Mastodawn

I’m blind. For years, building anything visual meant asking someone else:
“Can you check if this looks okay?” This time, I didn’t ask a person. I sent AI. It tested my app with large text, high contrast, dark mode, and reduced motion, the way real users experience it. It didn’t replace humans. It replaced waiting.
It replaced dependency.
It replaced the quiet friction disabled creators live with every day. I didn’t gain vision. I gained leverage.
Read what happened here:
https://accessinterrupted.substack.com/p/im-blind-i-just-ran-a-visual-audit
#Accessibility #A11y #BlindTech #DisabledInTech #AI #IndieDev

I'm Blind. I Just Ran a Visual Audit of My Own App.

What Happens When a Blind Builder Sends an AI to Do Visual QA

Access Interrupted

aaron Mar 23

I made a keyboard because I needed one and nothing on Android was built for blind users. I put it on GitHub because someone else might need one. Then I woke up this morning and Mastodon had eaten it.

New blog post — what overnight virality actually looks like from the inside, the TalkBack problem nobody else bothered solving, Flexy, and why I spent the day building instead of panicking.

https://fireborn.mataroa.blog/blog/i-made-a-keyboard-nobody-asked-for-my-experience-making-taptype/

#TapType #Android #Accessibility #BlindTech

I Made a Keyboard Nobody Asked For: My Experience Making TapType — fireborn

Matthew Whitaker Mar 21

If you’re having trouble with the latest Facebook update, here’s a quick workaround that’s been helping me:

Do a double tap and hold, then slide your finger to the right. Make sure your focus is on the text of the post or the person’s profile picture at the top before doing the gesture.

It’s been working pretty consistently on my end. Feel free to share this anywhere it might help others.

#Accessibility #VoiceOver #BlindTech #Facebook #AssistiveTechnology

Double Tap Mar 14

On our Sunday episode this week we are focusing on #CSUNATC26 and we will be joined by the author and journalist @Shelly who has spent the week there and has lots of insights to share as well as her own recordings from the exhibition floor. Join us on AMI-audio from 12 noon Eastern and on podcast and YouTube. #blind #AssistiveTech #BlindTech

Kaveinthran Mar 13

Interesting nvda add-on from Tony Gebhard, Interactive NVDA screen reader training add-on — guided, hands-on lessons built into NVDA
Submitted for addon store review, you can check out the Github repo here,
https://github.com/tonygeb23/nvdaCoach-
Thrilled to share something I've been building: NVDA Coach is now available —

a free, interactive training add-on for the NVDA screen reader. 🎉

As an assistive technology instructor, I've worked with a lot of people who are

just starting out with screen readers. The hardest part isn't finding the right

resource — it's the gap between reading about a command and actually using it.

NVDA Coach closes that gap.

Instead of reading a manual, students practice real NVDA commands step by step,

inside NVDA itself, with spoken instructions and instant feedback.

📚 Version 1.0.0 includes 24 lessons across three chapters:

→ Getting Started — the 10 essential commands every beginner needs

→ Reading and Moving Through Text — character, word, line, and selection navigation

→ Browse Mode and Web Navigation — heading, link, form, and landmark navigation

What makes it different:

✅ Everything happens inside NVDA — no PDFs, no videos, no switching context

✅ Live practice forms for hands-on Tab and control navigation

✅ Practice text embedded directly in the lesson window for reading drills

✅ A practice web page auto-opens for browse mode lessons

✅ Completely free. No account. No internet required after install.

✅ Built for beginners, usable independently or with an instructor

If you work with people who are learning NVDA, or if you're learning yourself,

I'd love for you to try it and share it with anyone who might benefit.

This is a beta release with plenty of room for feedback, comments, and suggestions. Please feel free to flood my email inbox. :)

🔗 Learn more: tonygebhard.me/NVDACoach

📧 Questions or feedback: [email protected]

#NVDA #ScreenReader #AssistiveTechnology #Accessibility #AT #BlindTech

#DigitalInclusion #AccessibilityTools #A11y #AssistiveTech

Show thread

Taylor Arndt Mar 9

People came in not knowing Git. They left feeling confident enough to contribute to open source.
Thank you to @JeffBishop, @mikedoise, and every single person who made this happen.
This is what accessibility education looks like when the community shows up.
https://community-access.org/git-going-with-github/
#a11y #GitHub #OpenSource #Accessibility #BlindTech #ScreenReader #GitHubCopilot #AIAgents (2/2)

GIT Going with GitHub

GIT Going with GitHub - A two-day accessible open source workshop by Community Access

David Goldfield Mar 2

From the Blind Life:
EchoVision Smart Glasses From Agiga: Complete Overview for the BVI, What They Do & How They Work
In this full review of the EchoVision smart glasses from Agiga, I walk you through the hardware, lens options, accessories, battery life, and built-in AI features designed specifically for the blind and visually impaired community. I’ll demonstrate what the glasses can do, including photo and video recording, reading mode, and live AI, plus share important details on pricing and availability. If you’re interested in assistive technology, AI smart glasses, and accessible wearable tech, this is your complete overview.

Learn more here
https://echovision.agiga.ai/

#AssistiveTechnology #SmartGlasses #BlindTech #LowVision #EchoVision #WearableTech #TheBlindLife

Link to Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PboqsMrKMsg

EchoVision from AGIGA

Jessica Dail Feb 23

Thinking about jumping on the iOS 26.4 Beta 2 developer train, but I have a few specific accessibility "deal-breakers" I'm worried about. Any fellow VoiceOver users seeing these?
* Eloquence Crashes: I’m getting random speech crashes (about 1–2 times a month) even on the Home Screen. Worried the new "Liquid Glass" UI layers and background processing in this beta will make memory management worse for legacy synthesizers.
* Total Security App Failure: My security system app is currently a "black hole." I can't check or manipulate it with OR without Screen Recognition. Has anyone found that 26.4 improves AI element detection, or is it still a bust?
* Transparency Fixes: In 26.3, I had to toggle "Reduce Transparency" to get my employer’s phone app to render properly. I’ve heard Beta 2 tweaks these layers again—anyone seeing regressions with transparency/contrast settings?
* Database Stability: I do heavy database work in Tap Forms Pro. Concerned about reports of VoiceOver focus-jumping or keyboard lag in record-heavy apps in this build.
Staying on 26.3 for now because I can't risk a full restore (iCloud is full!). Any insights from the beta testers?
#AppleVis #VoiceOver #iOS26 #Accessibility #Blind #BlindTech #iPadOS26 #TapFormsPro #Eloquence #A11y

Double Tap Feb 6

Get your geek on with us this weekend on Double Tap - on Saturday we talk to Fred Moltz from Verizon about their role in bringing the Accessibility Stage at CES this year, and on Sunday we're joined by the editor-in-chief of MobileSyrup, Jon Lamont, to disucss the week's news in tech. Plus we speak to a cybersecurity expert who discusses concerns over a new AI tool that has gone viral this week.
#blind #blindness #BlindTech #AssistiveTech #AssistiveTechnology #Technology

Matthew Whitaker Feb 5

Testing out FastSM on both Mac and Windows, and I’m really liking it so far. Smooth experience, solid performance, and no major hiccups yet. Curious to see where it goes as more features roll out.

#Mastodon #Fediverse #Accessibility #BlindTech #AssistiveTechnology #Mac #Windows #InclusiveDesign #OpenSocial