Screen-reader accessibility for blind users (labeled buttons, TalkBack/VoiceOver/NVDA)
Category: Feature request Priority: P1 Area: Accessibility Reports: 9 threads Status: Open
Summary
Nine threads — almost all from blind or low-vision users — report that Qaf is only partially usable with screen readers: TalkBack (Android), VoiceOver (iOS), and NVDA (Windows/web). The app broadly works, but most buttons and icons carry no programmatic (accessibility) labels, so users must discover each control's function by trial and error, which makes daily use hard. They ask for full screen-reader compatibility: labeled buttons/icons, navigable screens/fields, and an easy in-platform option to have answers read aloud. One Android user explicitly offers to beta-test accessibility builds. Blind users are a large, vocal, and loyal segment for an Islamic app (several say they "rely on" Qaf), and the current state effectively blocks them; Abdellatif has repeatedly replied that button labeling and screen-reader work is in progress.
What users say
Khadim al-Qur'an (خادم القرآن) — alqrankhadm394@gmail.com
- Date: 2026-08-23 · Language: Arabic · Thread:
1a02e787a467a798· Replied: yes - A blind user asks for better screen-reader compatibility, noting most buttons are unlabeled. Abdellatif replied labeling work is underway; the user answered they await the update "on hot coals."
نرجو منكم جعل التطبيق أكثر توافقية مع قارئات الشاشة الخاصة بالمكفوفين، حيث إن أغلب أزرار التطبيق للأسف غير مصنفة، فنرجو منكم وضع هذا في الاعتبار في التحديثات القادمة
We ask you to make the app more compatible with screen readers for the blind, as unfortunately most of the app's buttons are unlabeled — please take this into account in upcoming updates.
Salem Omar (سالم عمر) — salim2015b@gmail.com
- Date: 2026-08-23 · Language: Arabic · Thread:
1a02b73685973f79· Replied: yes - The entire message was written in the subject line (the body is empty). Requests accessibility improvements for TalkBack/VoiceOver users: programmatic labels for text-less buttons and icons, and screens that are screen-reader compatible. Abdellatif replied it will be added soon.
إضافة تسميات توضيحية برمجية للأزرار والأيقونات التي لا تحتوي على نص، حتى يستطيع قارئ الشاشة نطق وظيفتها بوضوح
Add programmatic descriptive labels for buttons and icons that contain no text, so the screen reader can clearly announce their function. (from the subject line)
Hassan Abu Abdellatif al-Shaykh Najib — hassan.shn73@hotmail.com
- Date: 2026-08-14 · Language: Arabic · Thread:
19ffe83035a1e864· Replied: yes - Thanks the team for the "blessed effort" and asks that Qaf's apps be made compatible with screen readers so blind users can benefit more deeply. Abdellatif replied work is already in progress.
هل يمكن أن تجعلوا تطبيقاته متوافقة مع قارئات الشاشة حتى يكون انتفاع المكفوفين أعمق وأشمل وأدق
Could you make its apps compatible with screen readers so that blind users' benefit is deeper, more comprehensive and more precise?
Sami al-Otaibi (سامي العتيبي) — sami.mf34@gmail.com
- Date: 2026-08-16 · Language: Arabic · Thread:
1a00a551c964d080· Replied: yes - The most specific request: improve compatibility with TalkBack on Android and NVDA on Windows, add an easy in-platform option to read answers aloud, and improve screen-reader navigation across page elements, buttons, and fields. Abdellatif said both features will be added.
وأرجو منكم تحسين توافق المنصة مع قارئات الشاشة المستخدمة من قِبل المكفوفين وضعاف البصر، وبالأخص: قارئ الشاشة TalkBack على هواتف Android. قارئ الشاشة NVDA على أجهزة الكمبيوتر بنظام Windows.
I ask you to improve the platform's compatibility with the screen readers used by the blind and visually impaired, specifically: TalkBack on Android phones and NVDA on Windows computers.
Fahd (اترك اثرآ قبل الرحيل) — fahd.sy1997@gmail.com
- Date: 2026-08-15 · Language: Arabic · Thread:
1a0072337ab736ef· Replied: yes - A blind user: the app works with accessibility/screen reader, but some buttons are unlabeled; asks the developer to make the app more compatible for his blind brothers.
