Franz Pickett, a 94-year-old iCanConnect participant in Kansas, has lived with hearing loss and leg amputation since he was very young. However, recent and rapid changes to his vision made his world feel increasingly isolated.
Living in a rural area with frequent landline and internet outages, Mr. Pickett often felt cut off from the world. “It’s scary to be immobile, blind, and deaf with no connection to the outside world,” he shared. His safety was a daily concern.
In 2021, Mr. Pickett learned about iCanConnect, the National Deaf-Blind Equipment Program, through Southwestern Assistive Technology for Kansans (ATK) Access Site. Once he applied and was accepted into the program, he received magnifiers that he joked were “equipped with technology that would make most 80- or 90-year-olds run the other way — let alone a 94-year-old!” But true to his curious and resilient spirit, he learned to use those magnifiers to help read his phone screen and operate it.
In addition to the magnifiers, iCanConnect provided Mr. Pickett with specialized training on how to effectively use his smartphone. The biggest challenge wasn’t just the phone, but the training, Mr. Pickett said, “It may be easy to teach this old dog new tricks, but most dogs don’t need to learn high-tech cell phones!”
The key was teaching Mr. Pickett how to be a little less polite with Siri. Saying, “Would you please call my friend Denise, Siri?” didn’t activate the voice assistant. But “Siri, call Denise” did the trick.
“Who would have guessed that being rude can get the job done? I learn something new every day!” says Mr. Pickett. “I have to be open to learning something new every day. At 94 years old, that’s the best way to enjoy life.”
After some laughs and a lot of practice, Mr. Pickett mastered the voice command feature — and with it, gained a critical connection to the world around him. He now enjoys a renewed sense of independence and safety, knowing he can connect with others whenever he needs to.
About iCanConnect: iCanConnect is a federally funded program administered by the FCC. It provides free distance communication equipment and training to qualified individuals who have combined hearing and vision loss, enabling them to connect with family, friends, and their communities.
