Screen Readers
Screen readers are assistive technologies that convert digital text into speech or Braille, enabling users who are blind or visually impaired to navigate and interact with websites, documents, and other digital content.
Screen Reader Testing
When testing webpages and documents, it's important to remember that not all screen readers are created equally. What functions well on one screen reader may not work as expected on another. For this reason, content should be developed according to the Web Content Accessibility Guideline's (WCAG) technical standards—not on designs that are compatible with a specific screen reader. This approach ensures broader accessibility and long-term compatibility.
Some common screen readers include:
- JAWS: most popular screen reader—available for download on Windows only; JAWS requires a paid license. UND faculty and staff can test their content using JAWS by booking an appointment in the Accessibility Lab.
- NVDA: free and available for download on Windows.
- VoiceOver: integrated screen reader on MacOS and iOS.
Document Specific Screen Readers
There are many reasons to listen to your document, such as proofreading, multitasking, assistive technology, and increased comprehension.
Document specific screen readers include:
- Narrator: Microsoft's integrated screen reader, available in Windows products.
- Read Aloud: Adobe Acrobat's integrated screen reader, available on both Windows and Mac computers.
Note: Document specific screen readers do NOT offer robust features; they are simple screen readers. As such, they are generally not relied upon for everyday use.
Screen Reader Limitations
Screen readers can be incredibly helpful to users who can’t see screens. There are some significant limitations, however:
- Not all screen readers are created equal. Some screen readers read aloud things like punctuation better than others. Others offer users different settings that can change the listening experience.
- All screen readers require code. In the absence of code, screen readers can only read aloud text.
- All screen readers ignore the following: Font type, font size, color of any kind, emphasis, special characters, and some punctuation.
- Screen readers are not standardized. A JAWS user, for example, can opt to hear no punctuation, some punctuation, or no punctuation read aloud. NVDA, on the other hand, does not typically read punctuation.