# Accessibility Functions Global accessibility functions for custom views and controls. ## Discussion Use these [`NSAccessibility`](/documentation/AppKit/NSAccessibility-swift.struct) functions to enhance the accessibility experience of your custom view or control. Standard AppKit elements handle this behavior for you. ### Notifications Your custom view or control may need to let the assistive app know when changes occur. For example, if your control’s value changes, you need to send a [`valueChanged`](/documentation/AppKit/NSAccessibility-swift.struct/Notification/valueChanged) notification. [`NSAccessibility.Notification`](/documentation/AppKit/NSAccessibility-swift.struct/Notification) defines a number of notifications that you can send using the [`post(element:notification:)`](/documentation/AppKit/NSAccessibility-swift.struct/post(element:notification:)) method. You typically need to send your own notifications only when you’re creating a custom control or when you’re using a standard control in a nonstandard way. Make sure you’re posting any relevant notifications as your control’s state changes. ## Topics ### Notifications [`post(element:notification:)`](/documentation/AppKit/NSAccessibility-swift.struct/post(element:notification:)) Sends a notification to any observing assistive apps. [`post(element:notification:userInfo:)`](/documentation/AppKit/NSAccessibility-swift.struct/post(element:notification:userInfo:)) Sends a notification and an optional user info dictionary to any observing assistive apps. [`NSAccessibility.Notification`](/documentation/AppKit/NSAccessibility-swift.struct/Notification) The name of the notification. [`NSAccessibility.NotificationUserInfoKey`](/documentation/AppKit/NSAccessibility-swift.struct/NotificationUserInfoKey) The key in the user info dictionary for a notification. ### Screen Coordinates [`screenRect(fromView:rect:)`](/documentation/AppKit/NSAccessibility-swift.struct/screenRect(fromView:rect:)) Returns the frame in screen coordinates. [`screenPoint(fromView:point:)`](/documentation/AppKit/NSAccessibility-swift.struct/screenPoint(fromView:point:)) Returns the point in screen coordinates. ### Accessibility Objects [`unignoredChildren(from:)`](/documentation/AppKit/NSAccessibility-swift.struct/unignoredChildren(from:)) Returns a list of unignored accessibility objects, descending the hierarchy, if necessary. [`unignoredChildrenForOnlyChild(from:)`](/documentation/AppKit/NSAccessibility-swift.struct/unignoredChildrenForOnlyChild(from:)) Returns a list of unignored accessibility objects, descending the hierarchy, if necessary. [`unignoredDescendant(of:)`](/documentation/AppKit/NSAccessibility-swift.struct/unignoredDescendant(of:)) Returns an unignored accessibility object, descending the hierarchy, if necessary. [`unignoredAncestor(of:)`](/documentation/AppKit/NSAccessibility-swift.struct/unignoredAncestor(of:)) Returns an unignored accessibility object, ascending the hierarchy, if necessary. ### Protected Content [`setMayContainProtectedContent(_:)`](/documentation/AppKit/NSAccessibility-swift.struct/setMayContainProtectedContent(_:)) Sets whether the app may have protected content. ### Descriptions [`description`](/documentation/AppKit/NSAccessibility-swift.struct/Action/description) Returns a standard description for an action. [`description(with:)`](/documentation/AppKit/NSAccessibility-swift.struct/Role/description(with:)) Returns a standard description for a role and subrole. [`description(for:)`](/documentation/AppKit/NSAccessibility-swift.struct/Role/description(for:)) Returns a standard role description for a user interface element. --- Copyright © 2026 Apple Inc. All rights reserved. | [Terms of Use](https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/terms/site.html) | [Privacy Policy](https://www.apple.com/privacy/privacy-policy)