This is a friendly reminder of our upcoming Techstravaganza which will take place tomorrow afternoon (Wednesday, May 20, 2026) from 1:00 to 3:00 PM Eastern.
Please be advised that this is an ongoing weekly workshop. All workshops are recorded and posted immediately after the workshop for your reference. They are also podcasted, so you can follow and listen on your podcasting platform of choice. we recommend that you please join in 15 minutes prior to the workshop, in order to ensure that your setup is working correctly. Also, please be advised that the Zoom studio is setup so that everyone is muted upon entry, in order to prevent background noise when coming into the studio.
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coming Up
On this week’s Techstravaganza, as a follow-up to Ali’s excellent tutorial on VoiceOver basics, we will take a look at customizing VoiceOver commands, both gestures and keyboard commands.
If you have any questions or topic suggestions, comments or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to the team.
Siena conducted a live, screen-shared VoiceOver demonstration of the Uber Eats ordering experience within the main Uber app on iPhone. The tutorial walked through the full ordering flow from browsing to checkout.
Details
Siena: Explained that Uber Eats exists both as a standalone app and as a tab within the main Uber app; demonstrated using the integrated Uber app.
Palmer: Asked whether Uber and Uber Eats are one app or two — Siena clarified both options exist and recommended the standalone app for users who only use Uber Eats.
Siena: Demonstrated navigating the app’s bottom tabs: Uber (rides), Eats, Courier, and Shops.
Siena: Used the Search Uber Eats field to search for “Swiss Chalet,” yielding 358 results.
Siena: Navigated the Swiss Chalet menu using VoiceOver heading navigation, covering sections: Picked For You, Beef is Back (limited time), Deals and Specials, Starters, Rotisserie Chicken, Barbecue Ribs, Handhelds, Wings and Tenders, Bowls and More, Kids Meals, Desserts, Extra Sides and Sauces, Drinks, and More to Explore.
Siena: Demonstrated adding items to the cart for tutorial participants, including a Deluxe Roast Beef on a Bun (for herself), a Chalet Chicken Soup Bowl (requested by Lily via chat), a Quarter Chicken Dinner with white meat and market vegetables (for Palmer), a Third Rack Barbecue Back Ribs with smoky barbecue sauce, Crispy Chicken Tenders with buffalo sauce and fries (for Ali), and a Ginger Ale.
Palmer: Noted that item descriptions are not shown in the list view and require a double-tap to access — Siena confirmed this.
Palmer: Observed that calorie counts were displayed for most items and sides, which was useful for making informed choices.
Siena: Demonstrated the cart view, showing a subtotal of $101.52 for the full order, with a final total of $123.19 including a $0.99 delivery fee and $20.68 in taxes.
Siena: Showed the checkout screen, including tip options (5%, 10%, 15%, or custom), noting that 100% of the tip goes to the courier/driver.
Palmer: Asked about UberCash — Siena explained it functions like a prepaid balance that can be used instead of a credit card on file.
Siena: Demonstrated removing items from the cart one by one using the VoiceOver Actions menu, adjusting quantity to zero and confirming removal.
Ivy: Suggested there might be a “cancel entire order” option; Siena noted she did not find one during exploration.
Geoff: Suggested the option might exist but be visually hidden or unlabeled for VoiceOver, referencing a similar experience with another app.
Siena: Noted one unlabeled button was encountered in the app but was not relevant to the core ordering flow.
Jackie: Commented that Uber Eats is easy to use but can be expensive.
Conclusion
Uber Eats (within the Uber app) is highly accessible, using standard radio buttons and checkboxes that VoiceOver reads clearly.
Users should ensure their phone is unlocked before screen sharing.
No single “clear cart” button was found; items must be removed individually via the VoiceOver Actions menu.
A future session on the Uber “Shop” (grocery delivery) feature was proposed.
Following the Uber Eats tutorial, the group discussed exploring the Uber Shop feature in a future session.
Details
Siena: Proposed covering the Uber Shop section in a future Textravaganza Evenings session.
Lily: Expressed interest and hoped it would be more accessible than Instacart, which she found problematic.
Siena: Agreed, noting she had also encountered issues with Instacart previously.
Jackie: Confirmed interest in seeing how grocery shopping via Uber works.
