Contact person: MacOS 26 Tahoe Applescript UI Toggle

Phone:Show

Email:Show

Location: Fresno, United States

Budget: Recommended by industry experts

Time to start: As soon as possible

Project description:
"I am needing a script to toggle a UI button so I can map it to a keyboard shortcut to use with an app like Keyboard Maestro for MacOS 26 Tahoe.

Until now, I've been using an Applescript (provided below) on MacOS 15.6 Sequoia with no problems.

But Apple, in the latest MacOS 26 Tahoe, once again changed the name, location, and/or process, making my perfectly working AppleScript useless.

This is an Accessibility feature somewhat hidden in the settings. And it relates to Text to Speech capabilities. Let me explain what …I’m needing

NEEDED: MacOS 26 Tahoe: Speech Controller Window “Play” button via AppleScript (or any working script code)
Here’s where to locate it.
Go to: System Settings > Accessibility > Read & Speak > Speak Selection = / Enabled > Then click (i) to show more settings.

In the popup window, “Show controller” must be set to “Always”. The other options are not important for our purpose. Then click “Ok”.

You will now notice the Speech Controller window with several buttons.
1. = Speech Rate
2. = Go Backward
3. = Play
4. = Stop
5. = Go Forward
6. = Plain Text

I’m needing a script to toggle the “Play” button independently of the mouse cursor..

Function & Purpose:
This toggle allows me to start playing selected text to speech at any time anywhere in the OS.

The Speech Controller window does not offer any settings nor hotkeys on its own.
It simply stays linked to the application in focus.

For instance, when opening a PDF in Preview, toggling “Play” on the Speech Controller reads the document out loud.

I generally drag the Speech Controller window down, off the edge of the visible screen so it doesn’t distract or get in the way.
But it must stay open to function, even if it is off the bottom edge of the display.

What I need is to map a keyboard shortcut that triggers the AppleScript which presses “Play” on the Speech Controller.
This way, I don’t rely on clicking a button with the pointer, but a hotkey or physical switch/button.

Therefore, a fully working MacOS 26 Tahoe AppleScript to trigger “Play” on the Speech Controller window is what I’m needing.
Can you help me with this?

FYI:
Here’s how it’s been working until now.

WORKING: MacOS 15 Sequoia: Speech Controller Window “Play” button toggle via AppleScript.
Go to: System Settings > Accessibility > Spoken Content > Speak Selection / = Enabled > Then click (i) to show more settings.

In the popup window, “Show controller” must be set to “Always”. The other options are not important for our purpose. Then click “Ok”.

You will now notice the Speech Controller window with several buttons, slightly different to MacOS 26 Tahoe.
1. = Slower
2. = Back
3. = Play
4. = Stop
5. = Forward
6. = Faster

The following AppleScript works as intended on MacOS 15 Sequoia via any remapping app like Keyboard Maestro.

***WORKING: MacOS 15 Sequoia AppleScript***
tell application "System Events"
tell application process "AccessibilityVisualsAgent"
click button "play"
end tell
end tell" (client-provided description)