Traditional phone accessibility solutions try to bridge the gap between voice calls and visual communication. AI phone assistants take a different approach entirely: they remove the user from the voice portion of the call altogether.

For a comprehensive comparison of all accessibility options, see Phone Accessibility for Deaf and Hard of Hearing. Related: Neurodivergent Phone Anxiety. Try our accessibility solutions.

The Traditional Accessibility Problem

Most phone accessibility solutions are adaptations of voice technology:

  • VRS adds a human interpreter between you and the call
  • TTY converts text to speech and back (slowly)
  • Captioned phones add visual text to what you hear

All of these still center around the voice call. They make voice calls more accessible, but the voice call remains the core experience.

The AI Approach: Removing Voice from Your Experience

AI phone assistants flip the model. Instead of adapting voice calls for accessibility, they keep the voice call but remove you from it entirely.

Your Experience is 100% Text

  1. Input: You type what you need ("Schedule a dental cleaning for next week")
  2. Processing: AI makes a voice call on your behalf (you don't hear or participate)
  3. Output: You receive results as text ("Appointment scheduled for Tuesday at 2pm")

There's no point where you need to hear or produce sound. The entire interaction is text-based from your perspective.

Key Benefits for Hearing Impaired Users

No Third Party in Your Conversations

Unlike VRS, which involves a human interpreter who sees/hears everything, AI assistants are software. Your appointment scheduling or account inquiries aren't witnessed by another person.

No Special Equipment

AI assistants work on any smartphone or computer with internet access. No TTY device, videophone, or captioned telephone needed.

Instant Availability

No scheduling an interpreter or waiting for a relay service. Send your request anytime and AI begins the call immediately (during business hours of the place being called).

Automatic Written Records

Every call produces a written summary and optional transcript. This documentation is valuable for healthcare visits, billing disputes, or any situation requiring records.

Experience text-based phone calls

KallyAI handles voice calls for you. Your entire experience is text.

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What AI Can and Cannot Handle

Great For

  • Scheduling appointments (medical, dental, salon, etc.)
  • Making reservations (restaurants, hotels)
  • General business inquiries (hours, availability, pricing)
  • Account status checks (prescription ready? claim processed?)
  • Simple customer service requests

Better Handled by VRS

  • Complex medical discussions with doctors
  • Legal consultations or negotiations
  • Calls requiring real-time decision making
  • Emotional conversations with family
  • Emergency situations (use Text 911 where available)

Using AI and Traditional Services Together

AI phone assistants don't replace traditional accessibility services - they complement them. A practical approach:

  • Routine calls → AI assistant (faster, more private)
  • Complex conversations → VRS (human interpreter for nuance)
  • Quick status checks → AI assistant
  • Negotiations → VRS

Having both options means choosing the right tool for each situation.

Getting Started with AI Phone Assistants

To use an AI phone assistant like KallyAI:

  1. Create an account (no special accessibility registration needed)
  2. Describe what you need in plain text
  3. Confirm the call details
  4. Receive results via text

The first call is typically free, allowing you to evaluate whether the service works for your needs.

Try AI phone accessibility

KallyAI - Your first call is free. No hearing required.

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