Conclusion
A future Textravaganza Evenings session will be dedicated to the Uber Shop (grocery delivery) feature.
ScribeMe App Removal from the App Store
Ali raised a report from the Blind Apples mailing list about ScribeMe being removed from the App Store.
Details
Ali: Noted he saw a thread claiming ScribeMe had been removed from the App Store, though he expressed uncertainty about the reliability of the source.
Jackie: Said she was glad she had already downloaded it.
Ali: Pointed out that even existing users would not be able to re-download the app if it is no longer available on the App Store.
Conclusion
The removal of ScribeMe from the App Store was flagged as unconfirmed but worth monitoring.
Technology Refresh Cycle for Accessibility Testing
Palmer raised a question about how frequently accessibility testers should update their equipment.
Details
Palmer: Asked for a general recommendation on how often to replace devices used for accessibility consulting.
Ali: Suggested every 3 to 5 years as a reasonable cycle.
Siena: Agreed with 3 to 5 years, noting she has had her current Mac for about three years and it still functions well; also mentioned she is receiving new equipment through Ontario’s Assistive Devices Program (ADP).
Palmer: Noted his Mac is nearly 10 years old and that his grandmother is offering him a Windows 11 PC with 16 GB of RAM.
Lily: Said she typically waits until a device has major issues before upgrading, and does not do accessibility testing, so currency is less critical for her.
Ali: Suggested 3 to 5 years as a practical minimum for those doing accessibility work.
Conclusion
A 3-to-5-year refresh cycle is recommended for devices used in accessibility testing.
Individual circumstances (device condition, program funding, type of work) may influence the actual timeline.
Google Workspace for Branding and Productivity
Ali discussed his use of Google Workspace for professional branding, storage, and workflow integration.
Details
Ali: Explained that Google Workspace allows him to connect his WordPress.comwebsite domain and use a branded email address (e.g., alimusa@themusaslobodionetwork.ca).
Ali: Noted benefits include shared drives, Google Meet integration, additional storage, and AI-generated meeting summaries via Gemini.
Siena: Confirmed she is also a Google Workspace subscriber, using the email siena.trigiani@textravaganza.ca, and finds the familiar Google Drive/Docs environment more feature-rich under Workspace.
Palmer: Asked for clarification on how Workspace connects to a website — Ali clarified his site is on WordPress.com, and Workspace is used for domain email and productivity tools.
Lily: Asked whether Google Meet also generates AI summaries — Ali confirmed it does, via Gemini, and noted it produces more detailed notes with timestamps compared to Zoom’s AI summary.
Ali: Added that Google Meet stores recordings and meeting notes in a dedicated “Meet Recordings” folder in Google Drive, making them easy to locate.
Lily: Noted that timestamped transcripts are very useful for navigating long recordings, such as podcasts on YouTube.
Ali: Confirmed Google Meet also provides a full transcript.
Conclusion
Google Workspace provides meaningful branding, storage, and productivity benefits for both Ali and Siena.
Google Meet’s Gemini-powered summaries and organized recording storage are seen as advantages over Zoom.
Zapier for Workflow Automation
Ali introduced Zapier as a tool he uses to automate recurring event-related email communications.
Details
Ali: Described Zapier as a platform for automating repetitive tasks, not a calendar tool.
Ali: Explained he set up a “Zap” that monitors his Google Calendar for events tagged “Books Panel” and automatically sends reminder emails to all invited guests 24 hours and 1 hour before the event.
Ali: Noted this eliminates the need to manually schedule and send reminder emails each month.
Palmer: Summarized the workflow as writing the email once, scheduling it, and having Zapier execute it automatically — Ali confirmed.
Siena: Added that Zapier includes a Copilot (AI) feature that allows users to describe what they want in plain language, and Zapier builds the automation accordingly.
Ali: Confirmed he uses Copilot regularly as it makes building Zaps more efficient, especially for tricky field configurations.
Lily: Noted Copilot would be especially helpful for new users unfamiliar with the platform.
Ali: Highlighted that Zapier’s support team is highly responsive, often assigning a dedicated point of contact for continuity on open cases.
Palmer: Asked whether Zapier has an app — Ali and Siena confirmed it is web-only.
Conclusion
Zapier is a web-based automation tool useful for reducing manual, repetitive communication tasks.
