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See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Original poster

I know there are a million threads on this site already but mn your accessibility (or lack thereof) is shocking.

60 replies

AlternativePerspective · 26/04/2022 06:36

I am a voiceover user using mn on safari because to be frank the app was never very accessible and from what I read wasn’t that user friendly even if you didn’t need a screenreader so I never bothered to complain about it.

But since the new update, I can no longer:

bold/highlight/underline etc because the keyboard shortcuts no longer exist.

Can no longer tag users because the keyboard command to do that no longer exists.

Can no longer insert emoticons because although I can access the drop down every single one of the emoticons is unlabelled and simply reads “undefined”. Quote function was never accessible anyway but at least I could highlight text, now all any voiceover user or anyone who relied on keyboard shortcuts for that matter can do is type,a response. No tagging, no quoting other posters, no emoticons (although I can plum the depths of apple emogi’s for that if I so wish).

Glitches which make the site clunky are annoying and irritating.

Glitches which mean you’re freezing out your disabled users are unacceptable.

As apparently the biggest parenting site in the UK you really should be aiming to do better than this.

OP posts:
Wallywobbles · 27/04/2022 03:48

Disappointing this has nearly gone 24h with no response.

AchillesPoirot · 27/04/2022 04:19

This is really poor. I'm sorry @AlternativePerspective that you've not had an answer.

I'm another user like a pp who has issues with fine coordination in my hands. The website is unusable. I've moved to the app and it's not much better. And I can't scroll up to see who previously made this point I'm making and tag them.

It's a pretty poor show @JustineMumsnet

JayAlfredPrufrock · 27/04/2022 04:20

Things ain’t what they used to be.

<wanders off muttering>

Whinge · 27/04/2022 06:39

I really can't believe MNHQ haven't responded to this 😢

carefullycourageous · 27/04/2022 06:48

PastMyBestBeforeDate · 26/04/2022 14:28

I have made comments on other threads but you've been far more focused than me.

I am physically disabled. Actually hitting some of the very small arrows or digits to navigate around is a bit hit or miss now. I liked the larger navigation buttons and just tapping a post to go to it from Threads I'm On.

I also found it easy to type :) to get a smiley. This no longer resolves.

I agree about the tiny arrows and have no disabilities, must be a nightmare for anyone with a tremor etc.

carefullycourageous · 27/04/2022 06:49

I'm also disappointed there has been no response to your thread @AlternativePerspective

EarringsandLipstick · 27/04/2022 07:11

This is really upsetting to read. The silence on this is upsetting also.

Agreed.

Justine posted on other threads about all they did to ensure accessibility & had long reams of text supporting this.

However, this is an actual user, who is clearly stating it's not accessible & how, based on how she accesses the site.

And MNHQ can't even reply.

And honestly, they shouldn't need to have posts reported to get a response; it's in Site Stuff - they should be actively managing that topic to respond to issues.

SaskiaRembrandt · 27/04/2022 07:13

Accessibility is a pretty basic prerequisite. I find it quite shocking that MNHQ haven't responded to at least say they are working on a solution.,

Oddfood · 27/04/2022 07:17

Bumping for you OP @mnhq

Strikemepink · 27/04/2022 07:18

Very disappointing you’ve not had a response.

Onlythelaundryfairy · 27/04/2022 07:18

Bumping for you. This is unacceptable.

Pyri · 27/04/2022 07:20

I’m surprised that MNHQ have just stopped responding to stuff about the site? I reported my own post on site stuff yesterday / day before to get an answer about AS and MNHQ haven’t responded. Weird?!

daisychain01 · 27/04/2022 07:21

Accessibility is a pretty basic prerequisite

it's more than just basic, it's a legal requirement under the Eqality Act (2010).

The MN policy on Accessibilty is massively out of date citing legislation that predated the EqA (2010) with patronising comments about giving everyone the ability to discuss Gregg's sausage rolls or some such tripe.

