To the visually impaired users: can you reccomend me an accessible distro?

Posted by LeiaLemon11@reddit | linux | View on Reddit | 33 comments

I have a friend with total blindness who has been wanting to switch to linux.

He has had some success with ubuntu, but wanted to try other distros.

Today he told me he tried to install Kali, since it has some features that are useful for his programming. However, he could not access the screen reader through the installation process which rendered it completely inaccessible to him.

I did some research and found that Kali has some trouble with the screen reader for the terminal, which people seem to solve by installing and using gnome as default DE.

I tried to help him remotely, but we haven't had any success. Unfortunately, today I can't videocall him to help with the installation.

So I came here asking for help: could you reccommend an accessible distro for people who need screen readers? It needs to be accessible since the installation, which can be done via terminal (he knows how to do it).

Additionaly, if anyone has a tip on how to solve the kali issue, it would be much appreciated.

Sorry for the writing, english is not my first language.
Thanks in advance!

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ReArmedHalo@reddit

Actually, macOS really holds the standard in my mind. I’m legally blind myself and absolutely love the magnifier in macOS. Windows magnifier is pretty good too. I have a few totally blind programming friends (webdev) and they love macOS with voiceover. It’s so much better than narrator on windows. Third party programs like JAWS are needed for the best experience on windows.

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BranchLatter4294@reddit

Yes, but that may require new hardware. Windows can run on any Intel or AMD computer.

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eriomys@reddit

Except W11

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ReArmedHalo@reddit

That’s a fair point. I’m an IT Security Engineer by trade, work gave me a MacBook and I use a PC desktop for basically everything else. If you don’t want new hardware, Windows magnifier is “good enough” if all you need is magnification. I do my web development on a MacBook as well so I use the macOS magnifier there.

I’ve tried KDE with its built in magnification on PopOS! and it just wasn’t as nice an experience but it would get the job done.

My personal preference if your open to new hardware, Mac mini or MacBook Air/Pro depending on your needs. Windows second, Linux third.

Now if you’re completely blind, Linux isn’t even a contender IMO. The accessibility with screen readers just isn’t there IMO.

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coyote_of_the_month@reddit

I have worked as a web developer in the education space, where a11y is truly a first-class concern. I used VoiceOver to QA my work and it was an alright experience, but holy shit if I tabbed over to my editor without turning it off, it was like getting hit full-force with a fire hose.

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ReArmedHalo@reddit

Haha! My blind friend used to use Atom because of how simple and accessible it was. Recently I got him to try out VSCode and he’s gotten it customized to be a decent experience.

What editor did/do you use?

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coyote_of_the_month@reddit

I was using VSCode back then. I eventually switched to Vim, and VoiceOver wouldn't read the terminal I was using so it greatly improved my experience as a sighted developer working on accessible experiences, haha!

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ReArmedHalo@reddit

I’m not sure my friend has tried the built in terminal, I’ll have to ask him. I try and use VO during developing as well.

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coyote_of_the_month@reddit

I can't for the life of me recall what terminal I was using back then. It might have been the MacOS built-in one; it's gotten pretty good. But I was an iterm2 user for a long time.

michaelpaoli@reddit

See, e.g. Debian. I've assisted totally blind coworker / acquaintance with installing Debian for blind setup - actually pretty easy to do ... easy enough blind person can do it - at least the Debian parts - generally without assistance.

BIOS/CMOS/UEFI parts before booting Debian though ... that may require some sighted assistance.

left_shoulder_demon@reddit

Is that a braille terminal setup, or a screen reader setup?

Generally done it with screen reader - it speaks the text.

And pretty friggin' amazing how fast a well adapted blind person can handle it.

spezdrinkspiss@reddit

Step 1: Install Windows Step 2: Install WSL

Linux accessibility is pretty much a joke.

Revolutionary__br@reddit

I'm a visually impaired oerson myself And the only thing that ties me to that cursed mainstream system (windows) is the accessibility that is literally years ahead of Linux

MatchingTurret@reddit

I want and will learn to program to try to change this

Good for you. But I think getting this right is a thorny problem that touches almost every layer in the Linux desktop stack. Not something a fledgling programmer can do on its own.

CompetitionSquare240@reddit

That’s honestly terrible to hear, as someone who loves and praises accessibility wherever it’s available. I think this issue will be the biggest hindrance to Linux’s popularity.

kqadem@reddit

Yes. The advantage of windows and Mac OS is that they are not fragmented with Distros like in the Linux Desktop world. We need a common spec like WCAG that all browser need to implement, but for Desktop Environments.

Freedesktop.org is the closest thing to a common spec; it'd be awesome to see a little more focus on accessibility there.

Windows might be the best bet here.

dicksonleroy@reddit

Any feature that Kali has can be installed on Ubuntu. Other than Ubuntu, you’re really not going to find a more well-supported distro. Although Fedora may be a bit more well-supported.

irasponsibly@reddit

Yeah, there's [not much reason to use Kali for programming(https://www.kali.org/docs/introduction/should-i-use-kali-linux/).

VelvetElvis@reddit

I'd see if WSL works with JAWS before trying anything else.

no_brains101@reddit

Gnome is known to be the best bet for this yes. It might not be as good as screen readers offered by something like a Mac though

epSos-DE@reddit

He probably needs an app or ai voice input

CallEnvironmental902@reddit

fedora has a screen narrator.

Honestly, the FOSS community has dropped the ball hard on a11y, and they've dropped it hard.

I don't want to disparage the work the dedicated folks on the Orca project have done, but it's not in the same ballpark as Apple's VoiceOver, and it's not even playing the same sport as JAWS on windows.

the FOSS community

Open source is neither a community nor a democracy

Fair enough. Accusing the community of dropping the ball is wrong, since there was no ball to begin with. Nobody has chosen to develop a commercial-caliber screen reader for Linux; it's a poor choice of words.

I did a lot of accessibility related work in the web context. I got the honor to develop the first ever fully accessible component Library for the second largest federal agency which then has been used dozens of projects. Its reputation was so good, even other federal agencies reached out to us, which usually never happens.

During this time I worked hand in hand with impaired people and started to appreciate the benefits of the extra miles for establishing accessibility. First time ever I had the feeling that I really helped people out there.

I would love to participate in projects to make Linux more accessible. To be honest. Where to start? For the web you have with the WCAG a really mature specification that all browser need to implement to claim they support it. But in Linux? Gnome? KDE? X11? Wayland? Then all the jerks who are emotionally bound to their code and consider implementing accessibility support as smell. I am not willing to waste my time with pointless discussions

I'm not sure what an accessible experience would look like at the kernel level, nor really the X11/Wayland level. The Gnome/KDE level seems like the appropriate place to have that discussion.

_Aetos@reddit

https://www.reddit.com/r/linux/comments/13rym2j/linux_and_scren_readers_for_the_blind/

Also, don't use Kali as a daily driver. It's possible, but it's not a good idea.

OrseChestnut@reddit

I can't answer your question, but for your friend, I'm pretty sure it's quite easy to install those tools on any distro that works for him. That's what I heard at least.

Grace_Tech_Nerd@reddit

For kali, when the distro first boots and gives you the options of things to boot, press s for speach. Any distro with an accessible de or wm should work okay, like others have said, accessibility does need some improvement. Have him use either mate or xfce. Also, if he ever wants to install Arch, when the menu comes up, just press down arrow once for speech.