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

Thu Jul 14 14:58:33 UTC 2022

Rox.
You are 100% correct. People who do not have smart phones don't have a
way to do this, but how can it be done without some form of
technology? Aira, in my opinion, doesn't even count as a solution.
This also depends on money and whether you have a smart phone or not.
About the best they could do is send braille instructions along with
large print. Yes, I would measure it as a half step forward I suppose.

Scott

On 7/14/22, Scott Davert <scottdavert at gmail.com> wrote:
> Hi marsha.
> I'm not sure. I didn't know there was a QR code on the box, that would
> have been helpful information. Did the QR Code take you to a web page
> with the information in Safari? This info needs to be included
> somewhere. If you are totally blind and don't have sighted people to
> help you know there is a QR code available, how can you know? There is
> nothing that indicates on the box that one exists. At least, not on
> the one I received.
>
> Scott
>
> On 7/14/22, Kat Bottner via NFB-DB <nfb-db at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>> I used those, and the only part that was frustrating to do independently
>> was
>> to put the five droplets of solution into the equalizer. I was able to
>> use
>> Aira to help with the rest, but still the packages were not labeled for a
>> blind person to know what was what so we still needed some sort of cited
>> assistance.
>>
>>> On Jul 14, 2022, at 10:04 AM, Rox Homstad via NFB-DB <nfb-db at nfbnet.org>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>> As someone just coming out of the other side of COVID I've taken a
>>> bunch
>>> of tests over the last week. I didn't want to order the accessible ones
>>> because I wasn't sure if they would be usable by someone who is
>>> deafblind
>>> and I didn't want to take them from a hearing blind person who might be
>>> able to use them so I've been testing with my friend who also had covid
>>> when I did.
>>> The one thing that concerns me is that all of these tests rely on having
>>> internet or a smartphone and the advanced skill set to learn to use them
>>> and problem solve your way through the process. If we want to make a
>>> truly
>>> accessible test, it needs to work for those most marginalized, people
>>> without good internet, people who don't use smartphones on a more
>>> advanced
>>> level, etc. I understand that in theory this is a step in the right
>>> direction but from where I sit it doesn't seem like a very big one. I
>>> worry that now that the most tech savvy and wealthy among us now have
>>> this
>>> access that the advocacy for more accessible tests will slow down
>>> I realize this isn't a problem we will solve its just some things I've
>>> been thinking about.
>>>
>>>
>>> Rox'E and the Kitchen Bitches
>>> Soleil, Rowan, Phoenix
>>> https://sneakeezebra.wordpress.com/
>>> pawpower4me at gmail.com
>>>
>>>>> On Jul 14, 2022, at 8:57 AM, Marsha Drenth via NFB-DB
>>>>> <nfb-db at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>> Hi Scott,
>>>> While at the NFB convention, I had a very similar experience. I don't
>>>> remember the name of the test, but this one had a bar code on the box
>>>> that I scanned and which provided me alot of information. It mentioned
>>>> which app I needed to download, how to do the test, the items provided,
>>>> how to connect to the test and a number of additional things. Yes it
>>>> had
>>>> me going through screen after screen, agreeing to this and that. when
>>>> it
>>>> came to the video, I was not able to hear it and needed my interpreters
>>>> help to know what was happening in the video. I am a very advanced
>>>> Iphone
>>>> user, but I can't imagine someone else trying to take this test. i am
>>>> very hard of hearing and totally blind.
>>>>
>>>> Do you Scott know who the manufactures of this test are using to test
>>>> the
>>>> covid testing product?
>>>> There is alot more work to be done to making these tests fully
>>>> accessible.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Marsha drenth
>>>> Sent with my IPhone
>>>> Please note that this email communication has been sent using my
>>>> iPhone.
>>>> As such, I may have used dictation and had made attempts to mitigate
>>>> errors. Please do not be hesitant to ask for clarification as
>>>> necessary.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>> On Jul 14, 2022, at 9:29 AM, Scott Davert via NFB-DB
>>>>>> <nfb-db at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>> 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.
>>>>>
>>>>> _______________________________________________
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