AFB Blog

As any screen reader user knows, accessibility issues are still far too common across the web. You’ve probably run into buttons or links that won’t activate with your screen reader’s cursor, or content that should appear but doesn’t show up at all. I’ve discovered a simple trick that can often expose hidden or otherwise inaccessible elements: disabling a website’s stylesheets. I use this feature in Firefox because it’s quick and easy. When stylesheets are turned off, content that was…

Janet Ingber Editor’s Note: As someone who is blind, I’ve been a longtime fan of Apple’s SE—now known as the “E” line—of iPhones. I personally find these models strike an ideal balance by delivering the power needed to support the latest iOS features, while omitting many of the high-end elements that tend to focus on visual use, especially the camera. Since I don’t rely heavily on the camera, I can skip those premium extras and still enjoy a fast, capable device—with better battery life and a…

The American Foundation for the Blind is concerned that the extensive and rapid downsizing at the US Department of Education could harm the services, funding, and civil rights protections that people who are blind, have low vision, or are deafblind rely on. The Department plays a critical role in enforcing rights and funding services required by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and the Rehabilitation Act. In 2021, more than 7.7 million children received services through…

January is Braille Literacy Month, celebrated in honor of Louis Braille’s birthday on January 4, 1809. Each year, we take this opportunity to reflect on subjects related to braille, either on our blog or, previously, in the January issue of AccessWorld magazine. Since the spring quarterly issue now comes out in February, this content has moved to the blog, allowing us to continue the tradition of highlighting braille during this special month. This year, I wanted to focus on the history of…

Janet Ingber This fall, Apple released its new operating system for the Mac. Staying true to its California-inspired naming convention, the system is called macOS 15.0, Sequoia. Since then, two updates have been released, with the latest version being macOS 15.2. An M1 chip or higher is required to utilize the new Apple AI features. For this article, an M1 Mac running macOS 15.2 Sequoia was used. Here are some of the new features: iPhone Mirroring iPhone Mirroring allows users to access…

Janet Ingber This fall, Apple released its latest operating system for the Apple Watch. Among its many features, WatchOS 11 introduces new health options, the ability to play content through the Watch speakers, and support for multiple VoiceOver voices. WatchOS 11 is compatible with Apple Watch Series 6 and newer. For this article, I tested WatchOS 11 on an Apple Watch Series 10. Multiple VoiceOver Voices WatchOS 11 allows users to add multiple VoiceOver voices via the new Voice Rotor. By…

Cerebral visual impairment (CVI), also referred to as cortical or brain-based visual impairment, occurs when damage to the brain’s visual pathways or networks affects visual processing. It can result from premature birth, genetic disorders, brain malformations, or trauma. Importantly, children with CVI grow into adults with CVI, requiring lifelong tailored interventions and services. The need for practical information on this condition is so critical it was the focus of the Journal of Visual…

Deborah Kendrick Editor's Note: As a companion to this gift guide, Deborah Kendrick joined us on the latest episode of the accessWorld podcast to discuss the history of accessWorld as well as holiday gift giving. You can find the episode on the AFB website or through your favorite podcast platform. In a group of blind and low-vision technology fans, I recently asked people to name a gift from personal history that came to mind as unusual. Of course, one person said a car (while driving was…

In fall of 2024, Apple launched iOS 18, the latest version of its operating system for iPhones and iPads. This article highlights some of the new mainstream features introduced with iOS 18, tested using an iPhone 16 running iOS 18.1. Settings In iOS 18, the Settings app has been streamlined. Instead of displaying a complete list of every app installed on your device, there is now a dedicated Apps section, located as the final item on the main Settings screen. At the top of the Apps page, you’…