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

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

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

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

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
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

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

Pinned note for people who ask:
I'm a blind, autistic, chronically ill usability tester with a focus on accessibility and real-world screen reader use (primarily NVDA on Windows, web apps, and complex workflows).
I'm open to occasional paid usability or accessibility studies, including games, as long as the team is open to feedback from someone with multiple disabilities. My availability is limited, and I prioritize work that values lived-experience input rather than simulated testing. I don't do formal audits.
If you think something might be a good fit, you're welcome to DM me with details. If it's not a match, no hard feelings.
#Accessibility #A11y #UsabilityTesting #ScreenReaders #BlindTech
How is everyone doing this evening? I'm sitting in bed drinking my medical food shake, listening to music, with a few #IncrementalGames idling, and maybe doing a bit of #Python practice on #Codecademy.
I'm not 100% yet, but I feel stronger than I've felt in a while. I don't particularly care for the taste of these shakes, but my mom and I are working on ways to improve them. It's also a relief not having to worry about whether food will stay down or whether I'm getting the nutrients I need.
I'm also still using and enjoying #FastSM for #Mastodon on #Windows. It's been working well for me so far.
Accessibility / tech note for fellow screen reader users:
If you use #NVDA with #MicrosoftEdge (and possibly #GoogleChrome) and have been dealing with freezes or heavy lag, especially when you have multiple tabs or web apps open, check whether you have the BrowserNav add-on installed. I was experiencing some pretty severe freezes, sometimes to the point where NVDA would become unresponsive for minutes. Disabling BrowserNav made a noticeable difference for me right away, including being able to keep more tabs open without issues.
#Accessibility #ScreenReaders #BlindTech #Disability #ChronicIllness #AssistiveTechnology #WebAccessibility
@main @mastoblind
Tappers - we spoil you! There’s another new episode drop coming today with lots of talk about Apple’s upcoming integration of Gemini for Siri and Apple Intelligence, plus we talk to the CEO of Hume AI who has just been poached by Google Deepmind to further their work into more emotional AI voice experiences, and Caleb Fleming from HP gives us the skinny on the new Eliteboard G1 coming out later this year. Check out Double Tap Mainstream wherever you get your podcasts, on YouTube and also on AMI-audio across Canada. #blind #AssistiveTech #Tech #BlindTech