The Copilot feature lowers the barrier to entry for new users.
Zapier’s support team is considered reliable and helpful.
Books Panel Upcoming Event
Ali briefly mentioned the Books Panel event during the Zapier discussion.
Details
Ali: Referenced the Books Panel as a recurring event held on the last Friday of each month, used as an example of a Zapier automation use case.
Siena: Noted the next Books Panel is on May 29th.
Palmer: Asked to be added to the invite list.
Ali: Agreed to add Palmer to the list.
Conclusion
The next Books Panel is scheduled for May 29, 2026.
Palmer will be added to the Books Panel invite list.
Accessibility and Transportation Challenges in Rural Areas
A discussion emerged about the difficulties of using ride-sharing and delivery services when living in rural or semi-rural areas.
Details
Lily: Noted that Skip the Dishes does not deliver to her home due to her rural location.
Palmer: Described reliance on parents for transportation, uncertainty about whether Uber would service his area, and challenges with no sidewalks and wind affecting hearing aids.
Lily: Agreed that proximity to a city significantly increases available options.
Palmer: Noted that even in semi-rural areas with nearby houses, the absence of sidewalks creates safety challenges for pedestrians with visual or hearing impairments.
Conclusion
Rural residents face significant barriers to accessing ride-sharing and food delivery services.
Lack of sidewalks and transportation infrastructure compounds accessibility challenges for people with disabilities in non-urban areas.
Meta Glasses and the Orion Feature
Palmer briefly mentioned the Meta smart glasses and their Orion outdoor navigation feature.
Details
Palmer: Referenced a Double Tap podcast segment where a co-host used the Orion feature outdoors, noting it provided useful environmental information despite not being officially recommended for outdoor use.
Palmer: Explained that using Orion requires the phone app, with the glasses connected to it, and switching back to the Meta AI app via the app switcher when done.
Siena: Expressed interest and suggested it could be a future tutorial topic.
Conclusion
Meta glasses with the Orion feature may be a candidate for a future Textravaganza tutorial.
Subscriber Growth and Community Engagement
Ali and Siena encouraged listeners and participants to subscribe to the Textravaganza website newsletter.
Details
Ali: Reported the subscriber list is currently at 79 and growing.
Ali: Encouraged podcast listeners and session participants to subscribe at the Textravaganza website.
Siena: Offered to manually subscribe anyone who has difficulty signing up.
Ali and Siena: Reminded participants of available communication channels: Textravaganza Friends group, WhatsApp workshop group, Messenger, and the support@textravaganza.ca email.
Conclusion
The Textravaganza newsletter currently has 79 subscribers; growth is a shared priority.
Multiple contact channels are available for participants needing assistance.
This is a friendly heads up that this evening’s Techstravaganza 2.0 workshop will begin in exactly 15 minutes from now! That’s right everyone, only 15 minutes to go, and I’m super pumped for tonight’s workshop! It will start promptly at 7:00 PM Eastern and will run until 9:00 PM Eastern!
Please note that Techstravaganza 2.0 is an ongoing monthly workshop. All workshops are recorded and posted immediately after the workshop for your reference. They are also podcasted, so you can listen to them on your favourite podcast player of choice. we recommend that you please join in 15 minutes prior to the workshop, in order to ensure that your setup is working correctly. Also, please be advised that the Zoom studio is setup so that everyone is muted upon entry, in order to prevent background noise when coming into the studio.
In order to join in the workshop, please use the following conference information:
This is a friendly heads up that this evening’s Techstravaganza 2.0 workshop will begin in exactly one hour from now! It will start promptly at 7:00 PM Eastern and will run until 9:00 PM Eastern!
Please note that Techstravaganza 2.0 is an ongoing monthly workshop. All workshops are recorded and posted immediately after the workshop for your reference. They are also podcasted, so you can listen to them on your favourite podcast player of choice. we recommend that you please join in 15 minutes prior to the workshop, in order to ensure that your setup is working correctly. Also, please be advised that the Zoom studio is setup so that everyone is muted upon entry, in order to prevent background noise when coming into the studio.
In order to join in the workshop, please use the following conference information:
Siena formally opened the session, outlined the day’s agenda, and reviewed meeting housekeeping guidelines.
