Scratch Accessibility for Low-vision and Blind Users

AlexCCTeacher

Great to see Scratch is looking at accessibility. Please don't forget though there is more to this than just visual impairments. I teach a Scratch Code Club in the UK for 6-9 year olds, and even those without disabilities will benefit from some enhancements to the UI. For example, many people have focussed on the colour coding on the scripts tab being difficult, but there are also many other controls that are difficult - for example the tiny triangle drop downs used on code blocks to select options are much too fiddly for younger children to use effectively as their fine motor skills are typically not good enough.

Check out these really handy posters that the Home Office (UK government department) digital team put together on designing for accessibility.

https://hodigital.blog.gov.uk/2016/12/28/designing-for-accessibility-an-update-on-our-accessibility-posters/

quacht

gamerkeeg wrote:
Wait, the whole point of scratch is to make programming visual so young people can use it. Instead of adapting an unsuitable base, why not start from scratch with a new concept for the blind?

Thanks for bringing this up–I am actually starting to head in this direction and also build on ideas from Scratcher above about using voice (or speech to text). Imagine being able to create Scratch programs using sentences and conversation

PokemonScratch101

Maybe you could have shapes that represent a color, like a triangle would equal blue.

catscratchgirl

Hi!

I’m a member of the Scratch Team, and over the next two years, I’ll be working on a project to make Scratch more accessible to Scratchers with low-vision or blindness.

Before I start designing and building, I want to hear about your experience with Scratch and how you think Scratch accessibility can be improved–especially if you have blindness or low-vision. Your stories, thoughts, and feedback will guide the project and make sure that I’m making changes that improve Scratcher experiences, so please share on this forum!

Thanks!
Tina

Just a suggestion- there could be options in the account settings page where you can set the size of the text on the website. This is because some people with low vision can't read small writing.

catscratchgirl

Last edited by catscratchgirl (April 1, 2018 17:27:30)

-Galaxydust-

I've actually been thinking of making a project for low vision and blind users for a while now. It might be hard, but it seems like a good idea to try something like this.

Last edited by -Galaxydust- (April 2, 2018 08:14:55)

cslambeherma

Hello,

I have a student who has low visual and I was wondering if there was anything I can try for him? He would be a good one to get feedback from. I also have many students with low reading skills or dyslexia and I would like to see what I can do to help them.

Thanks!

Teacher in Chicago

saodtheking

cslambeherma wrote:
Hello,

I have a student who has low visual and I was wondering if there was anything I can try for him? He would be a good one to get feedback from. I also have many students with low reading skills or dyslexia and I would like to see what I can do to help them.

Thanks!

Teacher in Chicago

Hey!

if he is using windows, let him try the magnifier app.
search in start menu “magnifier” worked great for me

or you can lower the resolution from 1080p to like 720p from windows settings, which makes everything else a little bit bigger

Last edited by saodtheking (April 2, 2018 16:58:07)

Busterbanana

I love the idea! I've always wanted to help the blind!

I am usually a happy person, so I give a thumbs up on doing this!

Push on, Scratch and Scratchers!!!!!!!!

Busterbanana

saodtheking wrote:
cslambeherma wrote:
Hello,

I have a student who has low visual and I was wondering if there was anything I can try for him? He would be a good one to get feedback from. I also have many students with low reading skills or dyslexia and I would like to see what I can do to help them.

Thanks!

Teacher in Chicago

Hey!

if he is using windows, let him try the magnifier app.
search in start menu “magnifier” worked great for me

or you can lower the resolution from 1080p to like 720p from windows settings, which makes everything else a little bit bigger

Yes, I agree. That would have been my idea if I had gone here earlier, but, yeah, that's my idea as well. Push on!

Busterbanana

PokemonScratch101 wrote:
Maybe you could have shapes that represent a color, like a triangle would equal blue.

If you like twenty one pilots, then try out https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/207354385/ by @dropknowledge

cmallo

quacht wrote:
Hi!

I’m a member of the Scratch Team, and over the next two years, I’ll be working on a project to make Scratch more accessible to Scratchers with low-vision or blindness.

Before I start designing and building, I want to hear about your experience with Scratch and how you think Scratch accessibility can be improved–especially if you have blindness or low-vision. Your stories, thoughts, and feedback will guide the project and make sure that I’m making changes that improve Scratcher experiences, so please share on this forum!

Thanks!
Tina

I work with blind and visually impaired Students in a school of ONCE (Organización Nacional de Ciegos de España) in Spain. I am very happy to see a lot of people being sensible with accessibility. Great!

Totally blind people need to use a Screen reader like Jaws, Nvda, VoiceOver, Talkback, etc. in order to use the computer or the tablet. As they usually don't use the mouse or any pointer device they interact with the elements in a sequential order using a gestural flick or the TAB key when in a keyboard. I think, nowadays solutions will come by resolving how they can interact with scratch using this technology.

Mr-Dave

cmallo wrote:
I work with blind and visually impaired Students in a school of ONCE (Organización Nacional de Ciegos de España) in Spain. I am very happy to see a lot of people being sensible with accessibility. Great!

…

I imagine that you could be a major help to Tina’s project. You’ve made some great points.

In anticipation of the start of her study I’ve written a few Scratch projects that I hope could be accessible to the blind. I have no experience or qualifications and I wish I could have seen your advice before starting – but Scratch is all about trying things.

I have not yet tried any screen readers with Scratch and I wonder if anyone has.

-CrystalWaters-

Is Scratch already Dyslexia friendly? I don't know, but if it isn't, there's and idea for you. For Dyslexia, I would maybe s p a c e the writing out more, as it helps my Dyslexic friend to read.

banana439monkey

Consider me as shamefully advertising my topic, but really, I was reading a post that said my second would help low sighted people and it would be nice if this was implemented, however, probably after the skin is pushed to the whole site. https://scratch.mit.edu/discuss/topic/296027/

Banana

cmallo

Mr-Dave wrote:
cmallo wrote:
I work with blind and visually impaired Students in a school of ONCE (Organización Nacional de Ciegos de España) in Spain. I am very happy to see a lot of people being sensible with accessibility. Great!

…
I imagine that you could be a major help to Tina’s project. You’ve made some great points.

In anticipation of the start of her study I’ve written a few Scratch projects that I hope could be accessible to the blind. I have no experience or qualifications and I wish I could have seen your advice before starting – but Scratch is all about trying things.

I have not yet tried any screen readers with Scratch and I wonder if anyone has.

Of course, Tina can count on me. It would be very grateful for me any help that I could offer to this project.

I've tested Scratch Jaws and NVDA and Firefox and Chrome in Windows with different but disappointing results in both cases.

Last edited by cmallo (April 12, 2018 14:46:15)

joy784

bigpuppy wrote:
Awesome!
I hope this will make Scratch more open to everyone.

joy784

click here to see 1 video

Last edited by joy784 (April 13, 2018 15:34:09)

joy784

77Tigers wrote:
Speech recognition is already going to be added to scratch 3.0. This is great !

joy784

77Tigers wrote:
Speech recognition is already going to be added to scratch 3.0. This is great !

*

BoltBait

This:

Enhance 224 to 176.
Enhance. Stop.
Move in. Stop.
Pull out, track right. Stop.
Center and pull back. Stop.
Track 45 right. Stop. Center and stop.
Enhance 34 to 36.
Pan right or-and pull back. Stop.
Enhance 34 to 46.
Pull back. Wait a minute. Go right. Stop.
Enhance 57 to 19. Track 45 left. Stop.
Enhance 15 to 23.
Gimme a hard copy right there.

Bonus points if you know where that's from and don't have to google it.

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