cannot get out of assisted mode

My HTC Desire 5610 has gone into a mode that speaks to me all the time and requires multiple rapid touches to do anything! I cannot find how to get it out of this mode - primarily because it does not seem to respond to attempts by me to get into the settings (beyond "wireless settings).

What can I do? The phone is driving me to distraction! I also want to completely, permanently disable the annoying, persistent vibrate that it uses when a message or sms, email or anything else comes in!