Hi all! When I couldn’t get a volunteer on Be My Eyes or couldn’t use AIRA due to lack of minutes, after using up my free 5 minute call, I’ve had luck when waiting for a minute or so before placing another call to Be My Eyes after landing a call when no one was avalible. I’ve also had random chances of getting a native English speaker where English is their first language. I’ve also had random chances of getting someone who’s native language was something other than English, but they learned English as a second or more language as an adult. I think it’s always a 50/50 chance of getting a native English speaker verses getting a native speaker of other languages but also has learned English as an additional language as an adult. When you get these folks, they’ll always have accents other than the native English speaker accents. I find them just as helpful as any native English speaker. If that’s not the case, then, it’s either something they don’t know how best to help you with, or a language barrier. I’ve had more issues with them not knowing how best to help than anything else, regardless of linguistical backgrounds. With that said, I recomend everyone who only speaks English to let everyone get the same oppertunity to assist you, regardless of linguistical background, until it’s clear that help isn’t possible. If it becomes clear that help isn’t possible, then you might have to get in person help or help from the experts you need to consalt, depending on your need. I know that most do this already, but it’s a good reminder for those who have issues with getting help from folks who don’t have English as their native, or first language. Kendra
Please excuse any errors that sneak past my editing attempts. Thank you for taking the time to read my email message! Kendra Schaber Pronouns: she, her and her's I'm a multicultural who's always learning about the world. I'm a language learner who knows from first hand experience that languages are more complicated than we ever know until we learn a new language for the very first time. I'm not an expert in any calture, including my own. If i'm an expert in anything, it's my own lived experiences. May we all embrace diversity and improve the environment! Blessed be! “When the student is ready, the teacher will appear.”, author unknown ________________________________ From: [email protected] <[email protected]> on behalf of Lisa Belville <[email protected]> Sent: Monday, October 20, 2025 1:56:39 PM To: alapointe89 via VIPhone <[email protected]> Subject: Re: Be My Eyes question I used Be My Eyes once at around 6:00 Am when I was stuck in my apartment complex's elevator. The call took a long time to go through, but I did finally get an answer. The person had a very thick accent, English was definitely a second language. She helped me find the call for help button, which wasn't labeled and not even on the regular button panel. My long wait could have been to the phone only having one bar in the elevator, but it might have been just connecting to someone. I wouldn't necessarily worry about making calls that early. I think at last count they had over five million volunteers all over the world, so someone will eventually answer. Lisa Lisa Belville [email protected] On 10/20/2025 3:26 PM, alapointe89 via VIPhone wrote: > Hello all, not sure that this is the list to post this but thought it is > okay as we use it on iPhone. > I am finding that I need to use Be My Eyes around 2:00am to around 8:00a on > a daily basis. I have used Be My Eyes a few times but at reasonable hours. I > have tried to contact th Be My Eyes team to ask if I was to call the App > very early in the morning or late night if it would wake someone up. I use > Iar when I can use the free 5 minutes and that works great and I know that > they are there waiting for calls. I am in the eastern time zone here in > Mass. How does this work? Is there a system with Be My Eyes that controls > who gets a call that early? I know that I have worked with some in London, > California and other countries. With that all said, I really don't want to > bother anyone who is sleeping.. Thanks so much. Andy and Leroy > > Andrew J. LaPointe, President > Friends of the Salem Council on Aging > A 501C3 Non-Profit Organization > 34 Raymond Ave. > Salem, MA. 01970 > Home: 978-745-4289 cell: 978-578-0185 > > Editor, Commission Commuter Update and the Safe Disabled Traveler Notebook > Talking Information Center > > -- The following information is important for all members of the V iPhone list. If you have any questions or concerns about the running of this list, or if you feel that a member's post is inappropriate, please contact the owners or moderators directly rather than posting on the list itself. Your V iPhone list moderator is Mark Taylor. Mark can be reached at: [email protected]. Your list owner is Cara Quinn - you can reach Cara at [email protected] The archives for this list can be searched at: http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "VIPhone" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/viphone/1b3bff72-2439-4dd6-88f7-dc019db06d3a%40frontier.com. -- The following information is important for all members of the V iPhone list. If you have any questions or concerns about the running of this list, or if you feel that a member's post is inappropriate, please contact the owners or moderators directly rather than posting on the list itself. Your V iPhone list moderator is Mark Taylor. Mark can be reached at: [email protected]. Your list owner is Cara Quinn - you can reach Cara at [email protected] The archives for this list can be searched at: http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "VIPhone" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/viphone/DS0PR19MB831428466390AA4B1565D0C4A8F5A%40DS0PR19MB8314.namprd19.prod.outlook.com.
