Screen Reader - Tumblr Posts
Blind Tumblr users: don’t get the latest iOS app update!
I just updated my tablet to the newest version of the tumblr app for iOS and it completely broke screen reader access for both VoiceOver and Spoken Content. This has happened in the past already, so I will file a support ticket and copy-paste my text from last time, but this really sucks. I sincerely hope this doesn’t affect all screen reader users, but I’m unsure how they could program this bug in a way it only affects me. If you rely on a screen reader to use the tumblr app, I’d advice to not get the latest update to be on the safe side.
When I say “completely broke access”, what I mean is that no posts on my dash or on individual blogs get read or recognized at all. No plain text, alt text, tags, etc. Note count and buttons still work though.
If you also run into this bug, here’s my advice. If anyone has something more useful, please tell me
File a support ticket and report this bug
Use the browser web version, which still works for me
Interestingly, if you save a post to your drafts and click on “edit” the post text seems to get read correctly. This might be a work-around for some people.
If you have the latest version but your screen reader didn’t break, also please tell me! I would be fascinated to know if this bug is only affecting some people
TL;DR: The latest tumblr app update for iOS made it so screen readers no longer work in the app
Please boost!
does anyone know any good (free) screen readers??? I'm dyslexic and really struggle reading paragraphs longer then 5 lines
I want to make a rentry about screenreader accessibility!!
Why do you use a screenreader? Is it due to a disability?
What are common inaccessibility issues you come across?
What information would you like to see in an informational rentry or carrd about screenreaders, plaintext, and image descriptions?
Feel free to link to resources in your reblog for a resource masterlist as well!
Pings: @mightyoctopus @accessibleaesthetics @accessible-tumbling
I don't need a screen reader, but I've tried TalkBack. Partially because I want to know how it is to use a screen reader so that I can make things more accessible. Partially because I might need it later in case something happens. Partially to try and see if I can use my phone in any situation I'm not able to look at it.
so far I have the following observations:
1.) TalkBack reads the three dots weirdly. Instead of saying "dot dot dot" it says something like "symbol of talker: 3". I might not be hearing that correctly;
2.) slashes in places of "or" are a bit hard to parse, better to actually use "or";
3.) usual app layout is hell to navigate. particularly because of all the elements you need to scroll. I've only tried Discord and Tumblr, but I'm guessing others are similar. I do not know if the apps actually have a more accessible layout, but they certainly didn't say anything to me. I don't know if this is a skill issue, but I do think I miss a lot more;
4.) it actually has a bunch of quirky controls. I don't think it's accessible to people with motor issues, maybe there is no way a regular phone would be able to be. (you'd need more physical buttons. which should be a thing actually.) anyway, sometimes it mistakes me swiping to the next item as me clicking things in the middle of the screen. that is annoying. probing your screen isn't the easiest either;
5.) searching "screen reader" in google play didn't get me anything better. (and I thought there would be better things. maybe I didn't look as properly). There was one app that only teaches you TalkBack gestures. There was also a google read mode thing but idk if it provides much interactionable stuff, I didn't get it to open quickly and then I didn't try again;
6.) screen reader is a good way of checking your messages for typos;
7.) you can type only with TalkBack and a google keyboard, but that is super slow, get another input method;
8.) just tried starting it with the volume buttons again, didn't press at the same time, that's annoying when it happens;
9.) oh yeah I totally forgot. If you're using several languages regularly, you're going to have to deal with TTS reading things in another mode, resulting in a language being read with a barely understandable accent. If you have UI in one language and posts in another? Posts in different languages? Too bad, be ready to switch a lot or indure the TTS accent.
Overall? Needing to scroll sucks
My god, whoever on @staff fixed the badge image descripments, THANK YOU! It was awful trying to read posts, especially by popular authors with a lot of badges, and get trapped in literally over a minute of "badge image badge image badge image..." when I couldn't get to my phone to skip it. That sucked so hard! Now it just says "three badges" or "sixteen badges" and it is so much nicer! Thank you for fixing that!