I'm curious about something. For NVDA users, I'm trying to get NVDA to say the word HashTag only when making Hashtags on a post, and not when I'm making numbers or if there's a number sign in something I'm reading. Is there a way to make this contextual? #Blind
@doubletap I'm listening to today's episode ("The Best NVDA Add-ons and Keyboard Tricks You Need") and really enjoyed the discussion around #NVDA workflows and keyboard customisation. I smiled when one of you mentioned struggling to remap an Applications key on a Keychron, because I ran into exactly the same issue after buying my Keychron shortly after Christmas. What finally worked for me was not using the Menu / Applications keycode directly at all. Even though it's exposed in the Keychron Launcher, it didn't actually do anything reliably on Windows with NVDA. Instead, I created a macro for Shift+F10, which is the standard Windows keyboard equivalent for the context menu and is very screen-reader friendly. In the Keychron Launcher, I went to Macro, selected a macro slot, chose Start Recording, pressed Shift+F10, stopped recording, and then assigned that macro to the key I wanted. One important gotcha I ran into: the launcher shows what look like “duplicate” key entries in the macro (for example multiple F10s or Shift appearing twice). Those aren't mistakes. They're the key-down and key-up events. If you delete them, you can end up with Shift getting stuck. Leaving the macro exactly as recorded solved that for me. Once I did this, the key worked reliably everywhere I’ve tried it, like File Explorer, browsers, and with NVDA, and it's honestly been more dependable than trying to use the Applications key directly. Thought I'd share in case it helps others listening to this episode or experimenting with Keychron keyboards. #ScreenReader #Accessibility #Blind #keyboard @mastoblind @main
Edit: Got the answer I wanted and made my decision. Thanks.
Question for #blind people who use refreshable #Braille displays routinely: Does anyone run brltty on Windows? NVDA has the option to use brltty, but NVDA's default plug-and-play drivers don't use it. JAWS doesn't use brltty. Narrator does. So does anyone actually use Narrator's Braille feature, or otherwise use brltty on Windows?
Trying to gauge the usefulness and reliability of brltty on Windows specifically.
Question for #blind and partially sighted folk on the fediverse:
If you go to a museum or gallery, do you prefer braille or do you instead use a text to speech app?
(Or both, or something else)
I've got a bit of money to refurbish a small UK museum space with better provisions for Deaf and Blind folk, so I'm keen to know what will be the most useful.
Please Note: This is a question specifically for blind and partially sighted Fedi users, rather than fully sighted folk.
Speaking of jumping ship, I store all my files in #Microsoft #OneDrive and would like to get rid of that dependency as I'm working to replace my workflow with #FLOSS tools where practical. Do y'all have recommendations for a #CloudStorage service which has reasonably #accessible clients for #ScreenReader users (I primarily use #Fedora Workstation 43 but also use #Windows 11, #Android, and #iOS), can sync to my local filesystem, and/or can appear in the #GNOME desktop File Manager? I'm not interested in self-hosting something like #Nextcloud, #OwnCloud, etc. Any suggestions or firsthand experiences would be greatly appreciated.
Hey #blind #linux users. Quick question. What is the most accessible linux desktop these days? Is it still mate, or how are we doing. Context: I want to try to switch from Windows, and I'm fine spending some time setting things up, but I don't want to have a 30 min debug session every time I want to use my computer
I am unable to download my purchase of the new #Megadeth album because the service they are using relies on hCaptcha. If you are #blind and use a screen reader, you cannot solve the visual captcha. They ask you to install an #accessibility cookie, which I have tried to do with two different browsers, with no luck. The provided email address for help, customercare@mainfactorcommerce.com bounces. How much of my day am I going to waste on this? I can't even get my money back!! #A11Y
"The State of Modern AI Text To Speech Systems for Screen Reader Users" by Samuel Proulx. Interesting read, not only for blind folks. Suprising outcome. stuff.interfree.ca/2026/01/05/… #blind #tts #screenreader
Which implementation of the NVDA Server are people currently using? Preferably hostable in Docker? Ping @simon since I know you're running a bunch. #NVDA #NVDASR #Blind #NVDARemote
Hallo Fediverse. Wir sind die Westdeutsche Bibliothek der Hörmedien für blinde, seh- und lesebehinderte Menschen e.V. (kurz WBH) aus Münster für Menschen, die auf Grund von Einschränkungen nicht in der Lage sind gedruckte Bücher zu lesen, die Möglichkeit kostenlos Hörbücher auszuleihen. Wir freuen uns nun hier dabei zu sein.
