It has been simply ages since any posts to this thread. I do not think that the market has advanced at all in any significant or meaningful way since this the OP asked the question. Shame on the manufacturers, blindness and partial sight are not niche and could happen to anyone.

In this respect I had a quick visit over to the RNIB's website and think it is useful to publish this reference to anyone starting out on a quest for suitable handsets for the blind and partially sighted. I hope you find this of some small benefit.

See the RNIB's Accessible Mobile Phones - a guide