Listen to the Technology

+ Screen Readers

+ Text To Speech

Also see:

AT Adaptive/Assistive Technology) Devices Learners May Use

Settings and Plug-ins for Operating Systems and Browsers

Information About Text-to-Speech / Screen Readers

    • Computer screen readers http://www.visionaustralia.org/learn-more/learning-to-live-independently/using-technology-and-computers/technology-overview/computer-screen-readers

    • What is a Screen Reader? https://www.nomensa.com/blog/2005/what-screen-reader

    • Screen Readers and How They Work with E-Learning https://www.vadsa.org/ace/reader.htm

    • Accessibility Basics: How Does Your Page Look To A Screen Reader? https://css-tricks.com/accessiblility-basics-turn-your-css-off/

    • How Screen Readers Read Content [WebAIM] https://webaim.org/techniques/screenreader/#how

    • Screen Reader User's Experience and MS Word (YouTube, May 2014, 4:18) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D8XFkGMF0sw&feature=youtu.be

    • YouTube Search results: Screen Reader Word https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=screen+reader+word

    • Screen Reader Basics: NVDA (YouTube, Dec 2016, 9:00) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jao3s_CwdRU&t=8s

    • Browser Based Text to Speech [using VozMe] http://etc.usf.edu/techease/4all/learning/browser-based-text-to-speech/

    • Screen Reader User Survey #7 [WebAIM] https://webaim.org/projects/screenreadersurvey7/

    • An Educator's Guide to Making Textbooks Accessible and Usable for Students with Learning Disabilities http://www.ldonline.org/article/16310/

Demos of Screen Reader Tools

    • * Screen Reader Demo (YouTube, June 2016, 3:49) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_ATY9gimOM

    • Using a screen reader by Vision Australia (YouTube, May 2016, 3:11) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eOdjjRA9vBw

    • Introduction to Screen Readers by UW-Madison DoIT (YouTube, May 2013, 7:03) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hq5FNvyWGF4

    • Screen Reader Demo (YouTube, Apr 2011, 1:02) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2PMuBQ7LyOw

    • Demonstration: Screen Reader Accessibility in Word (YouTube, Jan 2016, 4:30) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3fu6rvrwvgY

    • Screen reader example (YouTube, Dec 2011, 2:30) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-ar9fRltwo

    • Using JAWS (assistive technology for Blind computer users) as a Student (YouTube, Oct 2012, 10:46) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pn1Ptd-e61g - by Eric See a student at Sacramento State University

      • (using headings) Web Accessibility 101: Web Headings for Screen Readers (YouTube, Jan 2014, 1:52) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QP1rzxMRap

    • Basic overview of the JAWS screen reader (Jun 2009, 9:48) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qiKWTTtGq7U

    • Using a Screen Reader: Practical Tutorials; YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2ztY0Xe3e2UrurzVfftU0H5nQMKL4KDF

      • Intro to Windows Desktop and Jaws for Windows (YouTube, Nov 2013,12:04) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i12GP7LVM8g&list=PL2ztY0Xe3e2UrurzVfftU0H5nQMKL4KDF&index=1

Best of Lists

Online TTS / Screen Reader Tools

On most of these sites, all you have to do is copy and paste the text you want read into a box, choose voice, language, etc and it will read the text to you.

(commercial products)

Tools and Apps

JAWS Screen Reader - $$$

    • How to Test a Document Using JAWS (YouTube, Aug 2012,11:17) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iVhGsKJnMfA - spoken by JAWS

NVDA (NonVisual Desktop Access)

NVIDA http://www.nvaccess.org/

"NVDA (NonVisual Desktop Access) is a free “screen reader” which enables persons who are blind or vision impaired to use computers. It reads the text on the screen in a computerised voice. You can control what is read to you by moving the cursor to the relevant area of text with a mouse or the arrows on your keyboard. NVDA can also convert the text into braille if the computer user owns a device called a “braille display” (from http://www.nvaccess.org/)

VoiceOver (Mac)

VoiceOver is a screen reader tool built into Mac products. See the Apple -> VoiceOver page on this site for more information about VoiceOver.

The direct link = https://sites.google.com/site/helpdeskaccessibility/equipment-os/Apple#TOC-VoiceOver-

Narrator (Windows)

Narrator is the screen reading tool built into Windows products. See the Windows -> Narrator page on this site for more information about Narrator.

