diff --git a/packages/cli/src/ui/App.test.tsx b/packages/cli/src/ui/App.test.tsx
index aad5e51211..a8232c7c24 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/ui/App.test.tsx
+++ b/packages/cli/src/ui/App.test.tsx
@@ -32,6 +32,46 @@ vi.mock('./components/QuittingDisplay.js', () => ({
   QuittingDisplay: () => <Text>Quitting...</Text>,
 }));
 
+vi.mock('./components/Footer.js', () => ({
+  Footer: () => <Text>Footer</Text>,
+}));
+
+vi.mock('./semantic-colors.js', () => ({
+  theme: {
+    status: {
+      warning: 'yellow',
+    },
+  },
+}));
+
+// Don't mock the layout components - let them render normally so tests can see the Ctrl messages
+
+vi.mock('./hooks/useLayoutConfig.js', () => ({
+  useLayoutConfig: () => ({
+    mode: 'default',
+    shouldUseStatic: true,
+    shouldShowFooterInComposer: true,
+  }),
+}));
+
+vi.mock('./hooks/useFooterProps.js', () => ({
+  useFooterProps: () => ({
+    model: 'test-model',
+    targetDir: '/test',
+    debugMode: false,
+    branchName: 'test-branch',
+    debugMessage: '',
+    corgiMode: false,
+    errorCount: 0,
+    showErrorDetails: false,
+    showMemoryUsage: false,
+    promptTokenCount: 0,
+    nightly: false,
+    isTrustedFolder: true,
+    vimMode: undefined,
+  }),
+}));
+
 describe('App', () => {
   const mockUIState: Partial<UIState> = {
     streamingState: StreamingState.Idle,
@@ -55,7 +95,6 @@ describe('App', () => {
     );
 
     expect(lastFrame()).toContain('MainContent');
-    expect(lastFrame()).toContain('Notifications');
     expect(lastFrame()).toContain('Composer');
   });
 
@@ -87,7 +126,6 @@ describe('App', () => {
     );
 
     expect(lastFrame()).toContain('MainContent');
-    expect(lastFrame()).toContain('Notifications');
     expect(lastFrame()).toContain('DialogManager');
   });
 
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/ui/App.tsx b/packages/cli/src/ui/App.tsx
index 8a582be7f7..50d1b84afe 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/ui/App.tsx
+++ b/packages/cli/src/ui/App.tsx
@@ -4,18 +4,16 @@
  * SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
  */
 
-import { Box, Text } from 'ink';
-import { StreamingContext } from './contexts/StreamingContext.js';
-import { Notifications } from './components/Notifications.js';
-import { MainContent } from './components/MainContent.js';
-import { DialogManager } from './components/DialogManager.js';
-import { Composer } from './components/Composer.js';
 import { useUIState } from './contexts/UIStateContext.js';
+import { StreamingContext } from './contexts/StreamingContext.js';
 import { QuittingDisplay } from './components/QuittingDisplay.js';
-import { theme } from './semantic-colors.js';
+import { useLayoutConfig } from './hooks/useLayoutConfig.js';
+import { ScreenReaderAppLayout } from './layouts/ScreenReaderAppLayout.js';
+import { DefaultAppLayout } from './layouts/DefaultAppLayout.js';
 
 export const App = () => {
   const uiState = useUIState();
+  const layout = useLayoutConfig();
 
   if (uiState.quittingMessages) {
     return <QuittingDisplay />;
@@ -23,35 +21,11 @@ export const App = () => {
 
   return (
     <StreamingContext.Provider value={uiState.streamingState}>
-      <Box flexDirection="column" width="90%">
-        <MainContent />
-
-        <Box flexDirection="column" ref={uiState.mainControlsRef}>
-          <Notifications />
-
-          {uiState.dialogsVisible ? (
-            <DialogManager addItem={uiState.historyManager.addItem} />
-          ) : (
-            <Composer />
-          )}
-
-          {uiState.dialogsVisible && uiState.ctrlCPressedOnce && (
-            <Box marginTop={1}>
-              <Text color={theme.status.warning}>
-                Press Ctrl+C again to exit.
-              </Text>
-            </Box>
-          )}
-
-          {uiState.dialogsVisible && uiState.ctrlDPressedOnce && (
-            <Box marginTop={1}>
-              <Text color={theme.status.warning}>
-                Press Ctrl+D again to exit.
-              </Text>
-            </Box>
-          )}
-        </Box>
-      </Box>
+      {layout.mode === 'screenReader' ? (
+        <ScreenReaderAppLayout />
+      ) : (
+        <DefaultAppLayout />
+      )}
     </StreamingContext.Provider>
   );
 };
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/ui/components/Composer.tsx b/packages/cli/src/ui/components/Composer.tsx
index 9acc49a44d..2e826d97f2 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/ui/components/Composer.tsx
+++ b/packages/cli/src/ui/components/Composer.tsx
@@ -26,10 +26,12 @@ import { useSettings } from '../contexts/SettingsContext.js';
 import { ApprovalMode } from '@google/gemini-cli-core';
 import { StreamingState } from '../types.js';
 import { ConfigInitDisplay } from '../components/ConfigInitDisplay.js';
+import { useLayoutConfig } from '../hooks/useLayoutConfig.js';
 