Details
Siena: Introduced the session as a VoiceOver basics workshop covering iPhone first, then Mac, with Ali as the tutorial host. Also announced the next day’s Textravaganza 2.0 on Uber Eats (7–9 p.m. Eastern).
Siena: Reviewed muting/unmuting shortcuts — Command-Shift-A (Mac), Alt-A (PC) — and hand-raise shortcuts — Alt-Y (PC), Option-Y (Mac), Star-6 and Star-9 for phone lines.
Palmer: Added that on iPhone with VoiceOver, a two-finger double-tap can mute/unmute in Zoom, though the first use may briefly drop audio before stabilizing.
Siena: Confirmed and elaborated on Palmer’s tip, noting the brief audio drop is a known glitch on first use.
Conclusion
Participants were reminded to stay muted during tutorials and unmute with raised hands during Q&A.
The two-finger double-tap method for muting on iPhone with VoiceOver was confirmed as functional after the initial use.
Ali demonstrated core VoiceOver gestures on the iPhone, including navigating the home screen, activating apps, and understanding flick gestures.
Details
Ali: Explained that a short flick left moves to the previous item and a short flick right moves to the next item; emphasized “short” to distinguish from a long swipe.
Ali: Demonstrated a one-finger double-tap to activate a focused item, opening the Entertainment folder and then YouTube as a live example.
Ali: Showed how to organize apps into folders (e.g., Entertainment, Social, Utilities) and noted his folder structure is preserved via iCloud backup across devices.
Ali: Clarified that folder structures and organization would be covered in a future tutorial.
Conclusion
Core gestures covered: short flick left (previous item), short flick right (next item), one-finger double-tap (activate item).
Folder organization on the home screen is a planned future tutorial topic.
VoiceOver iPhone Tutorial — Accessing Home Screen and App Switcher (Devices Without Home Button)
Ali demonstrated how to return to the home screen and access the app switcher on Face ID iPhones using VoiceOver.
Details
Ali: Instructed participants to touch the bottom middle of the screen; a blip sound indicates entry into the gesture mode. A quick flick up from that position navigates to the home screen; holding longer triggers “Lift for home” or “Lift for app switcher” prompts.
Liz: Asked whether going to the home screen closes the open app; Ali clarified it does not — the app moves to the background in the app switcher.
Liz: Mentioned she prefers closing apps to keep things tidy; Ali noted some apps must remain open in the background to function properly.
Siena: Added a practical use case — keeping two apps open simultaneously (e.g., Safari and Mail) facilitates copy-pasting between them via the app switcher.
Jeroo: Reported difficulty performing the gesture; Ali and Siena advised touching the bottom edge (not left or right corner) and performing a quick flick.
Conclusion
The bottom-middle touch + quick flick up gesture is the standard method to access the home screen or app switcher on Face ID iPhones with VoiceOver.
Some apps require background operation; closing all apps is not always recommended.
VoiceOver iPhone Tutorial — Flick Up/Down and the Rotor
Liz raised a question about the function of flick up and flick down gestures, prompting a discussion on the VoiceOver rotor.
Details
Liz: Asked what a flick up does in general, noting she had recently learned the flick down and found it very useful.
Ali: Explained that flick up and down interact with the rotor — for example, if the rotor is set to “Characters,” flicking up moves to the previous character and flicking down to the next.
Liz: Confirmed understanding and expressed appreciation for learning new gestures through the workshop.
Conclusion
Flick up/down behavior depends on the current rotor setting; this enables granular navigation (e.g., by character, word, or line).
VoiceOver iPhone Tutorial — Notification Center
Ali demonstrated how to access and navigate Notification Center using VoiceOver.
Details
Ali: Explained that touching the top middle of the screen and performing a quick flick down accesses Notification Center; a second flick down accesses Control Center.
Ali: Showed live notifications including grouped Gmail, Mona, Discord, YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn, and sports news items.
Ali: Explained that notifications from apps with five or more items are grouped by app; this grouping behavior is configurable and will be covered in a future tutorial.
Ali: Recommended using Notification Center or the lock screen rather than asking Siri “Do I have any new messages?” for more reliable and accurate results.
Ali: Advised against using the mute switch to ask the voice assistant about messages, as this can cause missed notifications; instead, recommended setting up Focus modes with haptics and sounds enabled.
