Cherrypick #10900 (#11116)

Author: chrstnb

docs/get-started/configuration.md

@@ -123,6 +123,11 @@ Settings are organized into categories. All settings should be placed within the
   - **Description:** Disable loading phrases for accessibility.
   - **Default:** `false`
 
+- **`ui.accessibility.screenReader`** (boolean):
+  - **Description:** Show plaintext interactive view that is more screen reader
+    friendly.
+  - **Default:** `false`
+
 - **`ui.customWittyPhrases`** (array of strings):
   - **Description:** A list of custom phrases to display during loading states. When provided, the CLI will cycle through these phrases instead of the default ones.
   - **Default:** `[]`

packages/cli/src/config/settingsSchema.ts

@@ -443,7 +443,7 @@ const SETTINGS_SCHEMA = {
             label: 'Screen Reader Mode',
             category: 'UI',
             requiresRestart: true,
-            default: undefined as boolean | undefined,
+            default: false,
             description:
               'Render output in plain-text to be more screen reader accessible',
             showInDialog: true,

packages/cli/src/ui/components/Notifications.tsx

@@ -4,27 +4,43 @@
  * SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
  */
 
-import { Box, Text } from 'ink';
+import { Box, Text, useIsScreenReaderEnabled } from 'ink';
 import { useAppContext } from '../contexts/AppContext.js';
 import { useUIState } from '../contexts/UIStateContext.js';
 import { theme } from '../semantic-colors.js';
 import { StreamingState } from '../types.js';
 import { UpdateNotification } from './UpdateNotification.js';
 
+import { homedir } from 'node:os';
+import path from 'node:path';
+
+const settingsPath = path.join(homedir(), '.gemini', 'settings.json');
+
 export const Notifications = () => {
   const { startupWarnings } = useAppContext();
   const { initError, streamingState, updateInfo } = useUIState();
-
+  const isScreenReaderEnabled = useIsScreenReaderEnabled();
   const showStartupWarnings = startupWarnings.length > 0;
   const showInitError =
     initError && streamingState !== StreamingState.Responding;
 
-  if (!showStartupWarnings && !showInitError && !updateInfo) {
+  if (
+    !showStartupWarnings &&
+    !showInitError &&
+    !updateInfo &&
+    !isScreenReaderEnabled
+  ) {
     return null;
   }
 
   return (
     <>
+      {isScreenReaderEnabled && (
+        <Text>
+          You are currently in screen reader-friendly view. To switch out, open{' '}
+          {settingsPath} and remove the entry for {'"screenReader"'}.
+        </Text>
+      )}
       {updateInfo && <UpdateNotification message={updateInfo.message} />}
       {showStartupWarnings && (
         <Box