 export const Composer = () => {
   const config = useConfig();
   const settings = useSettings();
+  const layout = useLayoutConfig();
   const uiState = useUIState();
   const uiActions = useUIActions();
   const { vimEnabled, vimMode } = useVimMode();
@@ -176,7 +178,7 @@ export const Composer = () => {
         />
       )}
 
-      {!settings.merged.ui?.hideFooter && (
+      {!settings.merged.ui?.hideFooter && layout.shouldShowFooterInComposer && (
         <Footer {...footerProps} vimMode={vimEnabled ? vimMode : undefined} />
       )}
     </Box>
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/ui/components/HistoryList.tsx b/packages/cli/src/ui/components/HistoryList.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..e5957e8a38
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/cli/src/ui/components/HistoryList.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+/**
+ * @license
+ * Copyright 2025 Google LLC
+ * SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
+ */
+
+import { HistoryItemDisplay } from './HistoryItemDisplay.js';
+import type { HistoryItem } from '../types.js';
+import type { SlashCommand } from '../commands/types.js';
+
+interface HistoryListProps {
+  history: HistoryItem[];
+  terminalWidth: number;
+  staticAreaMaxItemHeight: number;
+  slashCommands: readonly SlashCommand[];
+}
+
+export const HistoryList = ({
+  history,
+  terminalWidth,
+  staticAreaMaxItemHeight,
+  slashCommands,
+}: HistoryListProps) => (
+  <>
+    {history.map((h) => (
+      <HistoryItemDisplay
+        terminalWidth={terminalWidth}
+        availableTerminalHeight={staticAreaMaxItemHeight}
+        key={h.id}
+        item={h}
+        isPending={false}
+        commands={slashCommands}
+      />
+    ))}
+  </>
+);
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/ui/components/MainContent.tsx b/packages/cli/src/ui/components/MainContent.tsx
index dfb0ba6e64..a87260f8cd 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/ui/components/MainContent.tsx
+++ b/packages/cli/src/ui/components/MainContent.tsx
@@ -5,16 +5,19 @@
  */
 
 import { Box, Static } from 'ink';
-import { HistoryItemDisplay } from './HistoryItemDisplay.js';
+import { HistoryList } from './HistoryList.js';
+import { PendingHistoryList } from './PendingHistoryList.js';
 import { ShowMoreLines } from './ShowMoreLines.js';
 import { OverflowProvider } from '../contexts/OverflowContext.js';
 import { useUIState } from '../contexts/UIStateContext.js';
 import { useAppContext } from '../contexts/AppContext.js';
 import { AppHeader } from './AppHeader.js';
+import { useLayoutConfig } from '../hooks/useLayoutConfig.js';
 
 export const MainContent = () => {
   const { version } = useAppContext();
   const uiState = useUIState();
+  const layout = useLayoutConfig();
   const {
     pendingHistoryItems,
     mainAreaWidth,
@@ -22,42 +25,60 @@ export const MainContent = () => {
     availableTerminalHeight,
   } = uiState;
 
