Recommended features for people with learning difficulties or mental health conditions

This is a list of features which may help you use your phone if you have a learning difficulty or mental health condition. These features are available on many BT and non-BT products.

• Basic Phone

• Caller Display

• Call Screening

• Emergency Button

• Keypad Lock

• Large Buttons

• Last Number Redial

• Memo

• Memory

• Pre-dial

• Pre-recorded greeting

• SMS Text Messaging

• Two-way Record

• VIP Ringer

• Voice Prompt

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Basic Phone

If you have a learning difficulty or a condition such as dementia you might find it easier to use a phone without too many extra buttons or features.

Caller Display

BT's Caller Display can be useful for some people with learning difficulties or mental health conditions. For example if you feel anxious about speaking to people you don't know very well on the phone, Caller Display lets you check whether you recognise the number of the person calling, before you pick up the phone. Some phones will even display the name of the person calling if the number is stored in the phone. The service can also be helpful if you have a condition like depression which means that you sometimes don't feel well enough to take phone calls. Caller Display lets you check numbers so that you would only need to pick up important calls.

Call Screening

If you feel anxious speaking to people you don't know very well on the phone, this answer machine feature may be useful. when the phone rings, let the answer machine take the call and you can hear who is calling. If it is someone you are happy to speak to then you can pick up the phone.

Emergency Button

If you live alone but sometimes need to call for help in an emergency some of our phones include an emergency button.

Keypad lock

Some people with learning difficulties or mental health conditions may either make unwanted phone calls or be unable to stop themselves making calls which can mean an expensive phone bill. The keypad lock  will allow a carer or friend to temporarily lock the phone to stop calls being made. If you are currently supporting a friend or relative who is making such calls and would like further advice, please call our Age & Disability Team who will be happy to help.

Large Buttons

If you have a learning or a reading difficulty, you may find it easier to use a phone with large well spaced buttons.  Large clear buttons may also help people with conditions such as dementia.

Last Number Redial

The number of the last person you called is stored in the phone. To ring them again you only have to press one button to get through.

Memo

If you have a learning or reading difficulty like dyselxia the memo feature lets you record notes for yourself or other people.

Memory

If you sometimes have trouble remembering or looking up phone numbers the memory lets you record the phone numbers of the people you ring most often and then dial them by pressing just 1 or 2 buttons. Some of our memory phones include a space for you to put a photograph or picture of the people you ring most often, this can be helpful if you have difficulty reading names.

SMS Text Messaging

If you have a long Term mental health condition such as depression, SMS is an ideal way to keep in touch with your friends and family on those days when your condition means you don't feel up to speaking to people.

Pre-Dial

If you worry about dialling the wrong number, pre-dial lets you check the phone number you want to ring before you get through to the other person.

Pre-recorded greeting

Many answer machines come with an outgoing message already set up. This makes setting up the answer machine easier. It can also be useful if you do not want to use your own voice on the outgoing message.

Two-way record

This feature lets you record your telephone conversation which is ideal if you need to take notes and prefer listening to information rather than reading. Remember to tell the other person you are recording the conversation.

VIP Ringer

If you feel anxious about speaking to people you don't know, the VIP feature can help. Choose the number of the person you speak to most often and the phone will then ring in a different way each time they call, so you know who it is straight away.

Voice prompts

If you find it difficult to read printed instructions, some of our phones have voice prompts to help you set up and use your phone.

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