Tips for Using This Blog

To read these pages most efficiently with a screen reader, use heading level navigation.

• At Level 2 are post dates, archives, subscription info, recent tweets, Good Stuff (a collection of pages), and More Information on Android and Accessibility (a compilation of related links).

• At Level 3 are post topics and subtopics.



For a chronological list of posts, check the archive dropdown list, or use the Topic List link under the Good Stuff heading.

To submit a post, contact AccessAna.

Topic List

This is a chronological list of posts, which includes all the subtopics for each one listed. Use your browser or screen reader Find command to search for a key word. then press enter if you are on a link or Shift+tab once if you are not already on a link.

this list does not include press releases.

What is an Android phone?

Which Android phones are accessible?

Key Handset Features
Phones Known to Be Accessible
Tips for New Users

How accessible are Android phones?

Making Sure You have 4 Basic Accessibility Apss
Turning on Accessibility
Setting Accessibility Preferences

Getting to Know Talkback, the Onboard Screen Reader

What Talkback Does
What Talkback Doesn’t Do
Turning On Talkback
Adjusting Speech Rate
Adjusting Speech Volume

Getting to Know Kickback, the Haptic Accessibility Feature

What Kickback does
Turning on Kickback

Getting to Know Soundback, the Non-Spoken audible Accessibility Feature

what Soundback does
turning on Soundback

Adjusting Other Settings to Improve Eyes-Free Accessibility

Other Settings for Better eyes-Free Use (Android 2.1)
Other Settings for Better eyes-Free Use (Android 2.2)
Other Settings for Users Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing

what other apps do I need to use my phone eyes-free?

How do I make my phone start talking again?

Unlocking the Phone
Exiting Silent Or Vibrate Mode
Regaining Focus
Resetting the Phone

How do I do all the little things?

Adjusting Volume Levels
Checking Ringer Volume
Answering Calls
Ending Calls
Backing out of Applications
Checking Notifications
Clearing Notifications
Stopping Talkback from Reading Notifications
Entering Airplane Mode
Exiting Airplane Mode
Going into Silent/vibrate Mode
Silencing the Ringer
Silencing Talkback / turning off Media Volume
Silencing Both the Ringer and Talkback Using Android Settings
Silencing Both the Ringer and Talkback Using Accessibility Preferences
Going out of Silent/vibrate Mode
Turning on the Ringer
Turning on Media/Talkback Volume
Locking The Device
Adjusting the Lock Delay
Unlocking The Device
Moving to the Stock Launcher
Moving to the Recent Applications Screen
Returning to the Default Home Screen
Using the typing keyboard
Turning the Phone Off
Turning the Phone On

How do I find, install, and update apps on my Android phone?

How to Find Apps on the Android Market
How to Install Apps from the Android Market
How to Update Apps Using the Android Market

How do I set or change the default Home screen?

Setting the Default Home Screen From The Android System Screen
Changing the Default Home Screen in Settings

How do I use the eyes-Free Shell?

Interacting with the Eyes-Free Shell
Noting Keyboard Behavior While in the Eyes-Free Shell
Using the Apps on the Eyes-Free Shell
Finding Quick Answers with Eyes-Free Voice Search

How do I use the shortcuts screen that comes up when I swipe to 4 on the Eyes-Free Shell?

Setting a Launch Icon in the Shortcuts Manager of the Eyes-Free Shell
Deleting, Reassigning, and Troubleshooting Eyes-Free Shortcuts
Accessing and Using The Shortcuts Screen from the eyes-Free Shell
Noting Grid Orientation and Keyboard Behavior While in the Eyes-Free Shell Shortcuts Screen

How do I make a call using the dialer?

Dialing With Android Search
Dialing With the Phone App
Dialing With Voice Dialer
Changing the Input Language for Voice dialer
Dialing With Talking Dialer
Opening the Talking Dialer
Keying a Number with Talking Dialer
Deleting Misdialed Digits with Talking Dialer
Noting Keypad Orientation and Keyboard Behavior While in the Talking Dialer
Making Calls
Exiting the Call Log
Using the In-Call Screen
Getting to Know the In-Call Screen
Returning to the In-Call Screen

How do I make a call from contacts?

Calling a Contact with Android Search
Calling a Contact with the Contacts App
Calling a Contact with Voice Dialer
Changing the Input Language for Voice Dialer
Calling a contact with Talking Dialer
Opening Talking Dialer
Noting Screen Orientation and Keyboard Behavior While in Talking dialer
Finding a Contact with Talking Dialer Phonebook
Using the Stroke Dialer: Line Method
Using the Stroke Dialer: Circle Method
Explaining the Circle Method in General
Explaining the Circle Method with Specifics
Making a Call
Exiting the Call Log
Using the In-Call Screen
Getting to Know the In-Call Screen
Returning to the In-call Screen