VoiceOver Gestures

The Basics

Gesture List

Touch

Touch the screen anywhere with one finger. VoiceOver will announce the name of the selected item and display a black rectangle around the item. This rectangle is called the VoiceOver (VO) Cursor and is useful for a sighted assistant. Once familiar with screen layout, many users can directly move to and touch frequently used items on the screen

Explore

Touch the screen, and then Drag the finger around to learn how items are positioned relative to one another. This is the method to use when learning the layout of a new screen

Single-Tap

A short, quick screen touch. Use the pads of your fingers, not the fingernail. Only a light touch is required

Multiple-Tap

Two, three, or four taps in rapid succession. Multiple taps may be performed with one, two, three, or even four fingers depending on the action to be initiated. Fingers should be held closely together, and all finger pads must touch the screen simultaneously.

Split-Tap

Tap once with one finger, allow the finger to remain on the screen, then tap with a second finger anywhere on the screen

Double-Tap and Hold

Perform the Double-Tap in usual way, but do not lift your finger(s) from the screen after the second tap

Flick

A short, quick brush of one or more fingers in either a vertical or horizontal direction.

Swipe

A slow flick. Typically this is a larger movement than a flick. If a student tends to make Flick gestures too small to be distinguished from a Tap, use the term “Swipe” instead of “Flick” to encourage a larger gesture.

Slide

This term is often used interchangeably with “swipe” It is a larger, somewhat slower gesture. Place a finger(s) near an edge of the screen, then drag the finger(s) horizontally or vertically over the screen.

Turn Rotor

The Rotor is a “virtual” knob or dial. Place two fingers on the screen slightly apart and turn them as if you were turning a physical dial. The sides of both fingers must remain in contact with the screen while turning the knob. The Rotor may be turned clockwise or counter-clockwise.

Pinch open/close, pinch/unpinch, or pinch/expand

Place two fingers or the thumb and a finger on the screen. Spread apart to pinch open or expand, slide the fingers closer together to unpinch.

Scrub

Place two fingers on the screen. Quickly flick right, left, and right again without lifting your fingers from the screen. It is sometimes easier to perform this command if fingers are moved in a slight “z” shape.

Gesture Practice Area

VoiceOver provides a screen where users may practice each type of gesture. Each time a gesture is correctly performed, VoiceOver speaks its name and function. It is well worth spending some time in the practice area to ensure that the student is able to correctly perform each of the above gestures before beginning to explore iOS features and to work with apps. There are two ways to enter VoiceOver Practice:
Method One:

With VoiceOver on, Select Settings > General > Accessibility > VoiceOver > VoiceOver Practice.
Practice the gestures in the lower half of the screen
Double-tap the Done button in the upper right corner of the screen to close this practice area and return to Settings.

Method Two:
With VoiceOver on, perform a Four-Finger Double-Tap anywhere on the screen to enter and exit the gesture practice area.

**Mastery of vocabulary to ensure that students are familiar with the names and functions of screen elements should be emphasized throughout the instruction.**

Tips to Get Started!!

This article provides a systematic and effective approach on how to teach VoiceOver on the iPad to students who are blind or visually impaired

Getting Started with VoiceOver

Interactive Accessibility

Use this link for a printable VoiceOver gesture sheet with visual aids. This is great to leave with your student's classroom teacher/instructional assistant/parents

Printable accessibility sheet

Fun Ways to Practice VoiceOver Gestures!

These fun activities are designed for students who are blind needing additional support with concepts and fine motor skills that are needed for effective us of iOS VO gestures.

Fun ways to practice

VoiceOver Easy

VoiceOver Easy is a tutorial geared toward blind and visually impaired users of iPhones and iPads with Siri capability, and Apple's accessibility technology.

VoiceOver Easy