A petition asking Apple to consider discounts for people with disabilities.

Education/business discounts are possible through a fullproof system that can verify your information, whether it be a .edu address or business contact info. There is no fullproof method of verification for disability status. Well, at least none that wouldn't fly in the face of one of Apple's core tenets, privacy. The only thing close would be a program like the Able artist Foundation, but unless the program were to expand into hardware discounts, you would only be able to use any discount codes obtained through that on Apple software.
The long and short of it is that this simply isn't practical. Why not look for a refurbished iPhone SE2020 or Mac? Not everything you buy needs to be mint condition.

Instead of handouts, why aren't we pushing for greater employment?

In another universe maybe. I do not see apple doing so or any other company. Is all about the money. No money no product.

Truer words were never spoken.

Here we go, asking for hand outs again.

Instead of asking Apple to offer pity-points to people with disabilities, contact your local Commission for the Blind and see what services they offer. It's somewhat hard for me to articulate why this idea doesn't feel morally sound to me but nevertheless...I don't think this should be brought up to Apple. It is true that blind people might not have access to the same amount of money as their sighted counterparts due to the employment disparity, but asking Apple to reduce costs of their products for disabled people doesn't seem like a good idea. Also, it would change the perceptions surrounding the disabled community and would probably start a trend of people faking disabilities trying to get a discount.

I agree with Chris smart on this, I understand some a lot of people in the blind/disabled/whatever the heck ya wanna call it community struggle, but that doesn't mean you have to pay a fortune for a device. Push for more jobs that you can do so that way you can afford to purchase these. Phones will never be cheap like they once were. I'm sorry if it comes off rude, but I'm tired of people wanting cheap iPhones etc. Nothing in this world is free and petitioning never sits well with me...

In addition to all the excellent points made so far, there is another reason not to do this.

Apple already leads the market by providing world leading features to help people with disabilities to use their products. Right now they have an incentive to do so, we buy their devices. If we were to ask them for a discount, this will actually give them an incentive to step back on these features, so that they wouldn't have to sell as many cheaper phones.

I'm sure that most of us would prefer equality to a handout, and given that they now have new phones starting in the USA from $399-$1099, there really is an iPhone for most budgets. And if you can't afford $399, there are probably used phones that you could get.

I find it incredibly convenient that this was posted on the day of the Apple event, which sounds to me like the guy's after one of the higher end 12 models. What features do we actually need right now anyway that would involve us going for a discount?
5g is irrelevant for many on carriers other than TMobile, for at least a few more years. There's some slight market sensitivity decrease having not brought back touch ID when masks are staying around for I'd say at least half of the iPhone 12's launch cycle. Ceramic shield on its own is worth it given the amount of screen protectors that cut back on screen responsiveness, so if it means the phone is more durable on its own I am all for that. But no doubt that will make its way into budget phones sooner or later.

I am dead-set against this petition! It would be far better and more productive for us to advocate improving accessibility and fixing existing accessibility issues than it would be to press for some sort of discount solely because of our disabilities. I hope the petitioner will reconsider and take down their misguided petition.

If you want a phone that bad, pay monthly for it.

I live in the UK so don't know how America works but i'm sure they'll have deals or at least a monthly plan.

We don't need things for free or cheep just because we're blind.

Hi, i just wanted to add that i think that is a bit far to be asking. Why should we be given a discount just because we are disabled. If that was the case, everyone with a type of disability, should be asking for a discount just the same. Also a point to note, they came out with a phone that's affordable. I just think this is silly to even ask. We might be visually impaired, but that is it. It could be much werse than that. Apple found a way to make a phone that was able to be afforded, and not cost as much. Point why they came out with the many...

It should also be mentioned that the iPhone SE 2020 has the brains of the 11pro in a smaller, much more affordable package. Other than ceramic shield, there's really nothing worth callign for a special discount over.
@Brad: You're correct on that, there are ways to enter into monthly payment plans for the iPhone without entering into a carrier agreement. I believe you might get the best promotional financing if you have the Apple card, but you should nevertheless be able to finance the iPhone that way with any card provider.

