[nabs-l] Google applications and accessibility

[Chris Nusbaum]

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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