[NFB-DB] Taking the at-home accessible Covid test

[Scott Davert]

Good morning all.
I had to take a Covid test over the weekend and figured I would share
my experience. Since I do not have any vision, I'm not able to provide
feedback from that perspective. First, the box that arrives contained
2 tests. However, to do this
test, you must download an app and pair the test analyzer to your
phone through an app. The problem? If you can’t read the small print
(through OCR or vision) instructions that come with the kit, there is
no way to know what app
you are looking for, as it’s not stated on the website where you can
order the kit. Furthermore, searching the iOS App Store with the term
“accessible Covid-19 tests” will pull up the wrong application. The
one needed for this process is called "Ellume COVID-19 Home Test." It
can be Downloaded for the iPhone on the iOS App Store, or if you are
an Android user, from the Google Play Store.
After downloading the app, upon first launch, you will need to agree
to let the app access Bluetooth and several other things. you must
then register before you can go through the process of taking the
test. They demand your first, middle and last name, date of birth,
city and zip code. As someone without a disability, I could pick up a
Covid test, or order my test, and won’t have to provide any
information. Why should someone with a disability not have the same
right? Since I do have that right, I give them fake information other
than the state and Zip code. There are other things that they would
like, such as your email address and phone number, but these things
aren’t necessary. When on the registration page, there are several
mislabeled buttons and the dropdown menu, or Picker Item as VoiceOver
calls it, is treated as a text field.
After filling out all of the information, you must then agree with
their Terms of Service. On this screen, the button or checkbox to do
so is simply labeled “x”.  The element on the app that says “I
agree….” Is a link to these Terms Of Service and will open them in
your web browser. It’s not a showstopper, but it can be a bit
confusing.
Next, you will be required to watch a video which outlines the
procedure, even if you have done so the first time. For braille users,
especially those without the ability to hear speech, be prepared for
your braille display to go completely blank during the video. Though
it may not happen to you, it is something I had happen both times when
completing the process.
Once the video ends, which should be roughly 5 minutes after it is
started, you will be moved to the next  screen which will be useable
with braille. Though the video is not accessible via braille, the
instructions give you the same information as the video, so you won’t
actually miss anything.
The first step they cover is turning on the analyzer. They describe
pressing and holding a button for a few seconds until a light starts
flashing slowly. After trying to connect through the app, it will
inform you that you need to press and hold the button again until the
light flashes quickly and then turns a solid green color. However, if
you place the device close to your phone (they recommend 3 inches/7.5
CM), the app will indicate whether or not it was able to connect. I
had to do this process 3 times before the connection was successful,
though your mileage may vary.
Since they do not cover the items listed in the kit, and also do not
describe the various items at all, this could cause a person to have
to pause and figure it out. I examined the package closely before
beginning the instructions and was able to determine the various items
based on touch.
One of the perplexing things about the instructions is that there is
something called a “child adapter” on the swab. I was able to figure
that out also, but since there was no description of the adapter
itself, I again had to use guess work. I did manage to get my test
result accessibly, but it was probably much more complicated than it
needed to be. That said, this is a step forward from where we were in
the pandemic up to this point.