After a good 30 minutes, I've gotten Emacspeak working rather well with mastodon.el. Goodness all those Emoji. For now, n and p read next/prev post well, and t lets you know you're doing new toot. And that's all the making stuff I can do right now.
Looks like @Tutanota wins in the screen reader accessibility department. Both the iOS app and the web version appear to be quite accessible with screen readers. Tested using both VoiceOver and Chromevox… I had no issues navigating the interface with either screen reader. #A11Y #Accessibility #Blind #ScreenReader #Email #Calendar #Contacts
In case any other #Blind people are trying to redeem their outage credit from #VerizonWireless the process isn't exactly straightforward. However, here's what I've found. Whether you click on the link in the text provided or merely just sign into the My Verizon app when you call into Verizon their automated phone system will tell you to click on take action. on the #iOS side you'll find nothing that VoiceOver renders saying "take action" but swipe until you get to your shortcuts one of 7 adjustable area. Then swipe up once and you'll hear something about actions. Double tap there and you'll be able to redeem your $20 credit on the resulting screen if you're eligible.
They broke #WhatsApp for #Windows completely. At least with JAWS, I hear "Press right and left arrows" instead of each and every message with virtual cursor turned off. Also, it randomly starts calls on arrow keys sometimes. Absolutely unacceptable behavior. UPDATE. Tested without Doug's scripts and with #NVDA, same results. Random messages, especially missed calls, are read as "Press left and right arrows...". #Accessibility #Blind
*Update. RIM may work with screen readers other than JAWS.* (Note: You will need to skip down several headings to find the beginning of the article) I can't comment on this from a business perspective. But I do know that I have never been able to connect remotely to any of my computers, either from Windows to Windows or from Android or IOS to Windows, with any commercially made program for the purpose. The only one that works for me is NVDA Remote, which works on all three platforms, with Windows and the NVDA screen reader being a requirement. The limitation, however, is that I can't hear the sound on the controlled computer, nor can I transfer files between it and the controller. Fortunately, I don't really need these features and am happy just being able to control my machines at all. But for those who do need them, RIM allows this, but only for users of JAWS (which costs several hundred dollars/NVDA is free), and the last time I checked, it is also very expensive for an individual user who doesn't require it for work purposes. I'm also not sure if it is cross-platform, so it may only work with Windows. If anyone knows of a free, accessible solution that works with NVDA, please let me know.
Here, Aaron Di Blasi describes a familiar failure mode in enterprise remote support: organizations deploy “best-in-class” remote tools that work fine for most staff, but quietly shut out blind and low-vision technicians and users because the experien…
I made my first 2 #FT8 contacts today thanks to a new accessible companion app built to work in conjunction with #WSJTX and the #JAWS and #NVDA screen readers. We're making huge progress toward a solution we can provide to the entire #blind #AmateurRadio community. #HamRadio
Der Service der DKB sorgt für mehr Barrierefreiheit im Sport
Ab sofort können alle Länderspiele der A-Nationalmannschaften über den kostenlosen Webplayer verfolgt werden. Die Übertragung beginnt jeweils 10 Minuten vor dem Spiel.
Question for people relying on alt text: When one posts contains multiple images, should each alt text be written independently, or does it make more sense for one text to refer back to previous ones? Like, when the first describes shape and colour of a flower, should the second copy that description and add to it (independent alt texts), or refer back, like "the same flower [from a different angle, showing xyz]"?
