04.06.2020

Visually Impared Screen Reader For Mac

Download free Reader for Windows 10. Blind and visually impaired people with some tools simply use the computer. For example, there are special screen-reader software that the text in computer programs or websites to read. Window-Eyes screen reader by GW Micro is now FREE for download for people who are blind, visually impaired, or print disabled who have a licensed version of Office 2010 or later! Word Talk is a FREE Windows text-to-speech plugin for Microsoft Word.

  1. Screen Readers For Visually Impaired
  2. Nvda Screen Reader For Mac
  3. Electronic Readers For Visually Impaired
  4. Book Reader For Visually Impaired
  5. Audio Readers For Visually Impaired
  6. Magnifying Readers For Visually Impaired

Use Narrator (Screen Reader) Narrator is a feature in Windows 10, which reads you the contents of the screen. So, if you have problems viewing the display, you can use Narrator to make sure you are clicking the right options.

After braille, no invention has enabled blind and visually impaired people to communicate as effectively as the assistive technologies that make computers and the Internet accessible. Digital technology has also given those that are blind ever-expanding opportunities for personal and professional growth.

Screen Readers For Visually Impaired

To make such a highly visual environment accessible to those unable to see a computer monitor, assistive technology must do two things:

  1. Enable users to read all onscreen content, whether emails, spreadsheet columns, application toolbars, or photo captions
  2. Provide a means to navigate one's keyboard and desktop, open and use programs, and browse the web

The two technologies that make this possible are screen access- and magnification software programs.

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Screen Access Software

Screen readers give voice to computers through applications that synthesize written words and keyboard commands into human-sounding speech of the sort you might hear on an automated phone and voicemail systems.

The most popular screen access program is JAWS for Windows, developed by Freedom Scientific, which supports all Microsoft and IBM Lotus Symphony applications.

JAWS reads aloud what's onscreen, beginning the with installation instructions, and provides key command equivalents to mouse functions so blind computer users can launch programs, navigate their desktop, read documents, and surf the web using just their keyboard.

For example, rather than double-clicking on the browser icon, a blind person might press in succession:

  • 'Windows' key to reach the Start menu
  • 'P' to access their program list
  • 'I' for all applications beginning with 'I'
  • 'Down arrow' to scroll through the list
  • 'Enter' once they hear 'Internet Explorer.'

It sounds painstaking, but screen readers speed navigation by providing shortcuts and audible cues. For example, the arrow keys enable users to quickly cycle through desktop items or section headings on a website. Pressing Insert + F7 displays a list of all links on that page. On Google, or on any site with forms, JAWS sounds to indicate the cursor is in the search box or has advanced to the next text field.

In addition to converting text to speech, another crucial function JAWS and similar programs provide is output in braille. This function enables braille readers to view documents on refreshable braille displays or download them onto popular portable devices such as BrailleNote.

The main drawback with screen readers is the price. The American Foundation for the Blind notes that prices can range up to $1,200. One can, however, download free Windows accessibility software, or purchase an all-in-one PC accessibility solution such as CDesk.

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Serotek offers System Access to Go, a free, web-resident version of its flagship screen reader. After creating an account, users can make any computer connected to the Internet accessible by simply logging in and pressing Enter.

Screen Magnification Software

Screen magnification programs enable visually impaired computer users to enlarge and/or clarify what's displayed on their monitor. In most programs, users can zoom in and out with a keyboard command or flick of the mouse wheel.

HumanWare's ZoomText Magnifier, one of the most popular products, magnifies screen contents from 1x to 36x while maintaining image integrity. Users can zoom in and out at any time with a turn of the mouse wheel.

ZoomText provides controls so users can adjust:

  • Color, contrast, and brightness
  • Letter thickness and spacing
  • Size of the often-lost cursor and mouse pointer.

ZoomText users wishing to use two open applications at the same time can magnify portions of the screen by opening one of eight 'Zoom' windows. An enlarged viewing area can also be expanded onto two adjacent monitors.

Nvda Screen Reader For Mac

The degree of vision loss usually determines which solution a blind person uses. People with no or severely limited vision use screen readers. Those with sufficient vision to read print use magnification programs.

