Current AT Product Versions

Below is a list of the current assistive technology (AT) products and versions. level recommends the current version be used for testing with exceptions.

Overview

• Generally Level Access Recommends waiting a month from the initial release of many AT products before using that product for official testing.
• Level will defer to client requirements for AT versions upon request.
• Some assistive technologies are bound to specific platforms such as iOS and VoiceOver and to some extend features in TalkBack with Android
  • Keep in mind that the version of a platform used by the general public may not be the same version used by most people with disabilities.
    • e.g. Android 4.4 may be more common to the general public than Android 5.x, however, Android 4.4 (KitKat) does not support Switch Control and has other accessibility limitations when TalkBack is running. Therefore it is very likely that users with disabilities will have Android 5.x or later rather than 4.4 or earlier.
• Platform versions and vendors can have an impact on accessibility
• Specific device form factor can also play a part in accessibility or what is shown in the UI during testing
  • iPad and iPad Air may have features such as split screen and app switchers that don't appear on phone
  • iPhone has vibrate and LED that do not appear on iPad
  • iPhone 6 and 6 plus have Reachability option

Note: Refer to the Assistive Technology Browser Combinations page for which browsers to use with which AT.

Assistive Technology

• JAWS 2020.2008.24
• Window-Eyes 9.5.4
• NVDA 2020.3
• VoiceOver iOS (14.1)
• VoiceOver Mac OS X (10.15.7)
• TalkBack 8.2
• ZoomText 2020
• MAGic 15
• iOS Zoom (iOS 14.1)
• Android Magnification (8.1)
• iOS Switch control (iOS 14.1)
• Android Switch control (Android 8.1)

Note: A Bluetooth keyboard will also be used for keyboard testing on most platforms.

Platforms and Accessibility Features

• Windows 7 accessibility features
• Windows 10 accessibility features
  • Edge requires use of Narrator
  • Windows Narrator on Windows 8+ provides additional support beyond the Narrator from Windows 7

• Mac OS X (10.15.5 (Catalina) accessibility features
• iOS 13.5.1
  • Most modern devices can be upgraded to the latest iOS version free of charge and thus Level recommends testing with the latest iOS version
• App of standard iOS on-screen keyboard will generally be used for testing of input with the on-screen keyboard (in addition to external keyboard).
• Android 7.0
  • The latest 3 major releases of Android OS, 6.x, 7.x, and 8, have the following adoption rate in the general population: as of 5/7/18, OS 6.0 is at 25.5%, OS 7.0 22.9% 7.1 8.2% 8.0 4.9% 8.1 0.8%). Level therefore generally recommends testing in Android OS 5.1 in addition to or as equally acceptable as OS 6.0. See Dashboard
  • Some flavors of Android are customized by the vendor -- this includes the screen reader
    • Samsung S6 has Voice Assistant (a custom version of TalkBack)
      • TalkBack should be installed on Samsung devices
    • Amazon Fire has VoiceView (a screen reader for Amazon devices for products such as the Fire Tablet and Fire TV. This is not based on TalkBack.)
    • Some Androids have custom on-screen keyboard and home screen launchers
      • The Google on-screen keyboard should be installed on Samsung devices, as with TalkBack
    • Some Android features such as split screen etc. may not work properly when AT is running

WebAIM also has a voluntary screen reader survey found at the following URL:

• WebAIM Screen reader Survey #9

The low vision user survey is found here:

• WebAIM Low Vision User Survey

The motor disability user survey is found here:

• WebAIM Survey of Users with Motor Disabilities

Devices

Note: Some common devices are listed below.

• iPod Touch
• iPhone 5, 5s
• iPhone 6, 6s
• iPhone 7
• iPhone 6plus, 6s plus
• iPhone 7plus
• iPad 4, iPad Air 1, Air 2
• iPad Pro (9.7 and 12 inch)
• Android Nexus 5
• Samsung S6 and S7
• Android Nexus 7
• Android Nexus 9
• Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 9