Post by
If you’re like me and don’t have a disability that impedes the ability to navigate and use a computer device, then it’s hard to comprehend what that may be like. As a web developer, it’s my job to make everything as accessible as possible for ALL users. So, I decided to try out a few different screen reader software on the different devices I use in my everyday life.
As I am no expert yet on the software, I decided to reference the different articles I used to get myself started instead of writing an in-depth guide myself. Here are a few:
ChromeVox – A Google Chrome Plugin
ChromeVox is an easy-to-use screen reader plugin by Google that can be installed in a few clicks. It is very easy to use and even comes pre-installed on some Google devices and Chromebooks. If you use Google Chrome as your web browser, check out the ChromeVox plugin on the Chrome Web Store.
iOs – For iPhone and iPads
Apple’s iOs, the operating system that runs on your iPhone, has its own screen reading technology called VoiceOver. Activated quickly from a few clicks inside your Settings, you can begin having it read everything on your screen aloud. You can even activate it by simply telling Siri to “Turn on VoiceOver” or turn it off in the same way.
After turning it on, I browsed some websites I visit on a normal basis like Reddit. I also ventured over to Amazon because I thought it would be interesting to see how a massive e-commerce website with tons of products and content is read aloud. I highly recommend trying it out! To see what content-skipping features a site has, and how it handles the different interactive elements was very interesting.
Windows Narrator
Do you use Windows 10 or 11? Well, Windows has its very own integrated screen reader software called Narrator within its operating system. It’s extremely easy to activate from your Control Panel. I liked using this because with a simple click of the Windows “key + Ctrl + Enter”, Narrator began reading each website and document that I was viewing.
General Screen Reader Help and Information
Sara Soueidan is one of my favorite development accessibility bloggers. This article compiles many resources on setting up different Mac, Windows, and mobile device screen readers, tips and shortcuts for using them, instructions on testing your websites, and much more. I found it enlightening (and fun) to enable my Mac’s keyboard shortcuts and test them out on the web and in different applications. It can help lend a new perspective to using software we are so accustomed to using in our daily life.
If you have the time, I dare you to try just one of the screen readers from the various articles mentioned previously. I hope it will give you a little glimpse into what it’s like to navigate a website with a disability. Did you try navigating your own website? Consider how you could improve it so that all people have a good user experience.
