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Items tagged with: Accessibility


FINALLY! Open-source LIVE CAPTIONS for your Linux desktop that run locally! No internet connection, no spyware!

github.com/abb128/LiveCaptions

FUTO is a company that grants young developers means to build awesome tools like this one. Tools that help digital sovereignty.

futo.org/projects/

All I need now is a model that will translate all the Russians in #CounterStrike for me :D

#Accessibility #HearingAid #Deaf #FUTO #FreeSoftware #FairSoftware #MachineLearning




Not so short note on aria-label usage – Big Table Edition

“aria-label is one of a number of secondary methods to label native HTML UI elements. It works particularly well on interactive elements, it also works well on most block level elements old skoolterm that have explicitly or implicitly defined structural roles. It works less well or not at all on text level semantics.”

#aria #HTML #accessibility #WebDev

html5accessibility.com/stuff/2…


Ever find that sitting in front of your unnecessarily complex music rig is hard sometimes? Creative block hits and there's nothing you can do about it?
I certainly find that lately, more often than not.
One device has come into my life and changed a lot of that however. Ableton Move.

In this world-first video, I take you through making a beat without sight, just using the undocumented screen-reader function within the web-based Move Manager.

It's incredibly freeing to be able to just load a fresh set, be presented with four random sounds and perhaps one of them will inspire you so you just begin doing a thing that you had absolutely no plan to do before you started.
#InspiredBySound - Let's Move! (Ableton Move Accessibility Overview) youtu.be/p8IbinbOhY4
#Accessibility #Ableton #ScreenReader #Blind #Music #Composition


It took a while but the developer has finally added the required accessibility enhancements so I can finally share a fun little game called Language Guessr. You're given a short audio recording and it is your task to guess what language it is in. Should you give the wrong answer, you have the option to hear a sample recording in the language you indicated so that you can learn the difference. A great little toy for language geeks. There's an edit combobox at the top to search for the country so that you don't have to navigate the map view which doesn't work with screen readers. Happy playing! languageguessr.io/ #Accessibility #A11y #Blind #Languages



One of the benefits of keeping a gratitude journal is that every so often, I find myself using an app I’ve used for years and thinking, “dude! I am so glad I have this app, and I am grateful for the indie developer who cares about #accessibility”.
This morning I am feeling that way about the Broadcasts app. In case you’ve not discovered it, here’s the description from the App Store.

The award-winning Broadcasts 3 introduces a brand new iPhone app, a beautiful new Now Playing screen, and a revamped Search experience. Now available on Apple Vision Pro. Listen to streaming internet radio in an ultra-simple, single-purpose app. Broadcasts makes building a library of stations from around the world easier than ever — no subscription required. Use completely free with a limited-size library of stations, or upgrade to the full version to unlock the library limit and add as many of your own stations as you like from the Station Browser, or manually via URL. Search for stations from around the world as easily as from your own library. Showcase gorgeous station and track artwork (for supported stations) with the all-new Now Playing screen. Use Shazam (Beta) to power the Now Playing screen with artwork and metadata for stations that do not provide it, or simply to provide an ambient Now Playing experience for music playing nearby. Show the currently playing artwork and metadata on external displays if you want an all-screen experience. Sync your library across iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, and Apple TV with iCloud & Universal Purchase. Browse stations in grid or list view. Listen in Light or Dark mode. Edit stations to provide your own artwork, or use the Artwork Chooser to generate something fun and colorful. Thoughtful mouse, trackpad & keyboard support provides a great experience on iPad. Perform common tasks from the Command menu, and control playback using keyboard shortcuts. Use Handoff to transfer playback between devices, or AirPlay directly to a home speaker. Listen with just your Apple Watch (Cellular) while out and about, or on Apple TV at home. Supports CarPlay on certified devices; stream internet radio on your CarPlay-enabled head unit directly. Automate playback using Shortcuts.