Apple Integrates Speech and Magnification

Not long ago, all the assistive computer technology for the blind was PC-based. No longer.

Apple has built both screen reading and magnification into its Mac OS X operating system used in the latest versions of its iPad, iPhone, and iPod. The screen reader is called VoiceOver; the magnification program is called Zoom.

VoiceOver 3 includes a standard set of hand gestures that can be used to navigate among different windows, menus, and applications. It can also integrate more than 40 popular braille displays via Bluetooth.

Zoom is activated using keyboard commands, onscreen buttons, and via mouse or trackpad and can magnify text, graphics, and motion video up to 40 times without loss of resolution.

The Need for Training

No matter which technology one chooses, a blind person should expect to buy a computer and screen reader and learn via some sort of training. The sheer number of commands within JAWS constitutes a new language. You could figure out a few things but likely wouldn't get as far as you would with some formal training.

Training sources include:

  • Webinars on manufacturer sites and institutions such as the Hadley School for the Blind
  • Training materials in accessible formats from companies such as Handy Tech North America in Columbia Heights, Minnesota
  • Post-assessment programs through a vocational rehabilitation agency or hospital
  • Phone tutorials and talk-throughs from experts such as Roger Cusson of Seeing Hands Enterprises, Lewiston, Maine
  • Local continuing education courses and computer user groups.

Training and product prices vary. One should contact state agencies, including vocational rehabilitation, commissions for the blind, and special education departments to explore assistive technology funding options.

Every Mac is built with assistive technologies to support people who are blind or have low vision. The VoiceOver screen reader describes exactly what’s happening on your screen. Zoom gives you a powerful built-in magnifier. And display adjustments help to meet your specific vision needs.

VoiceOverHear what’s happening on your screen.

VoiceOver does more than tell you what’s happening on your Mac. It helps you make things happen. It gives you auditory descriptions of each onscreen element and provides helpful hints along the way — whether you prefer using gestures, a keyboard, or a braille display. And it supports more than 35 languages, including multiple voice options.

VoiceOverIntegrated throughout macOS and every built-in app.

Electronic Readers For Visually Impaired

VoiceOver is unique because it’s not a standalone screen reader. It’s deeply integrated in macOS and all the built-in apps on Mac. And as developers update their apps to take advantage of the accessibility interfaces provided by Apple, their apps can start working with VoiceOver right away.

VoiceOverImproved PDF, web, and messages navigation.

We’ve refined VoiceOver to make it easier to navigate PDFs, websites, and messages. In Safari, improved conformance with HTML5 accessibility standards allows for more consistent navigation of websites. VoiceOver is now better at reading aloud tagged PDFs and email messages. If you start reading a website in a different language, VoiceOver can switch to the voice for that language automatically.¹ And you can add custom commands and workflows to your MacBook Pro with Touch Bar.

Audio DescriptionsHear the details in every scene.

Watch movies with detailed audio descriptions of every scene on your Mac. Movies with audio descriptions are displayed with the AD icon in the iTunes Store.

VoiceOverNavigate VoiceOver with simple gestures.

You can control VoiceOver using many of the same gestures you use with iOS. Touch the trackpad to hear a description of the item under your finger, drag to hear items continuously, and flick to move to the next item. Enable the VoiceOver Trackpad Commander, and the trackpad surface will represent the current window or document, so you can navigate quickly to any corner or edge with a tap.

VoiceOverA virtual controller with customizable commands.

VoiceOver features a virtual control called the rotor. Turning the rotor — by rotating two fingers on the trackpad as if you were turning an actual dial — lets you access an array of fully customizable commands. Use it to browse web pages more efficiently and intuitively. The rotor lists common elements like “headings,” “links,” and “images,” and lets you navigate directly to the element of your choosing.

VoiceOverPlug-and-play support for braille displays.

