Use Claude Code with a screen reader changedaccessibility
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1616* For sessions started from one shell: set the `CLAUDE_AX_SCREEN_READER` environment variable to `1`. In Bash or Zsh, run `export CLAUDE_AX_SCREEN_READER=1`. In PowerShell, run `$env:CLAUDE_AX_SCREEN_READER = "1"`. Add that line to your shell profile to keep it for future shells.
1717* For every session on the machine: add `"axScreenReader": true` to your user [settings file](/docs/en/settings). The setting applies in any terminal, including the VS Code integrated terminal.
1818
19If you combine methods, Claude Code applies the [`--ax-screen-reader`](/docs/en/cli-reference#cli-flags) flag over the [`CLAUDE_AX_SCREEN_READER`](/docs/en/env-vars#variables) environment variable, and the variable over the [`axScreenReader`](/docs/en/settings#available-settings) setting.
19If you combine methods, Claude Code applies the [`--ax-screen-reader`](/docs/en/cli-reference#cli-flags) flag over the [`CLAUDE_AX_SCREEN_READER`](/docs/en/env-vars#variables) environment variable, and the variable over the [`axScreenReader`](/docs/en/settings-reference#axscreenreader) setting.
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2121If you use Claude Code over SSH, set the environment variable or setting on the remote machine where Claude Code runs.
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3030
3131The table lists each accessibility option, whether you set it as a flag, an environment variable, or a setting, and what it changes.
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33| Option | Type | What it changes |
34| :--------------------------------------------------------- | :------------------- | :------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
35| [`--ax-screen-reader`](/docs/en/cli-reference#cli-flags) | Flag | Screen reader mode for one session. |
36| [`CLAUDE_AX_SCREEN_READER`](/docs/en/env-vars#variables) | Environment variable | Screen reader mode for sessions started from the shell where you set it. |
37| [`axScreenReader`](/docs/en/settings#available-settings) | Setting | Screen reader mode for every session when `true`. |
38| [`CLAUDE_AX_STARTUP_QUIET_MS`](/docs/en/env-vars#variables) | Environment variable | How long Claude Code waits after the confirmation line before it draws the first prompt in screen reader mode. Requires Claude Code v2.1.217 or later. |
39| [`CLAUDE_AX_PREPARK_MS`](/docs/en/env-vars#variables) | Environment variable | How long Claude Code waits, with the cursor at the start of the line, before it writes a new or changed line in screen reader mode. Requires Claude Code v2.1.233 or later. |
40| [`CLAUDE_CODE_ACCESSIBILITY`](/docs/en/env-vars#variables) | Environment variable | A terminal cursor that stays visible for screen magnifiers such as macOS Zoom when you set it to `1`. The cursor follows the input caret and, on Claude Code v2.1.218 or later, the highlighted row in menus and panels such as `/config` and `/plugin`. |
41| [`prefersReducedMotion`](/docs/en/settings#available-settings) | Setting | Reduced or no spinners, shimmer, and other animations when `true`. |
42| [`theme`](/docs/en/settings#available-settings) | Setting | The interface colors, including the colorblind-friendly `dark-daltonized` and `light-daltonized` themes. You can also pick one with [`/theme`](/docs/en/commands#all-commands). |
43| [`preferredNotifChannel`](/docs/en/settings#available-settings) | Setting | With the value `"terminal_bell"`, a terminal bell outside screen reader mode when Claude is waiting on you. |
33| Option | Type | What it changes |
34| :---------------------------------------------------------------------- | :------------------- | :------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
35| [`--ax-screen-reader`](/docs/en/cli-reference#cli-flags) | Flag | Screen reader mode for one session. |
36| [`CLAUDE_AX_SCREEN_READER`](/docs/en/env-vars#variables) | Environment variable | Screen reader mode for sessions started from the shell where you set it. |
37| [`axScreenReader`](/docs/en/settings-reference#axscreenreader) | Setting | Screen reader mode for every session when `true`. |
38| [`CLAUDE_AX_STARTUP_QUIET_MS`](/docs/en/env-vars#variables) | Environment variable | How long Claude Code waits after the confirmation line before it draws the first prompt in screen reader mode. Requires Claude Code v2.1.217 or later. |
39| [`CLAUDE_AX_PREPARK_MS`](/docs/en/env-vars#variables) | Environment variable | How long Claude Code waits, with the cursor at the start of the line, before it writes a new or changed line in screen reader mode. Requires Claude Code v2.1.233 or later. |
40| [`CLAUDE_CODE_ACCESSIBILITY`](/docs/en/env-vars#variables) | Environment variable | A terminal cursor that stays visible for screen magnifiers such as macOS Zoom when you set it to `1`. The cursor follows the input caret and, on Claude Code v2.1.218 or later, the highlighted row in menus and panels such as `/config` and `/plugin`. |
41| [`prefersReducedMotion`](/docs/en/settings-reference#prefersreducedmotion) | Setting | Reduced or no spinners, shimmer, and other animations when `true`. |
42| [`theme`](/docs/en/settings-reference#theme) | Setting | The interface colors, including the colorblind-friendly `dark-daltonized` and `light-daltonized` themes. You can also pick one with [`/theme`](/docs/en/commands#all-commands). |
43| [`preferredNotifChannel`](/docs/en/settings-reference#preferrednotifchannel) | Setting | With the value `"terminal_bell"`, a terminal bell outside screen reader mode when Claude is waiting on you. |
4444
4545## What your screen reader hears
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5151* No redraws of content that hasn't changed. Progress spinners render as static text
5252* Tables in Claude's replies read as `Header: value` sentences instead of a box-character grid
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54Claude Code leaves everything it prints in your terminal's scrollback, so you can re-read earlier turns with your screen reader's review commands or your terminal's search. Claude Code ignores the [`tui` setting](/docs/en/settings#available-settings) in screen reader mode. Apart from the attached background sessions listed under [Known limitations](#known-limitations), it prints scrolling text instead of [fullscreen rendering](/docs/en/fullscreen).
54Claude Code leaves everything it prints in your terminal's scrollback, so you can re-read earlier turns with your screen reader's review commands or your terminal's search. Claude Code ignores the [`tui` setting](/docs/en/settings-reference#tui) in screen reader mode. Apart from the attached background sessions listed under [Known limitations](#known-limitations), it prints scrolling text instead of [fullscreen rendering](/docs/en/fullscreen).
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5656Claude Code also waits at two points so your screen reader can keep up:
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114114* A prompt or dialog needs your answer, such as a permission prompt
115115* A tool that ran longer than 5 seconds finishes
116116
117The bell is your terminal's standard alert. To silence it, change the bell setting in your terminal application. Outside screen reader mode, set [`preferredNotifChannel`](/docs/en/settings#available-settings) to `"terminal_bell"` to get a [similar bell](/docs/en/terminal-config#get-a-terminal-bell-or-notification) when Claude is waiting on you.
117The bell is your terminal's standard alert. To silence it, change the bell setting in your terminal application. Outside screen reader mode, set [`preferredNotifChannel`](/docs/en/settings-reference#preferrednotifchannel) to `"terminal_bell"` to get a [similar bell](/docs/en/terminal-config#get-a-terminal-bell-or-notification) when Claude is waiting on you.
118118
119119## Known limitations
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