The direct link = https://sites.google.com/site/helpdeskaccessibility/equipment-os/windows#TOC-Narrator

Other Tools

  • Select and Speak - Text to Speech (iSpeech) Chrome app https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/select-and-speak-text-to/gfjopfpjmkcfgjpogepmdjmcnihfpokn?hl=en

    • Free version = only 1000 words per day; does not highlight text

  • SpeakIt

    • Google Chrome - Text to Speech! (YouTube 2:20) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YwpJUVBr-Pc

    • Speak it! Text to Speech https://www.commonsensemedia.org/app-reviews/speak-it-text-to-speech

  • NaturalReader http://www.naturalreaders.com/index.html

    • 1) Online tool - type or paste text and have it read on screen.

    • 2) Free download tool (Mac and Windows)

    • 3) More advanced premium versions

    • - Videos (including Quick Start Guide) http://www.naturalreaders.com/video.html

  • Chrome Speak

Tools To Try

  • Ultra Hal (Zabaware) Text-to-Speech Reader https://zabaware.com/

    • - Text-to-Speech Reader is the free product that comes with generic voices. Ultra Hal Assistant (or Hal Assistant) is the premium product that uses artificial intelligence. There is an online chat with Ultra Hal at http://www.ultrahal.com/webhal/webhal.php

  • Announcify (+/- reviews)

    • https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/announcify/mmiolkcfamcbpoandjpnefiegkcpeoan

  • Shine Plus (Android only)

      • There’s Another Screen Reader, and it Wants to Shine on your Android device https://www.coolblindtech.com/theres-another-screen-reader-and-it-wants-to-shine-on-your-android-device/ Note: In Google Play store, you will find it called ScreenReader For Blind by SHINE ATLAB, Inc. Android Development Team

        • THUNDER

        • Thunder is a free screenreader which enables persons who are blind or vision impaired to use computers. It works well with Windows 7, Vista or XP. Thunder is available all over the world in several languages. The website has complete manuals and audio guides to assist in training training.

        • http://www.screenreader.net/?pageid=11

Accessibility Testing with Screen Readers

    • Designing for Screen Reader Compatibility - including how screen readers read content https://webaim.org/techniques/screenreader/

    • Testing with Screen Readers http://webaim.org/articles/screenreader_testing/

    • Basic screen reader commands for accessibility testing https://developer.paciellogroup.com/blog/2015/01/basic-screen-reader-commands-for-accessibility-testing/

    • 5 things I learned about web accessibility by testing a screen reader (with NVDA) https://yellowpencil.com/blog/things-learned-about-accessibility-using-screen-reader/

    • How to Test a Document Using JAWS (YouTube, Aug 2012,11:17) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iVhGsKJnMfA - spoken by JAWS

    • VoiceOver: a screen reader for iOS/Mac

      • Voice Over http://www.apple.com/accessibility/mac/vision/

      • Apple Accessibility: VoiceOver Getting Started Guide https://help.apple.com/voiceover/info/guide/10.12/

      • Using VoiceOver to Evaluate Web Accessibility http://webaim.org/articles/voiceover/

      • Three things you should know before using VoiceOver for testing http://webaim.org/blog/three-things-voiceover/

    • NVDA (NonVisual Desktop Access)

      • NonVisual Desktop Access (NVDA) http://www.nvaccess.org/

      • NVDA Guides https://github.com/nvaccess/nvda-community/wiki/Guides

      • Using NVDA to Evaluate Web Accessibility http://webaim.org/articles/nvda/

ePubs and Screen Readers

This is a conversation on the athen-list Digest, Vol 140, Issue 14 listserv (Sep 20, 2017):

Q - I have yet to use ePubs. I received one from ATN and gave it to an online student who is newly blind. She uses NVDA. She states she cannot access the ePub book. Does anyone know if this book format is in fact accessible to NVDA? Any special instructions I need to give her?

A1-

Try Lucifox. A screen reader colleague said, It is a free Firefox add-on that turns your web browser into a simple but accessible ePub reader. I tested Lucifox using the ePub books you provided and I was delighted to find that the ePub Math book chapter (including the math equations) are very accessible.?https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/lucifox/

A2-

Is the e-pub self-voicing? If not, There are a lot of browser based e-pub readers including Microsoft edge if the student is using Windows 10. Otherwise an e-pub extension for Chrome or Firefox will work. In my experience, novice screen reader users have difficulty installing extensions, especially to Firefox so I think I would give Edge a try first. The combination of Edge and NVDA is not perfect for web browsing but is acceptable for accessing e-pub.

I recommend a $10 program, QRead for accessing e-pub with a screen reader on the Windows desktop. Here?s the link:

https://q-continuum.net/qread/

--end

Readium

Resources to Explore Further

New links that I find but have not yet looked at closely enough to add to my lists.