Jeroo: Asked for a repeat of the Notification Center access steps; Ali clarified the top-middle touch + flick down sequence.
Jackie: Asked if there is a way to prevent the phone from locking while reading notifications; Ali confirmed there is currently no way to change this behavior in iOS.
Conclusion
Notification Center is accessed via top-middle touch + quick flick down; it is the recommended method for checking messages accurately.
Grouped notifications appear when five or more notifications exist from a single app.
Phone auto-locking during notification reading is a current iOS limitation with no known workaround.
Suppressing VoiceOver Passcode Announcement
Liz raised a privacy concern about VoiceOver announcing her passcode aloud in public.
Details
Liz: Asked how to prevent VoiceOver from speaking her passcode when unlocking the phone in public, noting she is deaf and uses VoiceOver at high volume.
Siena: Suggested sharing the screen only after the phone is already unlocked, or using keyboard/braille screen input to enter the passcode silently.
Siena: Recommended using a three-finger double-tap to toggle speech off before entering the passcode, then toggling it back on afterward.
Conclusion
A three-finger double-tap toggles VoiceOver speech on/off, allowing silent passcode entry in public settings.
VoiceOver iPhone Tutorial — Control Center
Ali navigated through Control Center, demonstrating its layout and available toggles.
Details
Ali: Accessed Control Center via the top-middle touch + two flick downs; demonstrated three pages of controls including Airplane Mode, AirDrop, Wi-Fi, brightness, volume, screen lock rotation, and connectivity options (Bluetooth, cellular data, VPN, personal hotspot).
Ali: Noted his Braille display (Brilliant BI40X) appeared in the Bluetooth section and expressed appreciation for the device.
Liz: Asked about clearing a recurring Visa payment notification; Ali said he would address notification clearing shortly.
Liz: Asked about VPN and hotspot usage; Ali advised against leaving hotspot on due to data and battery drain, recommending Wi-Fi at home and cellular data only when needed.
Palmer: Added that using cellular data is acceptable when Wi-Fi quality is poor.
Lily: Suggested going into cellular data settings to disable data for high-consumption apps (e.g., video streaming, maps) while keeping it on for email and messages.
Ali: Confirmed he had done this and thanked Lily for the tip.
Conclusion
Control Center provides quick access to key device toggles; accessed via top-middle touch + two flick downs.
Hotspot and VPN should be used sparingly due to data and battery impact.
Disabling cellular data for specific high-usage apps is a recommended data-saving strategy.
Background App Refresh
Jackie asked about the impact of Background App Refresh on battery life.
Details
Jackie: Asked whether turning off Background App Refresh saves battery, having heard this recommendation online.
Ali: Recommended leaving Background App Refresh on, as some apps require it to update content while running in the background.
Conclusion
Background App Refresh should remain enabled to ensure apps function correctly and stay updated.
Screen Share Audio Routing Issues and Loopback Workaround
Ali encountered persistent issues with Zoom screen sharing not transmitting VoiceOver audio, leading to a workaround using Loopback and QuickTime.
Details
Ali: Attempted to share his iPhone screen via Zoom but VoiceOver audio was not coming through despite the screen being visible.
Ashlyn: Noted similar issues had occurred in previous sessions.
Ali: Decided to route VoiceOver audio through the call directly using Loopback (a Mac audio routing app) and QuickTime Player for audio capture.
Siena: Assisted with setup, advising Ali to select the Loopback device in QuickTime and set volume to 100%.
Ali: Encountered an echo after initial setup; resolved by switching the QuickTime input from the Loopback device back to Ali’s iPhone microphone directly.
Macara: Confirmed audio was working correctly after the fix; Ashlyn also confirmed.
Ali: Explained that Loopback allows routing of audio from sources that cannot natively come through a call, such as VoiceOver output.
Conclusion
VoiceOver audio was successfully routed through the Zoom call using Loopback and QuickTime after screen sharing failed.
Loopback is a useful tool for routing non-native audio sources into calls.
VoiceOver Mac Tutorial — Dock Navigation
Ali transitioned to the Mac and demonstrated VoiceOver navigation of the Dock.
Details
Ali: Used Command-Tab to switch to Finder, then Control-Option-D to navigate to the Dock.
