diff --git a/java/src/com/android/inputmethod/accessibility/AccessibilityUtils.java b/java/src/com/android/inputmethod/accessibility/AccessibilityUtils.java
index dcebb1c04..1836f27b3 100644
--- a/java/src/com/android/inputmethod/accessibility/AccessibilityUtils.java
+++ b/java/src/com/android/inputmethod/accessibility/AccessibilityUtils.java
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ import android.content.SharedPreferences;
 import android.inputmethodservice.InputMethodService;
 import android.media.AudioManager;
 import android.os.SystemClock;
+import android.provider.Settings;
 import android.util.Log;
 import android.view.MotionEvent;
 import android.view.accessibility.AccessibilityEvent;
@@ -31,6 +32,7 @@ import com.android.inputmethod.compat.AccessibilityManagerCompatWrapper;
 import com.android.inputmethod.compat.AudioManagerCompatWrapper;
 import com.android.inputmethod.compat.InputTypeCompatUtils;
 import com.android.inputmethod.compat.MotionEventCompatUtils;
+import com.android.inputmethod.compat.SettingsSecureCompatUtils;
 import com.android.inputmethod.latin.R;
 
 public class AccessibilityUtils {
@@ -113,13 +115,23 @@ public class AccessibilityUtils {
     }
 
     /**
-     * @return {@code true} if the device should not speak text (eg.
-     *         non-control) characters
+     * Returns whether the device should obscure typed password characters.
+     * Typically this means speaking "dot" in place of non-control characters.
+     * 
+     * @return {@code true} if the device should obscure password characters.
      */
     public boolean shouldObscureInput(EditorInfo editorInfo) {
         if (editorInfo == null)
             return false;
 
+        // The user can optionally force speaking passwords.
+        if (SettingsSecureCompatUtils.ACCESSIBILITY_SPEAK_PASSWORD != null) {
+            final boolean speakPassword = Settings.Secure.getInt(mContext.getContentResolver(),
+                    SettingsSecureCompatUtils.ACCESSIBILITY_SPEAK_PASSWORD, 0) != 0;
+            if (speakPassword)
+                return false;
+        }
+
         // Always speak if the user is listening through headphones.
         if (mAudioManager.isWiredHeadsetOn() || mAudioManager.isBluetoothA2dpOn())
             return false;
diff --git a/java/src/com/android/inputmethod/compat/SettingsSecureCompatUtils.java b/java/src/com/android/inputmethod/compat/SettingsSecureCompatUtils.java
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..1b79992f0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/java/src/com/android/inputmethod/compat/SettingsSecureCompatUtils.java
@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright (C) 2011 The Android Open Source Project
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *      http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
+package com.android.inputmethod.compat;
+
+import java.lang.reflect.Field;
+
+public class SettingsSecureCompatUtils {
+    private static final Field FIELD_ACCESSIBILITY_SPEAK_PASSWORD = CompatUtils.getField(
+            android.provider.Settings.Secure.class, "ACCESSIBILITY_SPEAK_PASSWORD");
+
+    private SettingsSecureCompatUtils() {
+        // This class is non-instantiable.
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Whether to speak passwords while in accessibility mode.
+     */
+    public static final String ACCESSIBILITY_SPEAK_PASSWORD = (String) CompatUtils.getFieldValue(
+            null, null, FIELD_ACCESSIBILITY_SPEAK_PASSWORD);
+}