When designing a website, we need to consider all the different ways people will access the information on the webpage. For people with disabilities, this includes the use of all sorts of additional software and hardware.
Screen readers are one such instrument that helps disabled people navigate through information online. Our blog post will discuss screen reader accessibility and its importance.
Source: FreePik
What Is a Screen Reader?
A screen reader is a hardware device that converts information on a computer screen into information that can be displayed through synthetic speech or Braille output. It does that by allowing users to use a computer keyboard instead of a mouse.
You can also use a Braille display as an input device. The screen reader cleverly knows what's on the screen and presents you with that information in a way that would allow for efficient navigation of online pages.
How Does It Work?
Essentially, screen reader technology works with the help of different commands and combinations of commands from the user. Those are inputted through the screen reader keyboard. This can happen also with a braille keyboard, but not all disabled people know and use braille.
The screen reading software supports all sorts of commands. For example, it can read a line of text on the screen, all the buttons and links present on any given webpage, and announce where the computer cursor is located.
Screen readers also allow for more complex commands to be used. For example, it can locate text based on color, formatting and size. Also, it can announce what is the active choice of the user while browsing the internet.
Every use of a screen reader starts from the top of the page, but disabled users can essentially skip through all the elements for easy and fast navigation just as non-disabled users would.
Source: FreePik
Who Depends on This Feature?
Screen reader users are people with various vision disabilities and full blindness. If you think the number is not large, you are wrong.
A study done by the National Federation of the Blind in the United States concluded that a whopping over 7 million people in America alone rely on screen readers to access digital content.
Visual disabilities can vary in severity, and screen readers are used predominantly by people with limited vision or full blindness. Screen readers can also be used by people with severe mobility impairments that restrict their movements.
What Are the Most Common Use Cases?
Screen readers are used by blind people in a wide variety of cases.
The most common uses are:
- to navigate and use a computer;
- to navigate in an online environment as a whole.
Blind people need screen readers for every simple task online that non-disabled people take for granted. That's why screen-reader accessibility is part of the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) core guidelines known as Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG).
Screen reader accessibility is crucial for any essential services and government websites. It's part of every modern legislation on the subject.
What Are the Benefits?
The benefits of screen reader accessibility can be huge both for disabled users and web designers and owners alike.
For disabled users, websites adapted to screen-reader technology let them access information and services easier. Also, it offers huge emotional support to disabled people, who feel more included in everyday life.
For web page owners and designers, the benefits are both moral and in terms of business visibility. Adapting your web accessibility to screen-reader technology essentially allows more people to access it. This will prove beneficial to every business in the long run.
Morally, an accessible online environment as a whole makes our world more inclusive and welcoming for people with disabilities, who can struggle to do everyday activities. Accessibility can play a huge role in every community.
Source: FreePik
Are There Any Disadvantages?
The major disadvantage of screen-readers is that they can't convey visual structure to users – they can only navigate through written text. That means that any information, organized primarily with visual design, can't be understood and essentially "translated” to the disabled user.
The simplest way to illustrate this is by looking at a calendar page.
Calendar dates are organised in rows, showing each date and the day of the week on which it falls. For screen readers, this is essentially meaningless. It will read all the text in the rows as it is but not explain and give context that this is a calendar and it looks in a specific way for a reason.
One other disadvantage is the use of special characters online. Most screen readers can't understand and read those. It's the same with emojis.
Difference Between Screen Reader and Text-To-Speech?
There is a common misconception that screen readers and text to speech are the same thing, but they are not.
A screen reader is a complex system that allows for navigation in a computer environment. Text-to-speech is just reading the text on the screen without allowing the user to navigate the whole page.
Screen readers use text-to-speech software to read out loud all the elements on the screen, but it's the built-in commands in the screen reader that allow users to fully access web pages and navigate them thoroughly.
Conclusion
Screen readers are hardware tools that convey visual information and text either in computerized speech or braille output. They allow visually impaired users and people with severe motor disabilities to access and navigate a computer and any given webpage.
Screen reader accessibility is essential for every website owner and designer. It can be the thing that sets you apart from everyone else as a business owner. Also, screen reader accessibility is part of all modern laws in digital accessibility.
Accessible websites for screen readers can be hugely beneficial both for disabled users and your business. By doing so, you not only fulfil your moral obligation to make the world a more inclusive place but also gain new audiences.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can People Who Don’t Know Braille Use a Screen Reader?
Yes, they can. Screen readers can convey information also through computerized voice, using their in-built text-to-speech software.
Are Screen Readers Used by Other Disabled People?
Yes. People with severe motor disabilities also use screen readers to help them navigate online.
Is Screen Reader Accessibility Part of Accessibility Laws and Guidelines?
Yes, it is. Most modern laws rely on the core guidelines by W3C, which have a very comprehensive screen reader part. If your website is not accessible by screen readers, you are punishable by local law, depending on where your business operates.
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