This petition was to make the products of apple affordable to the community, keeping in mind the many in my country who are struggling for life, basic accessibility and opportunities for education or employment. I understand that this does not matter to many in developed countries but it does make a difference to us in developing countries. Apple may or may not consider this petition, but it's worth the try. For those thinking that this petition was raised to get free handouts; they are mistaken. Purpose was to help bring the accessibility that apple devices offer to a larger audience so that they can experience it. Besides, it would encourage more persons with a disability to buy apple products. Yes, as one of the comments said; it might be difficult for apple to validate someone's disability but I think we can think of such a solution. We don't have local charities that can offer us support in buying our devices at an affordable rate. So the challenges are many to list but the opportunities are extremely limited for a person with disability in India

Now if only this was the original petition's motive. Lower costs would hugely benefit folks in developing countries, not just those with disabilities. There is no question about that. This was not at all mentioned by the person who started the petition, but credit where credit is due, good on you for taking this argument in a direction that, if I'm being honest, a lot more people can get behind. The Apple tax is burdensome. Yes. I will give you that. I believe products like the iPhone SE2020 should hopefully start to bridge that gap, considering it is less than half the price of most starter models of these newer phones.
I'd honestly like to see how much ceramic shield weighs into the iPhone 12's cost, and how possible it would be to leverage that in a future SE model.

No to the original petition. Much of what I wanted to say has been said. i would just add that I'm in the top 10% of earners in the UK. Why should i get a discount when the chap who delivers my supermarket shopping doesn't?

In terms of developing countries, the problem is that you could make a case for a large number of communities that would benefit. So if you gave a discount to the disabled, for instance, why not give one to people in rural areas with poor telephone cabling meaning they can't get proper broadband? I believe Apple already does engage in quite a bit of corporate social responsibility, and perhaps it should do more, but I'd rather advocate that across the board than confine it to people with disabilities. Plus, could Apple not legitimately argue that in some developing countries access to many cloud services etc. is blocked, with a concommitant effect on the iPhone's use as an accessibility tool? Would you not get the rather unedifying spectacle of discounts for those living in Ghana but no discount for those living in Iran? So this way of looking at things has something going for it but it needs a bit of work.

I'm also from the UK and wouldn't want a discount.

I see where Mister Kayne is coming from but apple probably won't do anything.

There are androids though and while some may think they aren't as good as apple; they can work.

I think every new IPhone released.
the old one (like the last year of IPhone 11) has got cheaper than before.
and even SE 2020 is also more cheaper.
I think we don't have to get the latest one.

The only real way this could happen, and it won't, is if they allowed the software to exist, in unmodified form, on knockoff devices. Which they will never do. Unless the antitrust investigations force them to do a full 180, and even then, the hardware front is not likely to change.

I really don't see the point. Just buy a few generations back, as they will go down in price. I do this all the time when I can. I don't need the cream of the crop, not always anyway.

In developped countries, it definitely makes no sense since on the contrary, Apple products have largely contributed to equalizing opportunities for blind users in particular. Just read some of the discussions on topics / Apps like "Seeing AI", BlindSquare, the recent "Lidar" discussion, etc. These provide real added value to blind people at no extra cost, while before, we had to rely on third-person assistance.
Moreover, most western governments provide extra allowances / personal budgets to manage extra expense for persons with disability.
For developping countries, it makes sense however, but even on that point, Apple has made some progress, since the latest iPhone SE is available for only $399 and I am sure that sooner or later, charity organizations will follow that path since they too recognize the potential of smartphones.

Why should Apple do the job that the governments of developing countries should be doing? Some developing countries have life expectancies in the fifties but simultaneously boast that they have their own space exploration programmes. It's not apple's job to sort out the problems brought about by incompetent or inhumane rulers.

I still think this petition is a farce, and should not be considered. Like I said, buy the earlier phones, and wait a few years. We don't really need the best of the hbest, not all the time. My next phone might even be an iPhone 12 SE, in 2 years.

I would rother pay money to apple then sign a patition. we should strive toward grater employment then asking for a discount. I am sorry to discorrage you, but this is not how it works.

I have to agree. There is no such thing as a free lunch. My sig won't be on this, and I discourage all of you from signing this!

I don't think Apple should be solely responsible for performing the functions of governments, as previous posters have said. However, Apple products are still very expensive (even the older generations) and there should be a way for people to get them at a reduced price. Charities and nonprofits could help with this, but I don't think they'll completely fix the problem. A better solution would be grants or similar government-funded initiatives, maybe in partnership with Apple, I'm not sure, but directly asking Apple to give every disabled person discounts regardless of ned would not be a good idea.