Ali: Demonstrated Control-Option-Left Arrow (previous item) and Control-Option-Right Arrow (next item) to move through 53 Dock items, reading each aloud including Finder, Contacts, FaceTime, Mail, Messages, Safari, Zoom, Reaper, GoldWave, Loopback, Discord, and others.
Ali: Used Control-Option-Home to jump to the beginning of the Dock.
Ali: Noted that first-letter navigation also works in the Dock (e.g., pressing “G” to jump to Google Chrome).
Conclusion
Mac VoiceOver Dock navigation uses Control-Option-Left/Right Arrow; Control-Option-Home jumps to the start.
First-letter navigation is also available in the Dock.
VoiceOver Mac Tutorial — Web Browsing on CELA
Ali demonstrated web browsing using VoiceOver on the Mac, navigating to the CELA library website to search for a book.
Details
Ali: Opened Google Chrome using first-letter navigation (“G”) from the Dock and pressed Enter to launch it.
Ali: Used Command-L to access the address bar and navigated to the CELA website.
Ali: Used Control-Option-Command-J to access the accessibility jump menu and navigated to the search field using heading and list navigation.
Siena: Suggested searching for “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time” by Mark Haddon.
Ali: Encountered a search error on the first attempt due to a spelling issue; Lily suggested “nighttime” may be one word, which resolved the search.
Ali: Found multiple results and navigated through available formats: Braille (contracted), Electronic Braille, DAISY Audio (Direct to Player and Zip), DAISY Text, Word, and EPUB.
Ali: Selected EPUB Zip as his preferred format for the demonstration.
Ali: Explained that one-finger double-tap (on iPhone) and Control-Option-Space (on Mac) are used to activate items and expand menus.
Conclusion
Web browsing with VoiceOver on Mac uses heading navigation, list navigation, and the accessibility jump menu (Control-Option-Command-J).
CELA offers multiple accessible formats; EPUB and DAISY Audio Zip are commonly preferred.
Accessible Book Formats — EPUB vs. DAISY Audio vs. Synthetic Audio
A discussion arose about the differences between accessible book formats available on CELA and how they work with Voice Dream Reader.
Details
Lily: Asked whether EPUB files can be imported into e-book readers like Kindle; Ali confirmed they can and noted he uses Voice Dream Reader.
Makara: Asked whether EPUB and DAISY Audio Zip function similarly in Voice Dream Reader; Ali confirmed they do, noting EPUB provides the text copy and allows use of a preferred TTS voice.
Palmer: Asked about the difference between synthetic audio and DAISY Zip formats.
Ali: Explained that DAISY Zip is preferred when human-narrated audio is available, as it packages audio and text together for Voice Dream Reader. Synthetic audio uses a pre-rendered TTS voice and is less preferred.
Siena: Clarified that with synthetic audio, users are limited to the voice embedded in the format, whereas EPUB in Voice Dream Reader allows selection of any preferred voice.
Siena: Added that Voice Dream Reader also works with VoiceOver and Braille displays, enabling Braille reading of books.
Ali: Noted that CELA has reduced its human-narrated audio content over time; he prefers audio formats for consistent position tracking.
Lily: Pointed out that CELA does not prioritize human-narrated audio in search results but that filters at the bottom of the page allow users to filter out synthetic audio.
Conclusion
EPUB and DAISY Audio Zip are both compatible with Voice Dream Reader; EPUB allows custom voice selection.
Synthetic audio is limited to the embedded voice and is generally less preferred.
CELA’s filter options can be used to show only human-narrated audio content.
Audiobook Platforms and Services
Participants discussed various audiobook platforms, their pros and cons, and accessibility considerations.
Details
Ashlyn: Mentioned using Audible and Libby; noted Libby waitlists can be months long for popular titles, which is a key advantage of Audible.
Ali: Acknowledged he has an Audible monthly membership and a growing library; mentioned he used to monitor Audible Daily Deals but has stopped to avoid impulse purchases.
Lily: Noted her family accumulated 120–130 Audible titles over 10 years and retained them after cancelling membership.
Ali: Expressed interest in the Harry Potter Full Cast Edition on Audible.
Makara: Suggested a Libby tutorial for a future session.
Ashlyn: Mentioned Hoopla as another Hamilton library option.
