Use VoiceOver with a braille display on a Real-Time Text (RTT) phone call

Learn how to read and respond to a Real-Time Text (RTT) phone call when you're using a refreshable braille display with VoiceOver.

Check message status

VoiceOver uses the first three cells on a braille display to provide message status information.

  • All dots blank ("⠀") means there are no unread messages.

  • Dots 2,3,5,6 ("⠶") flashing in unison means there's a message that's ready for your response.

  • Dots 2,3,5,6 ("⠶") animating clockwise (2,5,6,3) means that another RTT user is typing.

Switch between your draft and incoming messages

To switch the braille text display between your own draft and another participant's message, press the routing button above the RTT status cell.

To assign this command to a different button or command chord on your braille display:

  1. Go to Settings > Accessibility > VoiceOver > Commands.

  2. Under Braille Devices, select your braille display.

  3. Select Next TTY Message or Previous TTY Message to change the command.

If your braille text display is currently set to display another participant's incoming text, the braille cells will change in real time to display the text that the participant is typing.

Learn more

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