Node-Read: A Visually Accessible Low-Code Software Development Extension

Abstract

Low-code software development environments are reliant on spatial and graphical user interfaces. As a result, many of these tools are in some way inaccessible to the visually impaired, and very few of these tools are built with visual accessibility in mind. In this paper, we evaluate the accessibility of existing low-code Integrated Development Environments (IDEs), for persons with partial or distorted vision. The aim of this study is to motivate making citizen/end-user software development accessible for users who are reliant on screen readers. We conducted a preliminary review of several low-code development environments which were open source and had a large existing user base, and identified that browser-based low-code IDEs did not integrate well with screen reader software. An extension of an open-source software, Node-RED, was created, as it was found to be suitable to our selection criteria. The extension, referred to as "Node-Read", focuses on improving compatibility with JAWS and NVDA screen readers. Node-Read's keyboard shortcuts, along with their inclusion in critical user documentation, were reported by study participants to be helpful in the basic operation of the software.