Palmer: Mentioned using Cloud Library through his library board; noted some e-book navigation issues (e.g., large page chunks, getting stuck between pages).
Palmer: Confirmed Libby replaced OverDrive.
Jackie: Suggested Google Play Books as an option for purchasing individual audiobooks or e-books without a subscription.
Siena: Mentioned Apple Books as another potential source.
Palmer: Looked up the audiobooks app Liz mentioned; confirmed it is free to download but books are purchased individually.
Jackie: Noted she has Spotify Premium, which includes 15 hours of free audiobook listening per month; mentioned she used all 15 hours for the first time last month.
Ali: Noted 15 hours per month is insufficient for heavy readers.
Liz: Asked about a specific book — “Expert Tips for Travelers with Vision Loss” — not available on CELA; Ali suggested signing up for Audible for one month, using a credit to get the book, then cancelling.
Ashlyn: Confirmed she had to use an Audible credit for the same book.
Ali: Mentioned he had a 5-credit bundle offer from Audible for $35 but declined it.
Ashlyn: Highlighted that Audible offers full-cast productions and Great Courses content.
Siena: Mentioned she has done accessibility testing for Libby at her sister’s request and may pursue a library card to use it.
Conclusion
Multiple audiobook platforms were discussed: Audible, Libby, Hoopla, Cloud Library,
Future Tutorial Topics
Participants collectively proposed a range of future tutorial topics throughout the session.
Details
Ali: Proposed a future tutorial on customizing VoiceOver commands (tentatively scheduled for June).
Ali: Proposed a tutorial on iPhone folder structures and home screen organization.
Makara: Suggested a Goodreads tutorial.
Makara and Ali: Agreed to do a Voice Dream Reader tutorial.
Ali: Suggested revisiting Audible in a future session.
Ashlyn: Requested more book app tutorials generally.
Lily: Expressed interest in a Voice Dream Reader tutorial.
Siena: Added a Libby tutorial to the reminder list.
Ashlyn: Mentioned Hoopla as a potential tutorial topic.
Ali: Noted the upcoming books panel and expressed enthusiasm for the overlap between book content and Textravaganza.
Siena: Mentioned the Musa Slobodia Network has a Textravaganza commercial; Ali noted a link to a recent episode featuring Becky Coles would be included in the Textravaganza posting.
Conclusion
Confirmed upcoming topics include: customizing VoiceOver commands (June), Libby, Voice Dream Reader, Audible, Goodreads, folder organization, and book app tutorials.
This is a friendly reminder of our upcoming Techstravaganza 2.0, which will take place tomorrow evening (Thursday, May 14, 2026) from 7:00 to 9:00 PM Eastern!
Please note that Techstravaganza 2.0 is an ongoing monthly workshop. All workshops are recorded and posted immediately after the workshop for your reference. we recommend that you please join in 15 minutes prior to the workshop, in order to ensure that your setup is working correctly. Also, please be advised that the Zoom studio is setup so that everyone is muted upon entry, in order to prevent background noise when coming into the studio.
In order to join in the workshop, please use the following conference information:
Here is the updated agenda for the workshops, now covering all of May and June, as well as the beginning of July. More updates will be sent out once topics are added to the schedule for future months.
Wednesday, May 6, 2026. Cable management and NVDA basics.
Wednesday, May 13, 2026. Voiceover Basics on the iPhone and Mac.
Wednesday, May 20, 2026. Customizing Voiceover Commands on the iPhone.
Wednesday, May 27, 2026. Android TalkBack Basics.
Wednesday, June 3, 2026. LibreOffice for Windows and Mac.
Wednesday, June 10, 2026. PicciBot.
Wednesday, June 17, 2026. Apple Music Radio Feature on iPhone and iPad.
Wednesday, June 24, 2026. Gmail on the Web Revisited: Windows and Mac.
Thursday, July 2, 2026. Libby Tutorial.
Wednesday, July 8, 2026. GoodReads tutorial.
If you have any questions and or topic suggestions, please feel free to reach out to us at, support@techstravaganza.ca.
Just a friendly heads up! Our Techstravaganza workshop will kick off in exactly 15 minutes from mow! It will begin promptly at 1:00 PM Eastern, and will run until 3:00 PM Eastern. Please note that the studio is now open, so please come on in, sit back relax, and enjoy the workshop!
