Websites

Screen readers are a type of assistive technology that provides speech or braille output. Essential for people who are blind, screen readers are useful for various audiences, including people with low vision or cognitive disabilities.

Screen readers provide robust features for interacting with software, including the ability to jump between sections of an application, support for multiple languages, and personalization options like changing the speech rate. Popular screen readers include the following:

• JAWS, a proprietary screen reader for Windows
• NVDA, a free and open source screen reader for Windows
• VoiceOver, available on Apple devices
• TalkBack, available on Android devices

Screen readers may behave differently depending on the web browser you use. Popular combinations include:

• JAWS with Chrome or Edge
• NVDA with Chrome or Firefox
• VoiceOver with Safari

For a deeper dive into user preferences, refer to WebAIM's Screen Reader Surveys.

While automated and manual testing covers many accessibility criteria, testing with a screen reader is invaluable, especially for understanding the behavior of dynamic content and complex components like autocomplete search inputs. When possible, request feedback from blind users. At a minimum, explore your website using a screen reader. For assistance, contact the Digital Accessibility Team.