Accessibility Built Into iOS 8

Accessibility for iPhone and iPad: The ultimate guide

​Macworld article with detailed information on accessibility in iOS 5
iOS 6 Accessibility Features Overview by Luis Perez
iOS 7 Accessibility Features Overview by Luis Perez
iOS 8 Accessibility Features Overview by Luis Perez
(Accessibility features have been built into iOS incrementally, so it  helpful to know what has preceded iOS8)
New Accessibility Features in iOS 9 Overview by Luis Perez
New Accessibility Features in iOS10 Overview by Luis Perez
Expected New Accessibility Features in iOS11 by Luis Perez
Some of the accessibility features in iOS 8 are detailed and illustrated below.
Turning on Accessibility Features
  • All accessibility features are off by default and must be turned on in Settings
  • In Settings, under 'General' select  'Accessibility', and you will see what is pictured below. You can scroll down for more accessibility options
Vision Accessibility Supports
Picture
Turn on and set VoiceOver options here.

VoiceOver
  • For blind users, or those with very low vision
  • Auditory feedback allows user to navigate and use the touch screen
  • Eg. touch an icon once to hear what it is, double-tap to activate it, use three-finger flick to scroll pages
  • Note: VoiceOver and Zoom can be used simultaneously
  • VoiceOver can be customized with multiple settings
  • Supports Braille input with Braille keyboard
  • VoiceOver must be turned on in Settings (General -- Accessibility)​
Zoom
  • Zoom entire screen up to 15X by double-tapping with three fingers (opens popover window that enables zooming in/out, and selection of Zoom options)
  • Zoom function may also be activated by triple-clicking the home button, but must be set up to do so
  • Move around zoomed screen by dragging with three fingers
  • Option is available for zooming partial screen, or a "window"
  • Lens filters may be activated for zoomed area -- inverted, grayscale, grayscale inverted, low light
  • Other Zoom options also available, and accessed via pop-up screen​
Larger Text
  • Use Larger Text to adjust font size in all apps that support Dynamic Type, including  Calendar, Contacts, Mail, Messages, Notes
  • Must be turned on and set in Settings (General -- Accessibility)   
  • Adjustments are made with a slider
  • Larger Text can also be turned on in Settings under Display and Brightness
Speak Selection and Speak Screen
  • Reads selected text aloud or entire selected screen
  • Must be turned on in Settings (General -- Accessibility)
  • Speak Screen activated by flicking down with two fingers from top of screen
  • Screen can be navigated in Speak Screen with popover menu
  • Words may be highlighted as spoken​
Speak Auto-Text
Learning
Guided Access
  • User can be restricted to a single app
  • Selected parts of the touch screen may be disabled
  • Easy to set up and use
  • Must be turned on in Settings (General -- Accessibility)
  • Step-by-Step Illustrated Guide
Physical and Motor
Assistive Touch
  • For individuals with limited physical dexterity
  • Set custom gestures, using two to five fingers, to control device
  • Must be turned on in Settings (General – Accessibility)
  • Works with VoiceOver in iOS 6
  • Step-by-Step Illustrated Guide
Home-click Speed
  • Adjusts the speed required to activate Double and Triple-click Home
  • Default / Slow / Slowest
Triple-click
Triple-click Home
  • Set triple-click home button to activate VoiceOver, Invert Colors, Zoom or Assistive Touch
Other iOS Features that Support Access
Siri
  • Voice activated "personal assistant" that can control apps, and obtain information
  • Works with VoiceOver in iOS 6 (not iOS 5 and earlier)
  • Optimized for iPhone, but works with other iOS devices
Reader in Safari Web Browser
  • Eliminates distracting clutter (ads, side-bars, etc) from web pages
  • Allows for adjusting size of font on de-cluttered pages