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How are strobe-sensitive users supposed to use the web without getting beaten by web and/or browser animation?

  • 7 replies
  • 1 has this problem
  • 32 views
  • Last reply by Shadow110

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I am multiply disabled. I have a strobe sensitivity, among other sensory processing issues. I don't get seizures, but I do get migraines, sensory scrambling, and once, vomiting, from flashing, blinking, zooming, jitter, carousel, and dangerous safety signals. I don't have accessible public transportation, so I need to be able to use the web.

I have been using Firefox. I've got dozens of accessibility fixes, and could use better accessibility fixes, with better coverage.

Unfortnately, Firefox 57+ breaks many of these accessibility fixes. Firefox 52 esr continues to support these for the time being, but doesn't support migration tools *if* and when 57+ gets adequate accessibility tools. I can't find out whether my extensions and user styles are compatible with the current versions, and I can't find whether there are replacements that are compatible. I've reported the bug, and it won't be fixed:

https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1422910#c3

I can't switch to Safari, Opera, or Sleipnir; they punch users with built-in animation. I can't even try Chrome, the download site punches users with its animation.

I would like to be able to continue using Firefox, but am also considering either Basilisk or Waterfox when 52 esr runs out.

I am multiply disabled. I have a strobe sensitivity, among other sensory processing issues. I don't get seizures, but I do get migraines, sensory scrambling, and once, vomiting, from flashing, blinking, zooming, jitter, carousel, and dangerous safety signals. I don't have accessible public transportation, so I need to be able to use the web. I have been using Firefox. I've got dozens of accessibility fixes, and could use better accessibility fixes, with better coverage. Unfortnately, Firefox 57+ breaks many of these accessibility fixes. Firefox 52 esr continues to support these for the time being, but doesn't support migration tools *if* and when 57+ gets adequate accessibility tools. I can't find out whether my extensions and user styles are compatible with the current versions, and I can't find whether there are replacements that are compatible. I've reported the bug, and it won't be fixed: https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1422910#c3 I can't switch to Safari, Opera, or Sleipnir; they punch users with built-in animation. I can't even try Chrome, the download site punches users with its animation. I would like to be able to continue using Firefox, but am also considering either Basilisk or Waterfox when 52 esr runs out.

All Replies (7)

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Try this extension.

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Thank you. If I can get that to work, it should block some of the animation. I can't read the drop-down menu or all of the faq.

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To turn off Firefox built-in animations:

  1. Type about:config in the Firefox address bar and hit the Enter-key afterwards.
  2. Confirm that you will be careful if the warning intermediary page is displayed.
  3. Use the search to find toolkit.cosmeticAnimations.enabled.
  4. Double-click on the preference name to toggle its state.

Also set the rest of these to false in the same way:

  • browser.tabs.animate
  • browser.fullscreen.animate
  • browser.download.animateNotifications
  • alerts.disableSlidingEffect

Modified by Mkll

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Thanks! I knew about the about:config settings for the cursor and for autoplay, but not the others. Now if the one to block autoplay did block autoplay, that'd be nice too.

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Thank you.

I tried Policy Control, but it has font issues. The drop-down menu contains sliders which don't fit in their box at reasonable sizes. The faq contains one entry [#5] with text overlapping other text at any sizes.

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To submit suggestions for new or changed features, may I suggest: Feedback: https://qsurvey.mozilla.com/s3/FirefoxInput/