[Screen-Reader Accessibility on Windows] Quick Format Citation is not accessible

jooyoungseo
1. Load "Narrator" (the built-in screen reader on Windows; FYI, JAWS does have the same issue).

2. Load the latest Zotero (v 5.0.0.0).

3. In Word, go to Zotero -> Add/Edit Citation -> Quick Format Citation

4. Type something and see if Narrator speaks any matched items: "Quick Format Citation" is completely inaccessible to screen readers.
  • adamsmith
    When we last reported this ~6 weeks ago devs said they'd look into a fix. FWIW, the classic dialogue is mostly accessible, though IIRC it's impossible to get multiple items into a citation.

    (Zotero is also in the process of hiring or has recently hired an accessibility specialist, so I'd expect significant improvements in the medium run)
  • jooyoungseo
    It does not seem like there has been any update since I posted this bug report. Please take this seriously because many screen readers are not able to use the Zotero picker box. The classic UI is accessible, but it does not provide the same level of advanced features, such as quick searches, auto-completion, etc.
  • jooyoungseo
    Unfortunately, as an everyday Zotero user who uses a screen reader, I have not noticed significant major accessibility improvements other than minor keyboard access patches over the past year. This feature is critically important and basic of the basics so I sincerely and cordially ask for the Zotero dev team to take this report seriously.
  • dstillman
    Our attempt to hire an accessibility person last year didn't work out, but we've just posted a new developer position to work on accessibility across all of Zotero's products.

    Accessibility of the main citation dialog can't be fixed in Zotero 6, but we're working to fix it for Zotero 7.
  • Kb-b
    Dstillman, I'm not a developer but I'd be happy to help wherever possible with testing different accessibility features. I am really enjoying the annotative and tagging zotero features but I have to copy articles into word so that I can read aloud (and read individual sections) and then when i hear something epic I have to find it in the zotero windows app and highlight it there so its frustrating having to use multiple programs to just annotate...

    while ideally you would get that accessibility developer position filled but for now you're aware of several accessibility issues - could the current developers not work on said issues?
  • kate.nyhan
    Hi, chiming in to say - I think accessibility is a high-priority issue and I hope a great, experienced developer has been hired.
    I don't use screen readers myself but as a librarian I just spoke with a library user who does, and uses EndNote because it's more accessible.
  • dstillman
    Accessibility in Zotero 7 will be greatly improved.
  • Kb-b
    jooyoungseo (sorry dont know if I can tag you) lookup "accessibility" and scroll for a minute - there are a fair few very recent posts about beta 7 zotero and accessibility features
    - https://forums.zotero.org/discussion/111958/zotero-7-beta-and-accessibility/p1
    - https://forums.zotero.org/discussion/comment/455737#Comment_455737
    - https://forums.zotero.org/discussion/111074/available-for-beta-testing-zotero-redesigned/ ---> info specifically on becoming a beta tester
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