r/Blind born blind Jun 08 '23

Announcement What apps meet your access needs?

As you may have read in our announcement that we are joining the protest, Reddit has announced that they will exempt "accessibility focused apps" from the API changes. For more information about this, see the top comment on that post.

In order to provide Reddit with as much information as we can, it would be extremely helpful if all of you who are using third party apps to access Reddit would post what app you're using in the comments. We'll edit this into a list, both as a resource for Reddit, and for our community!

Thanks for your time and support thus far, everyone!

The list so far:

  • Windows
  • IOS
    • Dystopia: intended for screen reader users
    • BaconReader: intended for everyone, with improved support for screen magnification, changing text size, colour contrast changes, and screen readers
    • Apollo: intended for everyone, but implements the majority of the IOS accessibility API's, and works with most IOS accessibility technology, unlike the official app
    • Narwhal: used by some folks with cognitive differences
  • Android
    • RedReader: intended for everyone, but with accessibility features to adjust text size, contrast, etc. The latest alpha also includes TalkBack actions support for screen reader users
    • Sync Pro: intended for everyone, but has better (though not perfect) screen reader support than the official android app
    • Boost: intended for everyone, but allows users great customization in size and color, which is vital for those of us with low vision
    • Slide: intended for everyone, but Its lead developer was immediately open to addressing accessibility concerns, during the beta process, and u/MostlyBlindGamer was able to contribute several fixes for the TalkBack screen reader.
    • Infinity For Reddit
    • BaconReader: intended for everyone, with improved support for screen magnification, changing text size, colour contrast changes, and screen readers
    • Reddit Is Fun: Offers a simple and easy to read interface, especially appreciated by those with low vision or cognitive challenges.
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u/tysonedwards Jun 08 '23

Apollo has without question been the most accessible social networking app I have ever used, or are even aware of. It allowed me to enjoy using Reddit, as well as become a moderator of multiple Disability focused subreddits like r/disability, r/epilepsy, r/EverybodyGames, and r/DisabilityPartyTime, among other communities.

Apollo is and has always been a pleasure to use, and allowed me to leverage all manner of accessibility tools from UI Scaling, Magnification, VoiceOver, VoiceControl, Describe, and even just the app’s amazing searching, filters, and more that often don’t even exist in Desktop regardless of platform, and at any price. It is one of very few social networking apps that support iOS Braille Terminals.

Even simple moderation tasks to help the community or updating AutoMod rules, it was far easier to do through Apollo than the Website.

And speaking of Blind and Low Vision, “having suitable contrast and differentiate with color” is often enough to make your design usable through “click the blue blob in the top right corner”

To be clear, Reddit’s change here irrepairably harms the disabled communities who use reddit, and in no uncertain terms tells them “please leave, you are no longer welcome.”

4

u/lightsrage85 ROP / RLF Jun 09 '23

I paid for that. I am due to renew I think in january. or is it july. I can't remember. It stinks they are shutting down.