Sighted help with inaccessible apps?

By Tasha, 11 December, 2018

Forum
iOS and iPadOS

Hi, I just called apple's disability support yesterday because I'm trying to use a partially inaccessible app called Offer Up. The camera roll is not detectable by Voiceover. The rep on the phone was extremely unhelpful; he said Apple doesn't help users with inaccessible apps because it's the developer's responsibility to fix accessibility problems. I pointed out that the developer is completely unresponsive. He halfheartedly used screenshare to try to help me interact with the camera roll which is not detected by Voiceover, but gave up way too easily in my opinion.

Is there some other service I can use where I can get this kind of help? It looks like Be my eyes couldn't do this as it doesn't have screensharing, and I don't have Aira, though if it could help with this type of problem, I'd consider getting it.

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Comments

By Ornella on Thursday, December 27, 2018 - 07:29

The person is right. Its not apple's job to help with an inaccessible ap. Its on the developer of that particular ap and if the developer is unresponsive then that's on them.

By Tasha on Thursday, December 27, 2018 - 07:29

In reply to by Ornella

This is true, but in reality, is's on me: if the dev refuses to respond, then I'm the one who is unable to use the app. unfortunately, there really is no equivalent app to this one. Microsoft seems to get this: I had them help me set up appointment slots on Google calendar which used to be inaccessible.

By Pat Pound on Thursday, December 27, 2018 - 07:29

AIRA can definitely be of help with in accessible apps or websites. I have used TeamViewer with both my phone and my Mac and have them assist. Sometimes it is easy enough just to have them read the website. Check their pricing structure out is they now have a $30 for 30 minutes plan.

By Humberto Avila on Thursday, December 27, 2018 - 07:29

HelloHave you installed the Seeing AI app from Microsoft? You can simply take a screenshot of the inaccessible part of the app, at least, if there is text in it, pressing the Home+Power buttons on the phone. Then you can open Seeing Ai and, from tap the first button labeled "Menu." The first option is Browse Photos, and they are presented most recent first, so your screenshot shall be the first one displayed there. Double tap this, and it will start recognising itI found this to be very useful with some apps or images of text on my iPhone that are inaccessible, and it works well. At least, you'd be able to discern what the app is saying, but not so much as to use the app unfortunately... It is very frustrating developers do not get it...