Do you use D&D Beyond for your sessions and you hate how clunky and slow you would be with it with a screen reader? I've got something for you! I've started work on a browser extension called Enhance Ability (pun absolutely intended!) It does a lot to make the site more intuitive and bring your speed on par with a sited user who can just glance at information. Read the readme below here for a preliminary feature list. I've sent it for review on the firefox and chrome add-on stores, and I'll publish links whenever they're available. I'm happy to discuss or answer any questions here! If you like to sideload it or look at the code, or read for more information, visit on github! github.com/the-byte-bender/enh… Or the releases for packages: github.com/the-byte-bender/enh…
"#JBILibrary—the nearly century-old organization dedicated to ensuring that people who are #blind, have #lowvision, or have #print #disabilities can fully participate in #Jewish life—is inviting individuals, families, teens and community groups to get involved in its new #Volunteer Ambassador Program designed to expand access to Jewish #learning and #culture."
So this is really bad. I know. But y'all I feel better these days than I have in years. Why? Because LLM's not only make me feel like I'm doing things and making things, but they actually do make things. Slowly yes, with lots of answering questions and guiding it, but it really helps.
So now I have Emacs with Emacspeak on my Android phone, working on an MUD client, got accessible Lemuroid so I can get TalkBack descriptions of games, about every thing I could ever want besides some Braille stuff. And when I get tired of all the Emacs stuff, I'll try and rangle BRLTTY into accepting Contracted Braille input and try and get a Braille Access-like mode going. And then see if I can get BRLTTY to work as well in Termux as it does in Linux. Like no joke, LLM's have opened this up to being a possibility for me.
Now I get it. These are just nice-to-have things. But shoot y'all, it's freaking fun!
I'm still amazed that, as a blind person, I'm typing this on Linux, with an Android phone in my pocket, and not really having any major issues with either.
📣 Unterstütze den Zugang zum !@metalab für Menschen mit Sehbehinderung oder Blindheit! Komm zum Do-It-Blind (DIB) Treffen 🛠️ am Montag, 19. Jänner, Treffpunkt metalab um 16:00; Ende 20:00 metalab.at/calendar/event/8381… #a11y #make #blind #inklusion
Okay so tonight I have to brag. So with Termux, Emacs, and Emacspeak, there were 2 big problems I still had from when I got AI to rig DecTalk up. First, the tone used for "blank line" and indentation was not working. Second, after a while the Emacspeak sounds would stop working even though DecTalk still was. So, Claude Code, Opus 4.5, fixed the tone issue, something about sox and Termux specific stuff, and made the Emacspeak sounds thing less of an issue than it was. It still happens, but on first launch without putting Termux in the background and such, it stays alive.
The coolest part, I was using Claude Code inside of Termux on the bus going out to eat. And by the time I got home, it was all fixed!
I've gone through @bce 's product purchase process, including product browsing, configuration, adding to cart, viewing cart, and checkout pages to make sure they are accessible to screen reader users. I've replaced all tables with hierarchical headings, and made sure all inputs are labelled. I'm testing with LibreWolf on Debian with Orca. If any blind users out there could test with their setups and have any feedback, it would be greatly appreciated! Thank you!
Okay y'all, I'm looking into getting smart glasses with this coming paycheck. I don't want to spend more than $450 or so on it. So, what's good in the middle of January 2026? Lol I say that because it'll probably change tomorrow or next week or next month.
FedEx handed a package of mine over to a "trusted third-party vendor" for last-mile delivery. This afternoon, a driver for said vendor sent me a WhatsApp message and photo without a description:
Driver: "I've left your package at <local business name> for you to pick up."
Me: "I can't do that, please bring it to the house."
Them: "You can pick it up after five."
Me: "No, I can't. I paid for home delivery, not a drop off at a different place. I'm busy and also blind, and that isn't convenient."