OK, it’s Jonathan talkin’ again now. This app is a fully accessible experience with VoiceOver. I particularly like the collections feature, because you can organise your radio stations however you like. If you want to create a system where you have your favourite stations organised by genre, knock yourself out. Or maybe you prefer to have stations you listened to regularly organised by country.
The app is updated frequently, and I do find stations in there that don’t seem to show up on some other apps.
It’s definitely worth a look if you’re after an excellent, accessible, well-supported radio app, and there’s an account for the app right here on mastodon, @broadcastsapp

Here’s the App Store link.

apps.apple.com/app/id146999535…


This article gathers feedback from 11 VR and digital accessibility experts. It explores how the metaverse needs to develop to be accessible and inclusive. This requires compatibility with assistive technologies, navigating different environments seamlessly, ensuring privacy, and creating VR environments that incorporate universal design principles. #accessibility mdpi.com/2414-4088/8/3/21


The last time I made a video about #Ableton, it was to do with Note, their iOS music-making app.
This video is an Ableton-first, in which I bring you their newest piece of hardware, #AbletonMove.
It ships with a web-based screen-reader and I've been enjoying it for many months.
It uses sounds from Note, but in a hardware form.
32 poly-aftertouch pads, four tracks of midi (or samples,) 8 knobs, USB-C for power and controlling Ableton Live and a USB-A port for connecting class-compliant midi devices, should you wish to trigger it from a keyboard.

Please be advised that screen-reader support is currently an experimental feature and is not fully fleshed out.
Not all aspects of the experience are as desired and there are a few kinks, but it is very much better than nothing whatsoever, and I am extremely thankful to the team that made this possible.

Ableton themselves are not talking about this screen-reader function in any of their literature, but I think it's important enough that it deserves recognition, and to bring an accessible groove-box to blind people in this way.

#InspiredBySound - Let's Move! (Ableton Move Accessibility Overview) youtu.be/p8IbinbOhY4
#Accessibility #ScreenReader



Recently I asked about choosing a style sheet for developing a personal Web site that would automate the visual presentation, allowing me, as a nonvisual author, to concentrate on the markup and content.
I've started working on the site, using the "classless" version of this style sheet. github.com/picocss/pico/
I'm using the Hugo static site generator. I'll write more about it when I create a blog for longer-form posts.
#accessibility #css #WebDevelopment


To challenge the notion that the Mastodon has a strong tradition of #accessibility

5 years since I tried to improve the accessibility of Mastodon and, despite overwhelming support, the project owner refused to merge my commit, then closed and locked the issue because he thought it was ugly.

github.com/mastodon/mastodon/p…

Compared to Threads, Mastodon is very good. But compared to Threads, getting kicked in the shin is also pretty good.


I think they may want to rename their company “Enableton”. So happy for them paying serious attention to #accessibility!


Today I heard about Altirra, a free Windows emulator of 8-bit Atari computers. In the latest version it includes an accessibility mode, turned on from the configuration dialog under the system menu. After you do the emulated screen can be reviewed just like a modern command prompt (IE with NVBDA's review commands.) It aalso supports emulating a lot of peripherals and you can have authentic floppy drive sounds and I'm a total sucker for those. It's really cool to see another vintage #retro computer platform become accessible like this. #a11y #accessibility virtualdub.org/altirra.html


The amazing thing about open source services is, you can create interfaces for it the way you imagine them best. Currently testing #Pipilo, an iOS Fediverse client by @luckkerr which presents each timeline as a horizontal bar you swipe through to get to the next post. From a VoiceOver perspective, a slider control is presented and you explore the posts by swiping up and down, then explore the screen to discover things like links, replies in the corresponding thread, attached multimedia. Łukasz also makes sure that everything works correctly with VO and more goodies are already there in the current Testflight build. Glad to see this level of attentiveness to accessibility and a fellow Polish person coding fedithings. Give it a try. apps.apple.com/pl/app/pipilo/i… #Accessibility #A11y #Blind #iOSDev


I appreciate the smaller indie developers, particularly in the Apple world, who specialise in a certain field and do it well, and take pride in being accessible. Rogue Amoeba is one. Their audio products are one of the best advertisements for Mac. Agile Tortoise is another, with the fabulous Drafts app. And another is Flexibits, who make the Fantastical Calendar app. This is a sound investment for management of the several calendars I keep. And they care a lot about #accessibility.
I use their Openings and proposals feature regularly in my professional life. Now they have added RSVP. Here’s the explanation from their blog. If you’ve not checked out Fantastical yet, I did a demo on Living Blindfully and they have plenty of videos and help guides. I highly recommend it.