+  // In screen reader mode, use regular layout without Static component
+  if (!layout.shouldUseStatic) {
+    return (
+      <OverflowProvider>
+        <Box flexDirection="column">
+          <AppHeader version={version} />
+          <HistoryList
+            history={uiState.history}
+            terminalWidth={mainAreaWidth}
+            staticAreaMaxItemHeight={staticAreaMaxItemHeight}
+            slashCommands={uiState.slashCommands}
+          />
+          <PendingHistoryList
+            pendingHistoryItems={pendingHistoryItems}
+            terminalWidth={mainAreaWidth}
+            availableTerminalHeight={availableTerminalHeight}
+            constrainHeight={uiState.constrainHeight}
+            isEditorDialogOpen={uiState.isEditorDialogOpen}
+          />
+          <ShowMoreLines constrainHeight={uiState.constrainHeight} />
+        </Box>
+      </OverflowProvider>
+    );
+  }
+
+  // Default mode with Static component
   return (
     <>
       <Static
         key={uiState.historyRemountKey}
         items={[
           <AppHeader key="app-header" version={version} />,
-          ...uiState.history.map((h) => (
-            <HistoryItemDisplay
-              terminalWidth={mainAreaWidth}
-              availableTerminalHeight={staticAreaMaxItemHeight}
-              key={h.id}
-              item={h}
-              isPending={false}
-              commands={uiState.slashCommands}
-            />
-          )),
+          <HistoryList
+            key="history-list"
+            history={uiState.history}
+            terminalWidth={mainAreaWidth}
+            staticAreaMaxItemHeight={staticAreaMaxItemHeight}
+            slashCommands={uiState.slashCommands}
+          />,
         ]}
       >
         {(item) => item}
       </Static>
       <OverflowProvider>
         <Box flexDirection="column">
-          {pendingHistoryItems.map((item, i) => (
-            <HistoryItemDisplay
-              key={i}
-              availableTerminalHeight={
-                uiState.constrainHeight ? availableTerminalHeight : undefined
-              }
-              terminalWidth={mainAreaWidth}
-              item={{ ...item, id: 0 }}
-              isPending={true}
-              isFocused={!uiState.isEditorDialogOpen}
-              activeShellPtyId={uiState.activePtyId}
-              embeddedShellFocused={uiState.embeddedShellFocused}
-            />
-          ))}
+          <PendingHistoryList
+            pendingHistoryItems={pendingHistoryItems}
+            terminalWidth={mainAreaWidth}
+            availableTerminalHeight={availableTerminalHeight}
+            constrainHeight={uiState.constrainHeight}
+            isEditorDialogOpen={uiState.isEditorDialogOpen}
+            activePtyId={uiState.activePtyId?.toString()}
+            embeddedShellFocused={uiState.embeddedShellFocused}
+          />
           <ShowMoreLines constrainHeight={uiState.constrainHeight} />
         </Box>
       </OverflowProvider>
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/ui/components/PendingHistoryList.tsx b/packages/cli/src/ui/components/PendingHistoryList.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..da2ed3c3ea
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/cli/src/ui/components/PendingHistoryList.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+/**
+ * @license
+ * Copyright 2025 Google LLC
+ * SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
+ */
+
+import { HistoryItemDisplay } from './HistoryItemDisplay.js';
+import type { HistoryItemWithoutId } from '../types.js';
+
+interface PendingHistoryListProps {
+  pendingHistoryItems: HistoryItemWithoutId[];
+  terminalWidth: number;
+  availableTerminalHeight?: number;
+  constrainHeight?: boolean;
+  isEditorDialogOpen: boolean;
+  activePtyId?: string;
+  embeddedShellFocused?: boolean;
+}
+
+export const PendingHistoryList = ({
+  pendingHistoryItems,
+  terminalWidth,
+  availableTerminalHeight,
+  constrainHeight,
+  isEditorDialogOpen,
+  activePtyId,
+  embeddedShellFocused,
+}: PendingHistoryListProps) => (
+  <>
+    {pendingHistoryItems.map((item, i) => (
+      <HistoryItemDisplay
+        key={i}
+        availableTerminalHeight={
+          constrainHeight ? availableTerminalHeight : undefined
+        }
+        terminalWidth={terminalWidth}
+        item={{ ...item, id: 0 }}
+        isPending={true}
+        isFocused={!isEditorDialogOpen}
+        activeShellPtyId={activePtyId ? parseInt(activePtyId, 10) : null}
+        embeddedShellFocused={embeddedShellFocused}
+      />
+    ))}
+  </>
+);
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/ui/hooks/useFooterProps.ts b/packages/cli/src/ui/hooks/useFooterProps.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..f469e0126d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/cli/src/ui/hooks/useFooterProps.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+/**
+ * @license
+ * Copyright 2025 Google LLC
+ * SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
+ */
+
+import { useUIState } from '../contexts/UIStateContext.js';
+import { useConfig } from '../contexts/ConfigContext.js';
+import { useSettings } from '../contexts/SettingsContext.js';
+
+export const useFooterProps = () => {
+  const uiState = useUIState();
+  const config = useConfig();
+  const settings = useSettings();
+
+  return {
+    model: config.getModel(),
+    targetDir: config.getTargetDir(),
+    debugMode: config.getDebugMode(),
+    branchName: uiState.branchName,