VoiceOver is the first screen reader to provide plug-and-play support for refreshable braille displays. Plug in or sync one of over 100 compatible displays, and the VoiceOver description is presented to you in braille. In macOS High Sierra, you can edit seamlessly in Grade 2 Braille, viewing your edits in the context of the actual line of text. Converting between braille and text happens automatically so you see only Grade 2 Braille. VoiceOver is also the only screen reader that supports more than one braille display at a time. So in a meeting or class, you can present what’s on your screen to multiple braille users simultaneously. And for sighted users who sit alongside you, there’s an onscreen braille panel that displays both braille and plain-text versions of the descriptions spoken by VoiceOver.

Dark ModeWorking hard gets easier on the eyes.

Dark Mode transforms the desktop and built-in apps with a new dark color scheme that helps you focus on your work.2 The fine points of your content take center screen as toolbars and menus recede into the background. Light text against darker backdrops in Mail, Safari Reader, Calendar, and more makes everything easier to read in low lighting conditions. And the Accessibility preferences for increased contrast and reduced transparency work with Dark Mode enabled.

DictationYou say it. Mac types it.

Dictation lets you talk where you would type — and it works in over 40 languages. So you can reply to an email, search the web, or write a report using just your voice. Navigate to any text field, activate Dictation, then say what you want to write. macOS also comes with more than 50 editing and formatting commands. So you can turn on Dictation and tell your Mac to bold a paragraph, delete a sentence, or replace a word. You can also use Automator workflows to create your own Dictation commands.

SiriStreamline the things you do every day.

Siri helps you do more with your desktop.³ Ask Siri to send messages, track down files, create reminders, search the web, and even turn on and off VoiceOver and Invert Colors, without interrupting what you’re doing on the keyboard. And because Siri is integrated with VoiceOver, you can ask it to find a file and hear the answer read out loud. If you prefer to communicate by typing, you can easily set Siri to “Type to Siri” mode.

ZoomMake your screen up to 20 times bigger.

Zoom is a powerful built-in magnifier that lets you enlarge your screen up to 20 times, so you can better see what’s on the display. Set up a shortcut for quickly zooming in and out by selecting “Use scroll gesture with modifier keys to zoom” in the Zoom pane of Accessibility in System Preferences. You can zoom using full screen or picture-in-picture, allowing you to see the zoomed area in a separate window while keeping the rest of the screen at its native size. A shortcut key lets you pan the screen without moving the pointer while zoomed in. macOS can also flash the screen for notifications offscreen or speak text under your pointer. The hardware acceleration engine lets you boost the size of everything on your screen — text on a web page, family photos, a place on a map.

Cursor SizeMagnify your cursor so it’s easier to use.

macOS lets you magnify your cursor so it’s easier to see where you are and follow along as you move around your Mac. Set the cursor size once and it stays magnified even when its shape changes. And when you swipe back and forth on your trackpad or quickly shake your mouse, the pointer grows so it’s easier to locate.

Contrast OptionsInvert colors or enable grayscale.

If a higher contrast or a lack of color helps you better see what’s on your display, macOS lets you invert colors or enable grayscale onscreen. Once you set your preferences, they apply systemwide, so you get the same view in every app. You can also turn on Increase Contrast to enhance definition and reduce transparency in some apps.

Reduce MotionDecrease the movement of onscreen elements.

If you’re affected by the motion of screen elements, you can turn on Reduce Motion to decrease movement in areas like Spaces, Notification Center, and the Dock.

Book Reader For Visually Impaired

iTunesNavigate and play content with VoiceOver.

iTunes is compatible with VoiceOver, so you can navigate and play all the content in your iTunes library even if you can’t see the screen. Browse the iTunes Store as VoiceOver reads out headers, links, and other elements on the page.

Resources

Support

User Guides

Download Unified English Braille version of macOS VoiceOver User Guide
Or order an embossed copy of macOS VoiceOver User Guide

External Resources

Hadley Institute for the Blind and Visually Impaired

Audio Readers For Visually Impaired

Explore instructional videos with tips on using vision accessibility features in macOS.

Magnifying Readers For Visually Impaired

Learn more about the Hadley Institute instructional videos at their website

Join a community of blind and low-vision users of Apple products.

Learn more about AppleVis.com at their website

Get information on the use of Apple products by those who are blind or low vision.

Learn more about Mac-cessibility Network at their website