[nabs-l] Google applications and accessibility

Mon Feb 1 08:03:17 UTC 2016

I use Jaws 16 with Firefox and the google apps work relatively well
when the screen reader accessibility key is enabled. Sometimes you
have to alt tab out and then back into the window, but generally, I
don't have any issues accessing sheets, docs, or slides. I've tried
using the iOS apps and from what I remember, they were very user
friendly as well.

Minh

On 1/31/16, Greg Aikens via nabs-l <nabs-l at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> I would be interested in hearing more specifics of how people have gotten
> JAWS to work well with Google Apps. I tried to use Google Sheets a few weeks
> ago and was unable to get JAWS to read the spreadsheet, using Chrome or
> Internet Explorer or Voiceover and Safari. It has been a few years since I
> gave Chromo a try but I may check it out because I would like to have access
> to sheets.
>
> Has anyone had success using sheets specifically?
>
> Thanks for any tips.
>
> -Greg
>
>> On Jan 31, 2016, at 7:53 PM, Ashley via nabs-l <nabs-l at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>
>> Hello all
>> Yes, both screen readers work well with Google applications. I have found
>> that this is true with the chrome and Firefox browsers.
>> ForJAWS, you must press a command to make the pages accessible; however,
>> for NVDA automatically make things work. I have mainly used the Google
>> sweet of applications with NVDA. I have also had some experience with
>> chrome and chromevox.
>> If anyone has questions about any of the applications or browsers, please
>> let me know. :-)
>> Ashley
>>
>> Sent from my iPhone
>>
>>> On Jan 31, 2016, at 19:17, Christina Moore via nabs-l <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>> It is not necessary. JAWS works great with chrome.
>>>
>>> --Christina
>>>
>>>> On Jan 31, 2016, at 15:28, Chris Nusbaum via nabs-l <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
>>>> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> Bryan:
>>>>
>>>> Thanks so much for putting together this resource! Just curious--has
>>>> anyone
>>>> tried using Chrome with JAWS or NVDA on Windows? If so, has its
>>>> accessibility improved in recent updates? In other words, is it
>>>> necessary to
>>>> install ChromeVox?
>>>>
>>>> Thanks,
>>>>
>>>> Chris
>>>>
>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>> From: nabs-l [mailto:nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Bryan
>>>> Duarte
>>>> via nabs-l
>>>> Sent: Saturday, January 30, 2016 9:01 PM
>>>> To: nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>>>> Cc: Bryan Duarte
>>>> Subject: [nabs-l] Google applications and accessibility
>>>>
>>>> Hello NABS,
>>>>
>>>> I wanted to send this out just to make it known in case some of you may
>>>> not
>>>> know. We have all had the issues facing accessibility to Google
>>>> applications
>>>> at some time or another right? Yes, I can answer this rhetorical
>>>> question.
>>>> Well let me provide you some information which may or may not surprise
>>>> you
>>>> about the incredible accessibility Google applications have for blind
>>>> individuals no matter what operating system you are using.
>>>>
>>>> As we all know Google has been telling us at NFB conventions for years
>>>> that
>>>> they are building accessibility into their products but when we open
>>>> Google
>>>> Drive, Google Docs, or any other Google app on our Windows or Mac we
>>>> are
>>>> getting frustrated with their lack of access right? The answer is once
>>>> again
>>>> Yes! Well guess what? Google has actually been telling the truth but
>>>> not
>>>> telling it correctly. Google has developed the Chrome web browser which
>>>> is
>>>> free for all to use. I am sure some of us use Google Chrome as our web
>>>> browser but for the most part we do not mess with it because Jaws and
>>>> other
>>>> windows screen readers interact better with browsers such as Firefox,
>>>> Safari, and yes some people still use Internet Explorer. What Google has
>>>> not
>>>> told you is that they have also developed their own screen reader
>>>> called
>>>> Chrome VOX which only runs in Google Chrome. Not only does it run in
>>>> Chrome
>>>> but it gives you complete access to all Google applications which guess
>>>> what, also run right inside of Chrome. So here is what you need to do if
>>>> you
>>>> would like to use Googles powerful suite of web based tools to
>>>> collaborate
>>>> with your teams of sighted peers.
>>>>
>>>> 1. No matter what operating system you use navigate to,
>>>> https://www.google.com/chrome/browser/desktop/
>>>> <https://www.google.com/chrome/browser/desktop/>
>>>>
>>>> Download the Google Chrome web browser and install it for your
>>>> operating
>>>> system Windows or Mac or Linux.
>>>>
>>>> 2. Then download and install Chrome VOX from within the Chrome web
>>>> browser.
>>>> http://www.chromevox.com <http://www.chromevox.com/>
>>>>
>>>> 3. Once Chrome VOX is installed simply go to the preferences or settings
>>>> tab
>>>> and customize the voice and you are off and running.
>>>>
>>>> 4. Here is the link to the keyboard commands you will need to control
>>>> Chrome
>>>> VOX http://www.chromevox.com/keyboard_shortcuts.html
>>>> <http://www.chromevox.com/keyboard_shortcuts.html>
>>>>
>>>> I use Google applications everyday all the time to manage all my teams
>>>> and
>>>> communicate with my peers. I use a Mac so when I open Chrome I will
>>>> press
>>>> Command plus F5 to turn off Voiceover then I use Chrome VOX while I am
>>>> using
>>>> the Google Applications then simply close Chrome and resume Voiceover.
>>>> Just
>>>> as a side note Voiceover will not speak once you are editing within a
>>>> Google
>>>> Doc and Chrome VOX is running so that is convenient so you do not have
>>>> to
>>>> worry about having to toggle one on and off.
>>>>
>>>> I hope this helps some of you who might have been wanting or needing to
>>>> use
>>>> Google applications but have been way to frustrated with the
>>>> inconsistency
>>>> of accessibility.
>>>>
>>>> Go Devils!
>>>>
>>>> Bryan Duarte
>>>> ASU Software Engineering Graduate Student QwikEyes CEO
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
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-- 
Minh Ha
Boston College | Lynch School of Education '16
minh.ha927 at gmail.com

"All men dream, but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty
recesses of their minds, wake in the day to find that it was vanity:
but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act on
their dreams with open eyes, to make them possible." T. E. Lawrence