Information For App Developers

iOS devices are used by a significant number of vision impaired people. This is mostly due to Apple’s VoiceOver program which is included on all iPod touch 3g (32/64GB models), the iPad and the iPhone 3gs/4.

VoiceOver enables the user to interact with the device without the need to see what is on the screen. Apple have provided some information as to how VoiceOver works for the end user at www.apple.com/accessibility/iphone/vision.html.

As a developer, there are a number of things that you can do to make your app more accessible to users of VoiceOver. Apple have provided a guide for developers on how to make their applications accessible at http://developer.apple.com/iphone/library/documentation/UserExperience/Conceptual/iPhoneAccessibility/Introduc....

Useful Resources

1. The AppleVis Forums containts a dedicated area for app developers to seek and share information on accessible app development. View the App Development Forum.
2. Matt Legend Gemmell has written a guide for iOS app developers on how to provide VoiceOver accessibility support for visually impaired users. It includes both technical information and also a discussion on how to approach accessibility, as well as points to be aware of. The guide is here: http://mattgemmell.com/accessibility-for-iphone-and-ipad-apps
3. The Stanford University IOS programming series includes a talk by Chris Fleizach from Apple that, amongother things, shows how to make even the most complex controls
   accessible. This is on iTunes U. http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=3956.
4. The Google Group named VIPhone is a large and active community of blind iOS device Users.

Please use the contact form on this site if you need more information or would like to submit your app for testing and evaluation.