flexibits.com/blog/2024/10/rsv…


Reading WITHOUT Sight: Challenging the Ableist Assumptions of Non-Visual Literacy

In today’s world, where accessibility is supposedly ever-expanding, comments on how blind people read – or rather, whether we “really” read – reveal a significant amount of latent ableism. When someone remarks, “You’re not really reading because you have to listen to it,” they are unwittingly touching on deep-seated biases that marginalize blind people and our experience. For me, as a blind person, these comments feel aggressive, like a slur that undermines not only my intellect but my very existence within a literate society. The underlying suggestion that my method of consuming literature is somehow less legitimate than traditional reading reflects a lack of understanding and a failure to appreciate the richness of alternative literacy.

At its core, this statement implies that visual reading is the only valid form of reading – an attitude deeply rooted in ableist assumptions. Just as the sighted world learns and adapts to new ways of accessing information, blind people, too, use technology to bridge gaps that were once insurmountable. By suggesting that listening to an audiobook or using a screen reader is inferior to reading with one’s eyes, the speaker perpetuates a narrow view of literacy that excludes anyone who does not fit their narrow definition of a reader.

The Emotional Impact of Dismissive Comments

Hearing such remarks can be hurtful. When someone tells me I’m not “really reading,” they trivialize the effort, love, and passion I pour into every book. Reading, in any form, is more than just a mechanical process; it’s an engagement with ideas, narratives, and emotions. Denying my capacity to “really” read is akin to erasing my agency in choosing to explore literature. It dismisses my experience and can feel like a personal attack, minimizing my intelligence and curiosity.

Moreover, these comments strip away the nuances of my identity and life experience as a blind person. They ignore the reality that many of us navigate systems not designed with us in mind, yet we adapt with resilience and creativity. Listening to a book, for me, is as much an engagement with its content as sighted reading is for others. This medium allows me to dive into narratives, to imagine worlds, and to connect with characters just as vividly as if I were reading visually. Such a remark does not just invalidate my experience, but it also points to a societal failure to recognize and celebrate the diverse ways people interact with literature.

Understanding the Roots of Ableism

Ableism, at its core, stems from a belief that certain abilities, like sight, are inherently superior. This mindset manifests in the way sighted people sometimes view adaptations like screen readers or braille as substitutes, rather than as equally valid methods of accessing information. This thought pattern diminishes the lived experiences of blind individuals and subtly implies that we’re only half-participating in the world of literature. The comment reflects an ideology that upholds one mode of experiencing the world as ideal, while relegating others to second-class status.

Furthermore, literacy is a concept that should not be defined by sensory modality. Whether through braille, audio, or screen readers, blind readers engage in the same cognitive processes of understanding and analying text. These methods are not merely compensatory but rather alternate pathways that lead to the same destination.

Responding Constructively

Addressing this kind of ableism requires a blend of assertiveness and education. In responding to these comments, I could say something like, “When you suggest that I’m not really reading, it feels as if you’re diminishing my engagement with the text. For me, listening to a book offers the same intellectual and emotional journey as sighted reading does for you. It’s not about the method; it’s about the experience of connecting with the material. I’d appreciate it if we could acknowledge that there are many valid ways to be a reader.”

By framing the response in this way, I affirm my own experience while gently inviting the person to reconsider their assumptions. Another approach could be to highlight the diversity of literacy methods available today: “There’s a wide range of ways people can read now, whether through audio, braille, or text-to-speech technology. These methods open up the world of literature to more people and should be celebrated rather than diminished.”

My hope is that, in responding to these comments, I can foster a moment of reflection for others. Reading is about engaging with ideas and stories, not about the medium through which we access them. Ableist remarks about non-visual reading, though sometimes spoken thoughtlessly, present an opportunity to open minds and broaden perspectives. By sharing my experience, I contribute to a more inclusive understanding of literacy and help to dismantle the harmful stereotypes that still persist.

Conclusion

Reading is not an act confined to the eyes; it is an intellectual and emotional endeavour that transcends sensory modality. For many blind people, it is the ultimate expression of our love for stories, our curiosity, and our intellect. When someone diminishes my experience as “not really reading,” they underscore a fundamental misunderstanding of what it means to be a reader. As we continue to expand our understanding of accessibility, it is crucial to challenge and reframe such biases. Only by doing so can we begin to recognize and respect the many ways in which people interact with the written word, enriching our collective experience of literature in all its forms.

