Adding screen reader features/NVDA support for blind users

[Lilypad]

I am legally blind and my friend is blind there is a big community of us on steam but we have to jump through hoops to use the steam interface.

[Snapjak]

Agree, accessibility is somewhat lacking on Steam in general.

[LowJack_VA1]

I like this idea, but there are some very nice apps that can already do this. Those would probably be slower than an app built into the Steam Client, but maybe Valve could offer more support for that type of thing.

FYI, @Voice is one tool that i use on my phone.

[Lilypad]

Originally posted by LowJack_VA1:

I like this idea, but there are some very nice apps that can already do this. Those would probably be slower than an app built into the Steam Client, but maybe Valve could offer more support for that type of thing.

FYI, @Voice is one tool that i use on my phone.

Sadly the screen readers that a lot of the community use like NVDA are hit or miss on steam most of the interface NVDA will not recognize.

[Lilypad]

Originally posted by Snapjak:

Agree, accessibility is somewhat lacking on Steam in general.

Yes steam really needs to step up! I have some usable vision so I am lucky but not everyone is.

[cinedine]

Originally posted by Aigis:

Originally posted by Snapjak:

Agree, accessibility is somewhat lacking on Steam in general.

Yes steam really needs to step up! I have some usable vision so I am lucky but not everyone is.

Not just Steam. ARIA is still not used on a lot sites. And even something well-known like red-green-colourblindness is usually only considered if the project team has one afflicted with it.

I used to work with a legally blind frontend designer. His feedback was obvioulsy a big boon, but there were customers who were all like "If they are blind, how do they use a computer?" ... and that's still very prevailant.

It's mind-baffeling that while everything turns to digital and computers people increasingly don't give a ♥♥♥♥ about visually impaired people who get forced to use a mainly visual medium.

[Lilypad]

Originally posted by cinedine:

Originally posted by Aigis:

Yes steam really needs to step up! I have some usable vision so I am lucky but not everyone is.

Not just Steam. ARIA is still not used on a lot sites. And even something well-known like red-green-colourblindness is usually only considered if the project team has one afflicted with it.

I used to work with a legally blind frontend designer. His feedback was obvioulsy a big boon, but there were customers who were all like "If they are blind, how do they use a computer?" ... and that's still very prevailant.

It's mind-baffeling that while everything turns to digital and computers people increasingly don't give a ♥♥♥♥ about visually impaired people who get forced to use a mainly visual medium.

Oh neat I just got a career recently in accessibility testing for web development company.

Yes it is very dumb. I have lost count of how many times people have said to me in games "you are legally blind how are you typing then?" most people do not know the difference between blind and legally blind.

There is so much technology out there to help people with disabilities to be able to engage in their hobbies without barriers and it sucks that it is not a norm to have those features.

[Cathulhu]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94swlF55tVc
Agreed. More accessability would be great.
Even Microsoft managed to do that with something as complex as Visual Studio.

[Lilypad]

Originally posted by Cathulhu:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94swlF55tVc
Agreed. More accessability would be great.
Even Microsoft managed to do that with something as complex as Visual Studio.

My boss uses those plugins he is completely blind

[Amethyst]

Hi, I am compleetly blind and uses steam with NVDA screen reader, I am able to install games from the client, but I can't get to my library from the client. I can't access the settings menu via the client, I need to use the run shortcut on windows, and even when I get to settings the interface isn't accessible at all, NVDA only reads the window name wich is settings. I hope this can be improved, I use steam a lot.

[Crashed]

Originally posted by Snapjak:

Agree, accessibility is somewhat lacking on Steam in general.

In addition I've noticed that touch screen support is lacking in all legacy Steam UI elements; the new library does allow proper touchscreen scrolling as it piggybacks off Chromium.

[Not_Gumballer91]

Originally posted by Snapjak:

Agree, accessibility is somewhat lacking on Steam in general.

A light theme would be nice

[Lilypad]

Originally posted by Gamulation:

Hi, I am compleetly blind and uses steam with NVDA screen reader, I am able to install games from the client, but I can't get to my library from the client. I can't access the settings menu via the client, I need to use the run shortcut on windows, and even when I get to settings the interface isn't accessible at all, NVDA only reads the window name wich is settings. I hope this can be improved, I use steam a lot.

Thank you for sharing I hope features come to make steam better for you.

[Lilypad]

Originally posted by Not_Gumballer91:

Originally posted by Snapjak:

Agree, accessibility is somewhat lacking on Steam in general.

A light theme would be nice

Yes I agree 100% if you have a nvidia graphic card you can manually change colors on your computer but sadly it will affect everything along side steam.

[Lilypad]

Originally posted by Crashed:

Originally posted by Snapjak:

Agree, accessibility is somewhat lacking on Steam in general.

In addition I've noticed that touch screen support is lacking in all legacy Steam UI elements; the new library does allow proper touchscreen scrolling as it piggybacks off Chromium.

Yes touch features are important I have friends who have limited range in mobility and are not able to use a controller or mouse.

[Lilypad]

bumping