Language barriers being what they are, Buy a Nokia 3600 or something. Did I need to text my boyfriend? No. Did I need to use Instagram? Twitter? No I didn't. It's all in how you present things. As I said, I understand India is very expensive compared to other countries, but calling "disabled", is offensive in my view. No i'm not trying to start a fight, call you what you will. At the end of the day, why is this up here? I have asked for an accessible treadmill in as polite and in the category I deemed appropriate. However, the moderators did not and tossed it. Ok. Why do these keep coming up?

I would never sign something like this. I have a disability, and I'm also fully capable of making payments on a phone. If I wasn't, I wouldn't buy one. Blindness doesn't mean I should get a discount. Every carrier I know of offers the opportunity to pay the device off monthly.

I'm also saying no to this. If I want something, I'll pay full price like the rest of the world. if I can't aford full price, I can do a payment plan. Don't expect companies like Apple to give you discounts just because you're disabled. That ain't how the universe works, bud.

Siobhan:
Accessible treadmills? You want one with an accessible mobile app, one such example is Sole Fitness. They're pricy, but they're decked out with practically every smart feature/integration in the book, not to mention physical buttons where appropriate. If you create a topic about this in particular, your treadmill topic shouldn't get moved. I've used the Sole TT8 treadmill for a while now and there isn't anything inaccessible about its operation, and it's mainstream.
Back to the original topic, then. Agree with everyone else, by the way.

That's where you order whatever you want off the menu and everyone else in line behind you pays for it. This drives up the cost for those who pay full price. If you want an Apple product, the tech is good enough now that you can purchase something pre-owned and have it work just fine.

As for the petition, shut it down.

A good friend shared this article on Forbes with me on Facebook where I posted about the same petition. I don't know where that thought went but I am eager to find out. Apparently, I wasn't the only one thinking of a disability discount; and I think I am asking it with a larger picture in mind of empowerment. Please visit the article and feel free to share your thoughts:
https://www.forbes.com/sites/stevenaquino/2020/04/20/the-fragile-feasibility-of-a--disability-discount-apple-store/#485007261248

Here is another article with the similar idea/ request: https://www.imore.com/apple-should-consider-discounts-people-disabilities

I tried the same but got good criticism from the community members, looks like everyone on the planet has deep pockets irrespective of their disability and honestly I stand by your request and have signed the petition but did not have the energy to find mine that asks for the same benefit.

Firstly, I have signed this because, why not?

I am skeptical about how apple might receive this though. The comparison between education pricing and disabled pricing, on the surface, makes some sense however, when I think about it more, there are some fundamental differences.

Firstly, having used the education pricing myself, I'm aware there is a time limit on it, for students, at least. There is also limits on what can be purchased, IE, Mac or iPad and that's it. The thing is, unless we're very lucky, our disability is life long. The purpose of the education pricing, I thik, I think, is for Apple to induct users early, get them using mac and iPad and never looking back. This is an investment in the future for them. Apple is like a cult, and designed like that. If you're in, you're in. Get iPad, then you get, say, iPods. Like the iPad interface then you get the iPhone, get the watch and before you know it, you're caged into the ecosystem by your device choice.

The other thing is, there are grants available, location dependent, to help with purchasing equipment. Access To Work here in the UK helps people with sightloss to purchase just this sort of equipment based on an assessment.

Though I'd like Apple products to be cheaper--loved the education pricing I snagged through my MA--I don't know if this is the right way to go about it.

I think the argument, if there is one at all, needs stiffening. Why do we need cheaper tech? Because we're on lower income? NOt always true. Because we need devices to function in every day life? There are cheaper options elsewhere with android and windows offerings.

I guess the question is, why do we feel, over other people, low income etc, that we're entitled to any discount? What problem does it solve aside from the obvious which applies to everyone, Apple stuff is spenny?

And sorry about the usual black and white thinking of the community. People are desperate to be heard and rather than take a nuanced view and try to understand where you're coming from, they like to smash ideas without thought of intent or, indeed, other's feelings. Rude lot.

If only everyone was more like me... *twirls.*

WHILE I won’t comment about whether this is practical or not, it’s the latter, but people have already said what I did, but I’ll comment on one part because I’m curious.
In the uae, we have something called a special needs card, or as it’s renamed now to people of determinations card, which is basically a fancy name for a card that proves that you’re disabled, approved by the govrnment. What I’m curious about, is do not other countries have this? I was under the assumption it’s universal.

