says: "Allow access to USB, Thunderbolt, and other accessories

You can allow your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch to always access accessories.

For example, if you use a USB assistive device to enter your passcode on your locked iPhone, many assistive devices automatically turn on the setting to allow USB devices the first time they're connected".

from: Allow USB and other accessories to connect to your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch - Apple Support

__________

If needed:

There's a non-Apple article online with an option that may help in the short-term:

https://www.davechaffey.com/assistive-technology/ios-for-blind-and-visually-impaired/set-up-voice-control-on-an-iphone-for-blind-and-visually-impaired-users/

If you enable Siri on the lock screen you can enable VoiceOver via Siri, or just leave it on all the time.