What apps meet your access needs?

https://www.reddit.com/r/Blind/comments/1447ibp/what_apps_meet_your_access_needs/

created by fastfinge on 08/06/2023 at 12:09 UTC*

521 upvotes, 44 top-level comments (showing 25)

As you may have read in our announcement that we are joining the protest[1], 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.

1: https://www.reddit.com/r/Blind/comments/13zr8h2/reddits_recently_announced_api_changes_and_the

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 * Reddit for Blind[2]: intended for screen reader users * Luna for Reddit[3]: intended for screen reader users
IOS * Dystopia[4]: intended for screen reader users * BaconReader[5]: intended for everyone, with improved support for screen magnification, changing text size, colour contrast changes, and screen readers * Apollo[6]: 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[7]: used by some folks with cognitive differences
Android * RedReader[8]: 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[9]: intended for everyone, but has better (though not perfect) screen reader support than the official android app * Boost[10]: intended for everyone, but allows users great customization in size and color, which is vital for those of us with low vision * Slide[11]: 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[12] * BaconReader[13]: intended for everyone, with improved support for screen magnification, changing text size, colour contrast changes, and screen readers * Reddit Is Fun[14]: Offers a simple and easy to read interface, especially appreciated by those with low vision or cognitive challenges.

Comments

Comment by RaeaSunshine at 08/06/2023 at 17:51 UTC*

20 upvotes, 3 direct replies

Just FYI, Apollo announced they are permanently closing down before end of day June 30th.

Edit: Reddit Is Fun (RIF) will also be permanently closing on June 30th.

Edit 2: Sync for Reddit as well (amongst others, but figured I’d just call out those on the list)

Comment by RedditForBlind at 08/06/2023 at 18:42 UTC

8 upvotes, 2 direct replies

I personally use Reddit for blind :)

Comment by tysonedwards at 08/06/2023 at 20:51 UTC

13 upvotes, 1 direct replies

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.”

Comment by ProPantheon at 08/06/2023 at 13:15 UTC

6 upvotes, 1 direct replies

Apollo for Reddit on iOS.

RedditForBlind on Windows.

RedditForBlind

Comment by Marconius at 08/06/2023 at 14:14 UTC

6 upvotes, 2 direct replies

Chiming in with more support for BaconReader. The app was mostly usable with VoiceOver when I started using it almost 9 years ago, and the developers listened to my feedback and worked directly with me and other accessibility specialists on how they could improve the app for assistive technology. It's been my mainstay reddit client this entire time because of that, and while it is a commercial app, I'd pay for it again just to support the devs who actually listen and put in the effort to make things better for all of us.

Comment by UnderstandingOne1559 at 08/06/2023 at 13:09 UTC

7 upvotes, 0 direct replies

Luna for reddit here :)

Comment by Individual-Fan1639 at 08/06/2023 at 13:18 UTC*

5 upvotes, 0 direct replies

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This post was mass deleted and anonymized with Redact[1]*

1: https://redact.dev

Comment by anniemdi at 08/06/2023 at 18:16 UTC

6 upvotes, 1 direct replies

For me, I am highly dependent on familiarity. The fact that RIF looks like old Reddit and has visual text based labels for icons makes it my first choice.

Bacon Reader would be a second choice.

I just went through so many of these apps available for Android and while I thought some were amazing for some features they lacked in others.

I thought Boost might be a real winner and might dethrone RiF and Bacon Reader but I was overwhelmed with how complicated it seemed. I would need someone to help me make it work for me and I don't have that. Plus it's icons were just too small.

Comment by Loki--Laufeyson at 09/06/2023 at 04:14 UTC

6 upvotes, 1 direct replies

Can I ask a question? I love the simplicity of rif is fun. I also like that the background isn't pure white, it's gray, which is less contrast with the black text on it. It's for sure getting shut down though.

Any apps that let me change the background and/or text color and also have a more simplistic layout? [Must be for Android]. Presumably one that is not likely to get shut down lol.

My eyes are really light sensitive so the simple layout helps.

Comment by GingerSnapBiscuit at 10/06/2023 at 14:40 UTC

4 upvotes, 1 direct replies

The mistake you made was you put apollo on that list, which guarantees Reddit will not listen to you in the slightest, sadly :(

Comment by DHamlinMusic at 08/06/2023 at 12:40 UTC

6 upvotes, 2 direct replies

Sync Pro was my backup though like all android third party apps it has very limited access to mod features, many have none whatsoever.

Comment by MostlyBlindGamer at 08/06/2023 at 12:56 UTC

6 upvotes, 1 direct replies

On Android, Boost and Slide allow users great customization in size and color, which is vital for those of us with low vision.

Slide is open source. Its lead developer was immediately open to addressing accessibility concerns, during the beta process and the open source nature allowed me to contribute fixes to better support the Talkback screen reader.

Comment by marimuthu96 at 08/06/2023 at 18:54 UTC

6 upvotes, 0 direct replies

Looner in PC and Slide on my mobile.

Comment by Lilikoi_Maven at 09/06/2023 at 02:23 UTC

5 upvotes, 0 direct replies

Boost for me. It has good options for scaling font size and adjusting contrast so I can actually read the posts comfortably.

Comment by uberafc at 09/06/2023 at 20:45 UTC

4 upvotes, 0 direct replies

Infinity for Reddit

As a visually impaired person, the possibility offered by Infinity to use custom fonts is one of the major reasons why I've adopted it over even the mobile website. Reading Reddit posts and comments with high legibility fonts just changed my whole experience of the site.

Comment by r_1235 at 08/06/2023 at 14:56 UTC

3 upvotes, 1 direct replies

Infinity for Reddit I was using.

But my primary way of access is official reddit website on chrome on my windows laptop. I don't use Reddit on my phone that much.

Comment by fireborn1472 at 08/06/2023 at 18:50 UTC

5 upvotes, 0 direct replies

Redreader, Luna for reddit, dystopia.

Comment by browneye54 at 08/06/2023 at 21:16 UTC

3 upvotes, 0 direct replies

Bacon reader

Comment by vicious_cos at 09/06/2023 at 16:06 UTC

4 upvotes, 1 direct replies

Apollo app vast customization also helps with color contrast disabilities, and sensory overload/dyslexia. It properly uses the iOS text enlarge system preferences instead of it needing to set text enlarge it in the app settings (though there are those options)

Good to see the disabled community refusing to back down. Signed: an accessibility engineer

Comment by AmateurSysAdmin at 10/06/2023 at 04:28 UTC

4 upvotes, 1 direct replies

Would it be possible to add information which platforms these work on? (Android/iOS/Windows/MacOS/*nix)