Be My Eyes, an app that offers visual assistance for people who are blind or have sight loss, now offers live customer support from Google through the Specialized Help platform.
Through the Specialized Help menu, blind and low-vision users can now contact the Google Disability Support team through a live video connection for questions on assistive tools and accessibility features within Google’s products.
“We are very proud to add Google to Specialized Help. This is a big step for accessibility and we are honored to have the support of Google to help blind and low vision individuals lead more independent lives,” said Alexander Hauerslev Jensen, CCO at Be My Eyes.
Originally, Be My Eyes offered blind and low-vision users visual assistance from sighted volunteers, who could sign up to help by downloading the app. Because many calls were concerned with issues connected to specific products or services, Be My Eyes decided to expand with a customer support platform, Specialized Help, in February 2018, so that blind and low-vision individuals could receive support directly from company professionals.
Now, blind and low-vision users can contact the Google Disability Support team through the Specialized Help feature in the Be My Eyes app. Google will be the second company onboard the Specialized Help platform.
Besides Google, Be My Eyes users can also contact Microsoft through the platform. Be My Eyes is planning to expand the Specialized Help service even further to include more companies within different sectors.
“The Disability Support team aims to provide the best support possible for people with disabilities. We are thrilled to partner with Be My Eyes as this brings us one step closer to achieving that goal,” said Kyndra LoCoco, Accessibility Partner & Community Programs Manager at Google.
The Google Disability Support team will be open Monday through Friday 8AM-5PM PT, currently available in English only.
Google can be contacted through the Be My Eyes Specialized Help platform by users in Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Ireland, India, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, South Africa, United Kingdom, and United States.
Be My Eyes is a free app available for both iOS and Android that connects blind and low-vision users to sighted volunteers. Through a live video connection, the volunteer can assist with a task that requires visual assistance. With the addition of the Specialized Help feature, blind and low-vision users can connect with company representatives for issues related to the company’s specific products or services.