#Ableism #Accessibility #Audible #Blind #Braille #Disability #Equality #Inclusion #Kindle



I have failed to promote this very much.

In a couple weeks I’ll be presenting at A11y Camp in Melbourne, Australia.

On Tuesday, 22 October I am running a workshop:
a11ycamp.com.au/workshops/#wsh…

I'm keynoting the talks on Wednesday, 23 October:
a11ycamp.com.au/program/

So if hashtags #accessibility and/or #inclusion are your deal, then you should attend. You can get 10% of tickets with the code A11Y FRIEND10.



It seems time again to remind everyone not to use ARIA `menu` roles for web site navigation:
adrianroselli.com/2017/10/dont…

From a technical perspective, there is no such thing as “dropdowns”:
adrianroselli.com/2020/03/stop…

That imprecise terminology leads to more miscommunication between sales folks, designers, and devs than is necessary. Then weird stuff gets built from scratch instead of leaning on existing patterns.

You should dismiss articles that conflate the two.

#accessibility #a11y



I found a great, brief resource on creating accessible web pages and documents. It only highlights most common accessibility issues, so it's much less overwhelming than the WCAG. I think it's a great resource for people who don't know where to start! Also it has before and after examples, so it's great to demo with a screen reader as well! #accessibility washington.edu/accesscomputing…


Where web #accessibility, digital #sustainability, #contentManagement, open-source software, and web standards intersect, you'll find @mgifford always advocating for content, people, and the planet.

In his practice, Mike ensures that the content systems they deliver are built as sustainably as possible, deliver accessible experiences to citizens, and work well for authors and others who use the system.

ellessmedia.com/csi/mike-giffo…




There are two solutions to ARIA Live Region issues:

1. Don’t use ARIA Live Regions (but use focus, dialogs, or other managing of what’s going on)
2. Put the live region in the DOM at page load (They cost nothing. If you need an alert and a status, put two divs in with both roles.)

See more in these slides:

talks.yatil.net/Ux0REi/were-ar…

#a11y #accessibility


🤖 XR Accessibility: for people with hearing disabilities by @JoeLamyman

"Extended Reality (XR) experiences tend to focus on providing immersive sounds and directional audio to convey information. But we need to consider how we convey the information in these experiences to people who can’t hear them."

#XR #VR #accessibility

tetralogical.com/blog/2024/10/…


✍🏽 drugs button popover - updated October 1 2024

"Several people have questioned my reasoning for writing about the use case of popover as a tooltip, no I was not on drugs, at the time of writing I noticed that GitHub was using popover as a tooltip"

#accessibility #HTML #ARIA

html5accessibility.com/stuff/2…




We’ve launched a comprehensive database to catalog TalkBack and Jieshuo (CSR) screen reader bugs affecting blind and low vision Android users. Our mission is to raise awareness of these issues and help developers address them more effectively and promptly. Join us in improving accessibility for all! Feel free to add your screen reader bugs to make the database more comprehensive. 🌍 accessibleandroid.com/bugs/ #Accessibility #TalkBack #Jieshuo #AndroidAccessibility



People on StackOverflow telling people to screw up #accessibility with the HTML dialog element defeats the purpose of using that element in the first place IMO. Please upvote my answer that corrects the numerous wrong answers, including the accepted answer, to this question if you have an SO account.

stackoverflow.com/a/79028606/2…

#webDev #a11y #html #css #javaScript


Reminder: To celebrate our 100th follower on Mastodon we are slashing our prices in half! 50% off all of our courses, just enter code 100-masto-pals on checkout! This code is Mastodon only. Valid until end of September. a11y-collective.com/courses-ov…

(But I can't keep you from sharing this code with anyone who needs a solid foundation in all things Web Accessibility.)
#a11y
#accessibility



From a Mailing List:

As some of you may already know, System76 is working on their new Linux graphical interface, the COSMIC desktop. They have created a form with some questions related to accessibility. If anyone is interested in participating in the survey, please access the address below:

docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAI…

#accessibility #Linux #foss #orca #blind