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

[kendrick.deborah at gmail.com]

Scott, 
Thank you so much for taking the time to share these thoughtful observations. I did one with AIRA assistance a couple months ago, and now have two of the accessible ones at the ready, but it sounds fairly daunting.  
I hope that when you got to the end of the process, your results were negative!
Peace,
Deborah

-----Original Message-----
From: NFB-DB <nfb-db-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Scott Davert via NFB-DB
Sent: Thursday, July 14, 2022 9:28 AM
To: NFB Deaf-Blind Division Mailing List <nfb-db at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Scott Davert <scottdavert at gmail.com>
Subject: [NFB-DB] Taking the at-home accessible Covid test

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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