[Trainer-Talk] A Google Drive Bug With Chromium-based Browsers

[Christopher Nusbaum]

Hello All:

I would like, if I may, to add some thoughts on the sub-topic which seems to
have come up in this thread of using Firefox as an alternative browser to
access Drive, particularly in light of the comments made by Denise and
Brian. I agree with Denise that Firefox is a perfectly fine
alternative--it's accessible and generally works with the same ease of use
as Chrome on most accessible websites. I first switched to Firefox when
Internet Explorer stopped being supported, and I still have it on my
personal PC, though Chrome is my primary browser. Personally I find Chrome
to have a slightly faster download speed, but it's not so different that it
would make Firefox unusable. More to the point of this discussion, while
Firefox does work well with Drive, the Google Workspace suite (in my
experience and that of my students) is simply more intuitive in Chrome.
Furthermore, as those of us (like Dr. Robinson and myself) who work with
K-12 students in the school environment know all too well, we're often stuck
with whatever the district will let us download on the student's computer
until we can convince their IT people to let us get something past their
firewall. Considering the popularity of Chromebooks in schools, and the fact
that even kids who are using Windows are still using Google-based learning
systems with only the option of using Chrome, the options they and we as
trainers have are limited.

I say all of this as background to my point that the suggestion to use
Firefox may be a workable one, depending on the spirit in which it's given.
If it's a temporary workaround, similar to using NVDA when JAWS doesn't read
something properly, that's an option worth considering--assuming, of course,
that the browser can even be installed on a student's PC. If it's being
suggested as a permanent solution to get around the bug that Curtis brought
up, I would respectfully submit that this is no solution at all. While I'm
all about helping my students find workarounds, and much of my recent
writing for the resource/support program I coordinate deals with finding
workarounds to accessibility bugs, I still want the initial bug to be fixed.
With that in mind, it's good to hear from Nimer, who I believe works on
Google's accessibility team, that a fix is in the works.

Warmly,

Chris

Christopher A. Nusbaum, Bridges Project Coordinator/Social Support
Specialist
The IMAGE Center for People with Disabilities
300 E. Joppa Road, Suite 312
Towson, MD 21286
Direct: (410) 803-6087
Cell: (443) 547-2409
Email: cnusbaum at imagemd.org
Web: www.imagemd.org
Check out the free Bridges Resource Library!

Please click here to support the IMAGE Center Lifeline Impact Fund


-----Original Message-----
From: Trainer-Talk <trainer-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Brian
Vogel via Trainer-Talk
Sent: Friday, August 30, 2024 2:56 PM
To: DenisemRobinson at yourtechvision.com
Cc: Brian Vogel <britechguy at gmail.com>; List for teachers and trainers of
adaptive technology <trainer-talk at nfbnet.org>
Subject: Re: [Trainer-Talk] A Google Drive Bug With Chromium-based Browsers

Denise,

Using Firefox is just fine if you're a Firefox user, or want to be.  I am,
but know many who simply don't want to be.

The only reason I'm posting this is your repeating of that suggestion as
though it must be followed.  You were clear the first time, and several
people have been clear that they don't find that option palatable.  That
pretty much ends that avenue.

I'm glad to see that Nimer has indicated a fix for this is really imminent
so the issue will be resolved quite soon.  Bugs happen, and in an ideal
world, all of them would be addressed this quickly.

Brian
_______________________________________________
Trainer-Talk mailing list
Trainer-Talk at nfbnet.org
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/trainer-talk_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
Trainer-Talk:
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/trainer-talk_nfbnet.org/cnusbaum%40imagemd
.org