I think it would be really hard to prove a disability. And yes, there is some type of proof of disability in order to get government services. But still, you have to go through so much of that with people that have a legit disability because I could totally see the cases of somebody trying to abuse this system going crazy. I don’t think Apple would be able to prove that you have a disability. I agree with my others have said here. This is the job of the government to help their disabled the Apple. Apple has enough on their plate as it is they’ve already done so much work to make their product accessible that we don’t need to be telling them that we want discounts.

Considering the number of people who are considered disabled is writing due to increased diagnosis of various conditions, you'd end up with a multi tiered system. Does someone with ADHD, for example, need or deserve the same discount as someone, in this case, who is totally blind which is a far more severe disability? Then again, what about severe disabilities, paraplegics, for example?

Opening something like this up to any who have proof of disability would include a quarter of potential sales. I just googled the number of people who are registered disabled in the UK, a population of about 70 million... 16.8 million.

Something like 85 million, give or take... 🤯

It is not difficult to prove blindness. There are doctors and I’m sure people have multiple records. This can be a government subsidized program. Realistically, it is important to utilize accessible technology for school, live day-to-day life, and become employed. Purchasing andProviding our own equipment can go a long way too getting blind people employed. Especially when employers recognize that they don’t have to go out of pocket.

And if we actually unified to make something like this happen (by the way, already does in some states), it could be beneficial in other ways. For example, the government spending money on something like this would mean greater spending on getting people employed. It would bring more attention to the fact that 80% of blind people are unemployed. And that the remaining 20% are vastly underemployed. Our taxes are meant to be spent on improving everyone’s lives. Including people that are blind and others that have different disabilities.

Nice thought but do not see it. Majority of phone companies have deals that can help get your own device and also stores such as amazon provide deals for devices. Agree is simple to prove disability, Doctor note stating that the person has a disability. Long live cats.

I think this is a really valid point. Rather than Apple footing the bill, developing skills around IT should fall on the government to get people into work which will pay off in the long run. Though, it does occur to me that arguing for getting Macs and iPads is probably a lost cause as windows is the professional platform of choice. Remember Mac is only 9 % of the PC market.

This does diverge from the original point of this thread. All in for governments supporting blind people into good and rewarding work though.

Yes. However, it’s a shifting industry. A lot more professionals especially in the IT field are going with Apple devices. Windows is sort of falling to the side. It’s gonna take a long long time. But a lot of people don’t like where Microsoft is going. It’s really about asking the state or province entity for what you want. We take these things for granted in the US Canada and the UK. And I will say that it hasn’t exactly resulted in an uptick for disabled people getting employed. But an entity like Apple providing worthwhile discounts, or being subsidized, when providing technology to the disabled could change the game. It will similarly ensure that Apple doesn’t eventually do a 180 on their commitment to accessibility. I know that a lot of people don’t think that’s going to happen. I’m less convinced.

I think there is something to be said for making essential tech available for people who can't afford it. But I don't want to be considered a lesser class citizen by Apple because I am not paying full price. Not that it does me much good, but at least I can demand of Apple that I pay the same as everyone else for my Mac and I can therefore expect the same quality of experience. Whereas something like this would shift the balance and I should then be grateful for anything because I am now expecting charity.

Similarly if Apple understand that a certain proportion of their profits come from the disabled, then that is a pot of money that can go towards improvements. If that pot is smaller, would Apple have such an incentive?

And I'm not sure exactly how this would be in Apple's own best interest. What exactly would they get out of this? I think if there is a particular market where they are struggling to reach, such as developing countries, then that's a decision that could be made to sell more stuff and therefore increasing their market share. But just giving charity to the blind doesn't quite strike me as the right thing here. For all they do for accessibility Apple is a company that needs profit.

I do believe that the solution to the problem lies in looking at the underlying causes of specific issues and trying to fix them. Whether, as has been said it be due to low employment and training opportunities. Or challenging people's preconceptions. Or whatever it is. I suppose if this was more of a short-term educational thing then it might make more sense. For example, if we say that there are a number of disabled people who cannot get into certain industries, giving them a low-cost way to get an initial push in that direction could help everyone in the long run. But I don't think that works as a permanent thing.

Having said all that, I have used certain products in the past where a good proportion of the functionality does not work with a screen reader. So if I am receiving, say, 50% of your product why am I still paying full price? But really the solution I want here is to be able to use 100% of the product not pay less for less. I don't think this is quite true of Apple, however.