أن شخص كفيف التطبيق يعمل معي ولكن هناك بعض الأزرار غير مصنفة، كمى هو معلوم نحن معشر المكفوفين نستخدم إمكانية الوصول وقارئ الشاشة
As a blind person — the app works for me, but some buttons are unlabeled. As you know, we blind users use accessibility and the screen reader.
Saqr al-Islam Nasheed Network (شبكة صقر الإسلام الإنشادية) — mmmmmadg5@gmail.com
- Date: 2026-08-15 · Language: Arabic · Thread:
1a0047ce50043f77· Replied: yes - A blind Android user asks for 100% screen-reader compatibility with labeled buttons and offers to help test beta versions. In a follow-up he clarifies: the app basically works for blind users, but most buttons are unlabeled so he can only learn their functions by trial, which makes usage hard; asks that Android be fixed first, in the nearest update.
ارجو منكم دعم امكانيه الوصول لقارئ الشاشه وتصنيف الازرار واجعل التطبيق متوافقا مع الناطق بنسبه 100% وانا مستعد في المساعده في اختبار النسخ التجريبيه
Please support screen-reader accessibility, label the buttons, and make the app 100% compatible with the voice narrator — and I am ready to help test the beta versions.
Abed Djedid — djedidabed@gmail.com (Arabic copy)
- Date: 2026-08-14 · Language: Arabic · Thread:
1a001bb6030e8713· Replied: no (the English duplicate got the reply) - A blind user who relies on the app asks the team to prioritize accessibility so blind users can use it with ease. Sent from iPhone.
أود أن أخبركم بأنني أعتمد على هذا التطبيق، ونظراً لكوني كفيفاً، آمل أن تمنحوا الأولوية لميزة امكانية الوصول (accessibility) حتى نتمكن من استخدامه بكل سهولة.
I want to tell you that I rely on this app, and as I am blind, I hope you will give priority to the accessibility feature so we can use it with ease.
Abed Djedid — djedidabed@gmail.com (English copy)
- Date: 2026-08-14 · Language: English · Thread:
1a001b864783a8f6· Replied: yes - Same request in English, sent 3 minutes earlier. Abdellatif: "will work on the suggestion insha'Allah."
I would like to let you know that I rely on this app, and as I am blind, I hope you will prioritize accessibility features so that we can use it with ease.
Mahmoud Maddad — mmaddad2@gmail.com
- Date: 2026-08-14 · Language: Arabic · Thread:
19ffe0ff1f956605· Replied: yes - Subject-line-only report (body is just "Sent from iPhone"): the app is not sufficiently compatible with the blind users' VoiceOver. Abdellatif promised a fix.
التطبيق غير متوافق مع التعليق الصوتي الخاص بالمكفوفين بصورة كافيه.
The app is not sufficiently compatible with the voice-over for the blind. (from the subject line)
Details / repro
- Platforms explicitly named: TalkBack (Android), VoiceOver (iOS/iPhone), NVDA (Windows — implies the web app too).
- Core defect: most buttons/icons have no accessibility labels ("غير مصنفة"), so screen readers cannot announce their function; navigation across page elements, buttons, and input fields is also poor.
- The apps are otherwise operable for blind users — this is a labeling/markup gap, not a total blocker, but it forces trial-and-error use.
- Beta-testing volunteer available: mmmmmadg5@gmail.com (Android). Two users sent their message in the email subject with an empty/boilerplate body — itself a hint they compose with screen readers.
- Related: an in-app read-answers-aloud option is requested here (sami.mf34) and overlaps with the voice-answers-tts issue.
Threads
1a02e787a467a798— blind user: most buttons unlabeled, eager follow-up1a02b73685973f79— TalkBack/VoiceOver labels + compatible screens (subject-line email)19ffe83035a1e864— make apps compatible with screen readers for deeper benefit1a00a551c964d080— TalkBack + NVDA support, voice playback of answers, navigation1a0072337ab736ef— blind user: works but some buttons unlabeled1a0047ce50043f77— Android blind user: 100% compatibility, offers beta testing1a001bb6030e8713— blind user asks to prioritize accessibility (Arabic, unanswered copy)1a001b864783a8f6— blind user asks to prioritize accessibility (English)19ffe0ff1f956605— app insufficiently VoiceOver-compatible (subject-line email)