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Category: Daily Life

  • Day 14: Deaf Accessibility Wins – My Go-To Voice-to-Text Apps

    In yesterday’s post I mentioned that AI will open more doors ahead — especially when accessibility is planned from the start and Deaf people with lived experience are involved in the development process.

    One practical tool I use almost daily on my phone is voice-to-text (and text-to-voice). The app I’ve been using most frequently is Flip-Talk, developed by a Deaf developer. I also used Cardzilla (another Deaf-developed app) for a long time.

    Both are excellent depending on the situation:

    • Cardzilla has larger text sizes.
    • Flip-Talk is clear and easy to read for most people. It has a simple “Start speaking…” prompt that makes it very intuitive for hearing people.

    These apps are fantastic for quick questions, ordering food, brief conversations, and everyday interactions. They’re convenient and effective when you need them.

    There are many other apps out there, but these two have worked best for me. I’ve been relying on Flip-Talk more often lately.

    Of course, the current limitation is that they don’t yet include full ASL or LSQ capabilities. That’s where Deaf-led AI development becomes so important — and I’ll share more about that in tomorrow’s post.

    Tools like these are real accessibility wins that make daily life smoother.

    What about you? What voice-to-text, captioning, or communication app has made the biggest difference for you? Or what’s one tech tool you wish existed for better accessibility?

    Share your recommendations or ideas in the comments!

    See you tomorrow for Day 15!

  • Day 6: Deaf Accessibility Wins – From Nodding Hello to Real Conversations

    For years, when I walked my daughter to school, the drop-off spot was the same routine: nods, smiles, waves, and quick goodbyes. As a Deaf parent, communication barriers made anything deeper difficult. Gestures were usually the best we could do.

    This went on for weeks until some parents started learning basic signs from YouTube — “Hi, I’m Trevor. Nice to meet you. How are you? I’m fine.” It was a nice shift from pure gesturing to a mix of signs, gestures, and superficial chats about the weather.

    Of course, learning a few signs doesn’t mean full conversations. When it was my turn to respond, things would slow down. Real connection only happens when both sides can understand and express themselves comfortably.

    One day, I used VRI On-Demand at the drop-off. The parent I usually gestured with was impressed. Suddenly we could have a real conversation. I learned he was a web developer and his wife was a nurse. Word spread, and I started learning more about other parents — a home technician, landlord, construction worker, retired teacher, and several running home-based businesses.

    VRI On-Demand helped “speed up” the process of getting to know each other when communication barriers were removed. While learning ASL is valuable and takes time, tools like VRI make meaningful interactions possible right away.

    These small moments at school drop-off turned into real community connections — and that’s a beautiful accessibility win.

    What about you?

    Have you experienced a moment where better communication tools helped you connect more deeply with other parents, neighbours, or people in your community?

    Share your story in the comments!

    See you tomorrow for Day 7!

  • Day 5: Deaf Accessibility Wins – Communicating Through Windows

    Yesterday, a door-to-door sales rep came by asking about our phone and internet service. I wasn’t available to speak with him, so my spouse met him at the front door. She explained that I’m Deaf and we communicate in ASL.

    The rep was surprised — and impressed — that we could communicate clearly through the windows using sign language. My spouse stayed outside while I stayed inside working, and we were still able to have an accessible conversation.

    This is one of those small but meaningful examples of Deaf Gain — the unique advantages that come with being Deaf, such as the ability to communicate visually over distances where spoken language wouldn’t work.

    The rep was there because his company is installing fibre optic lines in our area and looking for people interested in switching for faster internet. The conversation was quick and low-pressure, and my spouse handled most of it while I jumped in when needed.

    Moments like this remind me how valuable ASL is for real-time communication. Of course, learning sign language takes time for most people. That’s where VRI On-Demand could be a game-changer — instant connection with a qualified interpreter right at the door.

    I’ll share more about my own VRI On-Demand experiences in a future post.

    What about you? Have you had a creative or unexpected accessibility win in everyday situations like this? Or what’s one small change that made communication easier for you?

    Share your stories in the comments!

    See you on Monday for Day 6!