To #blind #hamradio operators, a friend picked up a TH-D75A that he doesn't want. Having only worked with HT's running OpenGD77, are there any special advantages to this rig aside from the wideband receiver and D-STAR (which I don't really care about)? e.g. is APRS or the TNC of any use with things like Winlink?
Shok'z ist DER Anbieter für Knochenleit- und Open-earHeadsets, Produkte, die für #Blinde wie mich nun durchaus interessant sein können. Als ich mir die neuen open fit 2 pro besorgt habe, hab ich mir auch die App runter geladen. Was soll ich sagen: Buttons nicht sinnvoll beschriftet, equilizer nicht nutzbar und nicht wirklich gut bedienbar, aber noch erträglich. Ausser, dass man sich ums Verrecken nicht ohne sehende Hilfe einloggen konnte. Denn der Schalter zur Akzeptanz von Datenschutzrichtlinien und AGB war nicht Umzuschalten. Hab das damals sofort gemeldet und eine Laberantwort bekommen a la das tut uns sehr leid, Barrierefreiheit liegt uns sehr am Herzen, wir sind bemüht, unsere Produkte für alle zugänglich und nutzbar zu machen ... Bla bla! Also kurz: Wir nehmen das mal mit... Das ist jetzt einige Monate her. Diese Woche wollte ich schauen, ob es ein Update für die Firmware meines Headsets gibt. dafür sollte ich mich neu einloggen... Das Problem besteht immer noch. Keine einzige Verbesserung in der App und kein barrierefreier Zugang. Ich habe gestern wieder eine Mail hingeschrieben, dieses mal mit der konkreten Frage, wie ich mich mit Voiceover ohne sehende Unterstützung in die App einloggen kann... Bisher keine Antwort. Und das von einer europäischen Firma, die Produkte herstellt und vertreibt, für welche Blinde keine ganz unrelevante Nutzergruppe sind. Ich weiss, Luxusproblem angesichts Stadtbild und Grundsicherungsdiskussion, und fraglich, warum man sich überhaupt in eine App einloggen muss, um Firmware-Updates zu kriegen, aber musste trotzdem mal irgendwie raus. #Blindleben #Disabled-Alltag #Blind #shokz "#BFSG
📣 Do-It-Blind (DIB) online Besprechung am Montag, 12. Jänner, um 19:00 Uhr. Du bist eingeladen! bbb.metalab.at/rooms/joh-szv-o… Wöchentlich am Montag besprechen wir neue Formen der digitalen und inklusiven Zusammenarbeit. Mach mit! 🛠️ #make #blind #inklusion
Learn using BigBlueButton, the trusted open-source web conferencing solution that enables seamless virtual collaboration and online learning experiences.
Dieses Projekt bearbeitet bereits einige derThemen, mit denen ich mich ebenfalls beschäftigen möchte (3D-Druck, taktile Beschriftungen und Karten, barrierefreie Zugänge zu OpenStreetMap...).
OSKAR ist ein Open-Source-Projekt, das Hilfsmittel für blinde Menschen gemeinsam entwickelt und frei zugänglich macht. Baupläne, Software und Anleitungen stehen offen zur Verfügung und können angepasst und weiterentwickelt werden.
Friends, this is the coolest thing I have ever seen and you should see it too. A guitar amp labelled entirely in braille. #accessibility #blind #blindness #braille
Hey y’all, hope you’re doing well. Quick question: I’m trying to use Tweezcake on my Windows computer. I can open it and hear sound effects, but NVDA doesn’t seem to detect the actual window at all. Has anyone run into this or have any suggestions?
Hey friends — quick accessibility question for the blind Discord users out there.
I’m on macOS using VoiceOver and trying to set a custom Discord keybind for “Disconnect from Voice Channel.” I’ve added it in Settings → Keybinds, but I can’t tell if it’s actually saving, and the shortcut never fires when I’m in a call.
Has anyone gotten this working reliably on Mac? If so, what key combo are you using, and did you have to do anything special to make it stick?
Any tips, workarounds, or confirmations that this is just a Discord bug would be super appreciated.
