Allow accessibility screen reader to read a number string one-by-one as digits using semantics [flutter]

Question

I'm using Semantics to adapt my app for accessibility and want to read a phone number (like: Text("950874123")) one to one instead "million, thousand...". Is there any way to do it?

Answer 1

I see this was asked a while back, but I ran into the same problem. I'm adding my solution here to help out the next guy.

I got the solution with the help of this page: https://medium.com/theotherdev-s/mastering-flutter-semantics-672440bc8bc8

Basically, my solution is to use the Semantics label (that I can control) and use ExcludeSemantics to exclude the text that I'm reading. In the label, I divide everything up into an array that I convert into a string. This makes the screen reader see everything as individual numbers.

Here's an example

Semantics(
   label: numberString.split("").toString(),
      child: ExcludeSemantics(
         excluding: true,
            child: Text(numberString),          
             )
 )

*Edit: After playing around more with the code, I realized that the Text field has a property called "semanticsLabel" where you can do the same thing. I left the above example since it can be used for other widget types, not just Text()

This is what the code would look like:

Semantics(
   child: Text(
      viewModel.confirmationId,
      semanticsLabel:numberString.split("").toString(),
    )
)

(additionally, the parent 'Semantics' widget probably isn't needed. The label will work directly with the Text widget)