Block Coding Breakthrough

For the first time, more than 41,000 blind and visually impaired children in the UK could benefit from a breakthrough that will make block coding accessible for them. 

New screen reader compatibility has been launched in Microsoft MakeCode, removing barriers that have long prevented many blind and low vision pupils from taking part in block-based coding alongside their classmates.

Developed in partnership with Micro:bit Educational Foundation and the Blockly team at the Raspberry Pi Foundation, the new functionality is supported by classroom resources to help teachers bring coding to more children.

The technology was co-designed with children and young adults aged 8 to 18 who are blind or have low vision, alongside teachers who support them and experts in this field. Their feedback shaped every stage of development, helping create a solution that reflects the real barriers some young people face in the classroom.

With the accessibility improvements being developed within Blockly, the technology behind many of the world's most widely used coding platforms, the impact could extend far beyond Microsoft MakeCode. It marks a major step towards making mainstream coding tools accessible to blind and visually impaired learners.

For Zac Herbert (pictured above), a 14-year-old pupil at New Worcester College in Worcester, the impact has been life-changing.

Before the new accessibility features were introduced, Zac often couldn’t take part in the same computing science lessons as his classmates because existing coding platforms weren’t accessible. Instead, he was taught separately or given alternative activities.

He can now code independently alongside his peers using MakeCode and micro:bit.

“Every child deserves the opportunity to create with technology, regardless of their ability,” said Lucy Gill, Head of Product at Micro:bit Educational Foundation.

“For too long, many blind and visually impaired young people have faced barriers to accessing the same coding experiences as their peers. By working directly with the young people most affected, we've helped remove some of those barriers and created a solution that gives many more children the opportunity to learn, create and build confidence through computing.”

Used by more than 70 million children across 85 countries, the BBC micro:bit is one of the world's most widely adopted educational technologies. With the new screen reader developed in Blockly, this breakthrough will also be available for other coding platforms to adopt, extending its impact far beyond the micro:bit and helping even more children benefit from accessible coding. 

This launch marks just one step in the Micro:bit Educational Foundation’s ambition to make technology accessible to every child.

From expanding accessibility for children who are deaf or hard of hearing, have fine motor challenges or are neurodiverse, to developing new learning resources and working with local translators to increase global access, the Foundation continues to work with funding partners to remove barriers for the next generation of learners and creators.

For more information on the Micro:bit Educational Foundation visit: www.microbit.org.