Good News: I always say that self-advocacy in public good is very necessary, and social media is a very effective way to do it. As you may know, I am trying to improve Microsoft's own screen reader, Microsoft Narrator, so that if a PC has Microsoft Windows, persons with visual impairments can give exams on a computer. A bank employee can work without waiting for their senior to purchase JAWS, which often takes a very long time. Similarly, a company employee with visual impairment can work without stress or delays. Many companies are also reluctant to purchase JAWS, even though it qualifies as a reasonable accommodation. On the other hand, they also do not allow the use of the free and open-source screen reader NVDA. They claim that it is not secure, saying that anyone can read the code of open-source software, so they will not allow NVDA due to privacy and security concerns. But the catch here is—although anyone can read open-source code, that does not mean anyone can modify the programming of the original software and upload it to the original website. So, their claim is not valid. I am in touch with very senior Microsoft executives who work in Microsoft Accessibility. One Senior Product Manager from Microsoft messaged me on WhatsApp to share that Microsoft Narrator will receive the Screen Curtain (Screen Hide) feature. I had requested this and other very necessary features through Microsoft Feedback Hub, Microsoft Accessibility Answer Desk, phone calls, and LinkedIn posts. Now, this feature will be available in Windows 11 with an upcoming update. This feature is very important for the privacy of screen reader users. Although Narrator has been available for a long time, this basic and fundamental feature was missing. This feature is currently available in the beta version and will soon be rolled out to Windows 11 users. You can read about this feature, other improvements, and bug fixes in Narrator in this article shared with me by the Microsoft Senior Product Manager via WhatsApp: https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2025/06/09/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-26120-4250-beta-channel/
If you repost, like, and comment on this LinkedIn Post, it will help accelerate other important improvements—because companies like to see a high level of public demand: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/sugamyata-ashutosh-singhal-823543289_narrator-accessibility-activity-7312014463484760065-kILU?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_android&rcm=ACoAAEYGaNsBRMelVAsVe0usYk1hxlY-d_ErcVY Ashutosh Singhal -- Disclaimer: 1. Contents of the mails, factual, or otherwise, reflect the thinking of the person sending the mail and AI in no way relates itself to its veracity; 2. AI cannot be held liable for any commission/omission based on the mails sent through this mailing list.. Search for old postings at: http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "AccessIndia" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/a/accessindia.org.in/d/msgid/accessindia/CAFL6VgJyZkJqPQU%3DTEsxQPMx_6LCJ31coVq53Daq%3D%2B%3DhdBieQw%40mail.gmail.com.