Please be advised that this is an ongoing weekly workshop. All workshops are recorded and posted immediately after the workshop for your reference. They are also podcasted, so you can follow and listen on your podcasting platform of choice. we recommend that you please join in 15 minutes prior to the workshop, in order to ensure that your setup is working correctly. Also, please be advised that the Zoom studio is setup so that everyone is muted upon entry, in order to prevent background noise when coming into the studio.
Special Announcement
I’m excited to inform you that coming up on Thursday, May 14, 2026, we will be having our Techstravaganza 2.0 workshop from 7:00 to 9:00 PM Eastern! Come join us as we take a look at how to order a meal using UberEats. Please see this evening’s newsletter for more information!
Join the workshop!
In order to join in today’s workshop, please use the conference information below:
One tap mobile +17789072071,,87541152813#,,,,751106# Canada +17806660144,,87541152813#,,,,751106# Canada
coming Up
On this week’s Techstravaganza, we will revisit some VoiceOver basics. Ali will kick off the workshop with a tutorial on using Voiceover on the iPhone and iPad. Following Ali’s tutorial, Siena will demonstrate VoiceOver basics on the Mac, using both the keyboard and the trackpad.
If you have any questions or topic suggestions, comments or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to the team.
This is a friendly reminder of our upcoming Techstravaganza which will take place this afternoon (Wednesday, May 13, 2026). It will begin promptly in one hour, at 1:00 PM Eastern, and will run until 3:00 PM Eastern.
Please be advised that this is an ongoing weekly workshop. All workshops are recorded and posted immediately after the workshop for your reference. They are also podcasted, so you can follow and listen on your podcasting platform of choice. we recommend that you please join in 15 minutes prior to the workshop, in order to ensure that your setup is working correctly. Also, please be advised that the Zoom studio is setup so that everyone is muted upon entry, in order to prevent background noise when coming into the studio.
Special Announcement
I’m excited to inform you that coming up on Thursday, May 14, 2026, we will be having our Techstravaganza 2.0 workshop from 7:00 to 9:00 PM Eastern! Come join us as we take a look at how to order a meal using UberEats. Please see this evening’s newsletter for more information!
Join the workshop!
In order to join in today’s workshop, please use the conference information below:
One tap mobile +17789072071,,87541152813#,,,,751106# Canada +17806660144,,87541152813#,,,,751106# Canada
coming Up
On this week’s Techstravaganza, we will revisit some VoiceOver basics. Ali will kick off the workshop with a tutorial on using Voiceover on the iPhone and iPad. Following Ali’s tutorial, Siena will demonstrate VoiceOver basics on the Mac, using both the keyboard and the trackpad.
If you have any questions or topic suggestions, comments or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to the team.
This is a friendly reminder of our upcoming Techstravaganza which will take place tomorrow afternoon (Wednesday, May 13, 2026) from 1:00 to 3:00 PM Eastern.
Please be advised that this is an ongoing weekly workshop. All workshops are recorded and posted immediately after the workshop for your reference. They are also podcasted, so you can follow and listen on your podcasting platform of choice. we recommend that you please join in 15 minutes prior to the workshop, in order to ensure that your setup is working correctly. Also, please be advised that the Zoom studio is setup so that everyone is muted upon entry, in order to prevent background noise when coming into the studio.
Special Announcement
I’m excited to inform you that coming up on Thursday, May 14, 2026, we will be having our Techstravaganza 2.0 workshop from 7:00 to 9:00 PM Eastern! Come join us as we take a look at how to order a meal using UberEats. Please see tomorrow’s newsletter for more information!
Join the workshop!
In order to join in tomorrow’s workshop, please use the conference information below:
One tap mobile +17789072071,,87541152813#,,,,751106# Canada +17806660144,,87541152813#,,,,751106# Canada
coming Up
On this week’s Techstravaganza, we will revisit some VoiceOver basics. Ali will kick off tomorrow’s workshop with a tutorial on using Voiceover on the iPhone and iPad. Following Ali’s tutorial, Siena will demonstrateVoiceOver basics on the Mac, using both the keyboard and the trackpad.
If you have any questions or topic suggestions, comments or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to the team.
Techstravaganza 