HaresHoping · 27/04/2022 07:23

This is shocking. Really unacceptable - MNHQ how are you going to address this?

Oddfood · 27/04/2022 07:26

daisychain01 · 27/04/2022 07:21

Accessibility is a pretty basic prerequisite

it's more than just basic, it's a legal requirement under the Eqality Act (2010).

The MN policy on Accessibilty is massively out of date citing legislation that predated the EqA (2010) with patronising comments about giving everyone the ability to discuss Gregg's sausage rolls or some such tripe.

Omg how embarrassing.

SaskiaRembrandt · 27/04/2022 07:41

I've reported the OP as well. Not sure if it will help.

Whinge · 27/04/2022 08:03

daisychain01 · 27/04/2022 07:21

Accessibility is a pretty basic prerequisite

it's more than just basic, it's a legal requirement under the Eqality Act (2010).

The MN policy on Accessibilty is massively out of date citing legislation that predated the EqA (2010) with patronising comments about giving everyone the ability to discuss Gregg's sausage rolls or some such tripe.

Wow! That's actually quite shocking. 😲

ChesneyHawkesLoveChild · 27/04/2022 08:51

I am another disabled user who is struggling with the site, although not to the extent of voiceover users. I am also shocked that there has been no official comment on this thread!

MoMuntervary · 27/04/2022 08:58

Another bump. Also disabled and having problems with the tiny arrows and am missing the keyboard shortcuts.

Sorry it's worse for Voiceover users

Ihatethenewlook · 27/04/2022 09:11

I think they hoped that everyone would get used to it after a few days and stop complaining. The changes are maddening though. This site gives me a literal headache after 5-10 mins. I don’t know how these things work but would it be that hard just to change it back the way it was?

GentlySnoring · 27/04/2022 09:15

Agree with Daisychain01. Mumsnet’s Accessibility Statement is here and indeed is out of date but it does have a contact email + describes another way of feeding back accessibility concerns (via AIBU). Might be worth following these routes (though of course you shouldn’t have to),

As well as the Equality Act, public sector websites have to comply with additional legislation to make sure they are accessible (Accessibility Regulations 2018). I know this website isn’t public sector, but its audience is so wide you would think it would strive to meet these standards anyway, eg just one of the requirements in WCAG2.1 is “make sure everything works for keyboard-only users”.

I hope this can be fixed asap.

Whinge · 27/04/2022 09:16

Ihatethenewlook · 27/04/2022 09:11

I think they hoped that everyone would get used to it after a few days and stop complaining. The changes are maddening though. This site gives me a literal headache after 5-10 mins. I don’t know how these things work but would it be that hard just to change it back the way it was?

Is that because of the brightness? If so you're not alone. I've had to add a dark mode just so I can continue to use the site. I've never had a problem with any other website, but the new platform gave me a headache due to how bright it is.

AchillesPoirot · 27/04/2022 09:20

How did the mobile website pass accessibility for those with fine motor issues?

Silversprinkles · 27/04/2022 09:57

Come on @MNHQ please reply.

MNHQ
SueMumsnet · 27/04/2022 10:32

Hi all

Sorry for the delay in responding to this - it took a bit of time to look into the issues thoroughly to understand where we can make quick improvements and what needs a bit more investigation.

Most of the keyboard shortcut issues have been caused by the fact that we've moved to a text box plugin to make posting, formatting etc easier to do. But we've looked into it and we can sort the following things relatively quickly (ie in the next few days): add keyboard shortcuts for bold, underline and italic, we can make ctrl+enter work for posting and we can improve the accessibility of drop-down menus; we can also make the Mumsnet emojis work via keyboard shortcuts; and we'll make the small arrows and pagination bigger and bolder.

We know there are a few more things causing stress so beyond these fixes we'll be looking at those and making a plan for sorting any remaining issues. As we've said in other posts, we're absolutely committed to improving accessibility on Mumsnet so any other specific requests on what we can do to make it easier to use would be very much appreciated.