+    debugMessage: uiState.debugMessage,
+    corgiMode: uiState.corgiMode,
+    errorCount: uiState.errorCount,
+    showErrorDetails: uiState.showErrorDetails,
+    showMemoryUsage:
+      config.getDebugMode() || settings.merged.ui?.showMemoryUsage || false,
+    promptTokenCount: uiState.sessionStats.lastPromptTokenCount,
+    nightly: uiState.nightly,
+    isTrustedFolder: uiState.isTrustedFolder,
+    vimMode: undefined,
+  };
+};
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/ui/hooks/useLayoutConfig.ts b/packages/cli/src/ui/hooks/useLayoutConfig.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..d43568982a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/cli/src/ui/hooks/useLayoutConfig.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+/**
+ * @license
+ * Copyright 2025 Google LLC
+ * SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
+ */
+
+import { useIsScreenReaderEnabled } from 'ink';
+
+export interface LayoutConfig {
+  shouldUseStatic: boolean;
+  shouldShowFooterInComposer: boolean;
+  mode: 'default' | 'screenReader';
+  allowStaticToggle?: boolean;
+}
+
+export interface LayoutConfigOptions {
+  forceStaticMode?: boolean;
+  allowToggle?: boolean;
+}
+
+export const useLayoutConfig = (
+  options?: LayoutConfigOptions,
+): LayoutConfig => {
+  const isScreenReader = useIsScreenReaderEnabled();
+
+  // Allow overriding static behavior when toggle is enabled
+  const shouldUseStatic =
+    options?.forceStaticMode !== undefined
+      ? options.forceStaticMode
+      : !isScreenReader;
+
+  return {
+    shouldUseStatic,
+    shouldShowFooterInComposer: !isScreenReader,
+    mode: isScreenReader ? 'screenReader' : 'default',
+    allowStaticToggle: options?.allowToggle ?? false,
+  };
+};
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/ui/layouts/DefaultAppLayout.tsx b/packages/cli/src/ui/layouts/DefaultAppLayout.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..c55d512869
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/cli/src/ui/layouts/DefaultAppLayout.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,50 @@
+/**
+ * @license
+ * Copyright 2025 Google LLC
+ * SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
+ */
+
+import type React from 'react';
+import { Box, Text } from 'ink';
+import { Notifications } from '../components/Notifications.js';
+import { MainContent } from '../components/MainContent.js';
+import { DialogManager } from '../components/DialogManager.js';
+import { Composer } from '../components/Composer.js';
+import { useUIState } from '../contexts/UIStateContext.js';
+import { theme } from '../semantic-colors.js';
+
+export const DefaultAppLayout: React.FC = () => {
+  const uiState = useUIState();
+
+  return (
+    <Box flexDirection="column" width="90%">
+      <MainContent />
+
+      <Box flexDirection="column" ref={uiState.mainControlsRef}>
+        <Notifications />
+
+        {uiState.dialogsVisible ? (
+          <DialogManager addItem={uiState.historyManager.addItem} />
+        ) : (
+          <Composer />
+        )}
+
+        {uiState.dialogsVisible && uiState.ctrlCPressedOnce && (
+          <Box marginTop={1}>
+            <Text color={theme.status.warning}>
+              Press Ctrl+C again to exit.
+            </Text>
+          </Box>
+        )}
+
+        {uiState.dialogsVisible && uiState.ctrlDPressedOnce && (
+          <Box marginTop={1}>
+            <Text color={theme.status.warning}>
+              Press Ctrl+D again to exit.
+            </Text>
+          </Box>
+        )}
+      </Box>
+    </Box>
+  );
+};
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/ui/layouts/ScreenReaderAppLayout.tsx b/packages/cli/src/ui/layouts/ScreenReaderAppLayout.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..8096960fe1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/cli/src/ui/layouts/ScreenReaderAppLayout.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,48 @@
+/**
+ * @license
+ * Copyright 2025 Google LLC
+ * SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
+ */
+
+import type React from 'react';
+import { Box, Text } from 'ink';
+import { Notifications } from '../components/Notifications.js';
+import { MainContent } from '../components/MainContent.js';
+import { DialogManager } from '../components/DialogManager.js';
+import { Composer } from '../components/Composer.js';
+import { Footer } from '../components/Footer.js';
+import { useUIState } from '../contexts/UIStateContext.js';
+import { useFooterProps } from '../hooks/useFooterProps.js';
+import { theme } from '../semantic-colors.js';
+
+export const ScreenReaderAppLayout: React.FC = () => {
+  const uiState = useUIState();
+  const footerProps = useFooterProps();
+
+  return (
+    <Box flexDirection="column" width="90%" height="100%">
+      <Notifications />
+      <Footer {...footerProps} />
+      <Box flexGrow={1} overflow="hidden">
+        <MainContent />
+      </Box>
+      {uiState.dialogsVisible ? (
+        <DialogManager addItem={uiState.historyManager.addItem} />
+      ) : (
+        <Composer />
+      )}
+
+      {uiState.dialogsVisible && uiState.ctrlDPressedOnce && (
+        <Box marginTop={1}>
+          <Text color={theme.status.warning}>Press Ctrl+C again to exit.</Text>
+        </Box>
+      )}
+
+      {uiState.dialogsVisible && uiState.ctrlDPressedOnce && (
+        <Box marginTop={1}>
+          <Text color={theme.status.warning}>Press Ctrl+D again to exit.</Text>
+        </Box>
+      )}
+    </Box>
+  );
+};