Text to Speech - built in MAC

(Samantha is his favorite voice)

Free Text to speech on Mac- Computer reads out everything (YouTube, Jul 2013, 4:43) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tawg6Z8qi4M

Convert Any Text into an Audiobook Instantly (YouTube, Jun 2015, 3:35) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zfrNsaS27WM

-- word, but also with pdf -> ocr

-- add to iTunes

Newer versions =

System Preferences -> Accessibility

1) Dictation

Turn ON

Check use enhanced Dications (orptional)

Shortrcut = Function (FN) key twice

2) Speech

Choose Samantha (optional!)

Check Speak selected text witht he key is pressed

Shortcut = Option + Esc

3) also see VoiceOver

Check Enable

shortcut = Command-F-5

TalkBack (Android only)

"TalkBack is the Google screen reader included on Android devices" https://support.google.com/accessibility/android/answer/6283677?hl=en&ref_topic=3529932

TalkBack (Android only) "Google provides a really comprehensive set of tools in TalkBack. TalkBack is an Accessibility Service that helps vision-impaired users interact with, and enjoy, their devices. It uses spoken word, vibration and other audible feedback to let you know what's on your screen, what you're touching, and what you can do with it." (from http://www.androidcentral.com/what-google-talk-back )

What is Google TalkBack? http://www.androidcentral.com/what-google-talk-back

Turn on TalkBack https://support.google.com/accessibility/android/answer/6007100?hl=en

Get started on Android with TalkBack https://support.google.com/accessibility/android/answer/6283677?hl=en

Get started with Android and TalkBack settings https://support.google.com/accessibility/android/answer/6283655?hl=en&ref_topic=3529932

"TalkBack is the Google screen reader included on Android devices" https://support.google.com/accessibility/android/answer/6283677?hl=en&ref_topic=3529932

iOS & Android Screen Reader Gesture Reference Cheatsheet [VoiceOver for iOS and TalkBack for Android] http://www.interactiveaccessibility.com/blog/mobile-screen-reader-gestures#.V0SSQI-cEdU

Select to Speak (Android)

"You can select items on your screen and hear them read or described aloud..."

https://support.google.com/accessibility/android/answer/7349565?hl=en&ref_topic=6004781

Select to Speak "You can select items on your screen and hear them read or described aloud..." https://support.google.com/accessibility/android/answer/7349565?hl=en&ref_topic=6004781

* Types of Screen Readers [YouTube :55] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6t-3h7F-ffA

JAWS http://www.freedomscientific.com/Products/Blindness/JAWS

Window-Eyes https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6t-3h7F-ffA

NVIDA http://www.nvaccess.org/

Dolphin http://yourdolphin.com/

* Using JAWS to Navigate an LMS (in this case, Canvas) (YouTube 4:13) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OnXSUiiGldY

Only one of these that is free NVDA (Windows only)

NVIDA http://www.nvaccess.org/

You can download it to your PC, or to a USB stick which you can use with any computer.”

Another free Screenreader: Thunder Screenreader (Windows only) http://www.screenreader.net/

“Thunder is award-winning free screenreader talking software for people with little or no sight. It works well with Windows 7, Vista or XP. Thunder is available all over the world in several languages and it really is absolutely FREE! “ There are manuals and audio guides available.

Window-Eyes [Free offer for Windows Office users] http://www.windoweyesforoffice.com/

“Ai Squared, in collaboration with Microsoft, is excited to provide people who are blind, visually impaired, or print disabled with a completely functional* and free license Ai Squared's Window-Eyes screen reader. Microsoft is offering customers who have a licensed** version of Office 2010 or later the ability to download Window-Eyes, a screen reader for Windows PCs, free of charge.”

* Survey of Preferences of Screen Readers Users [WebAIM] http://webaim.org/projects/screenreadersurvey/

Adobe Reader (Windows only)There is a special feature in the Windows version of Adobe Reader will read a PDF document to you. Here’s how:

1. Open the document

2. Click on View -> Read Out Loud -> Activate Read Out Loud

3. You can highlight text in the document and it will read it to you because the default mode is to read just the words in the area that you highlight

Or you may choose another mode:

· Read This Page Only

· Read to End of Document

Notice that there are keyboard shortcuts to have the text read and to Pause (Shift-Ctrl-C) and Stop (Shift-Ctrl-E)

To turn this feature off, go back to View -> Read Out Loud and choose De-activate Read Out Loud

VoiceOver is a screen reader program that comes on new Mac computers, iPhones, iPads, and iPod touches.

VoiceOver http://www.apple.com/accessibility/osx/voiceover/

VoiceOver Getting Started http://www.apple.com/voiceover/info/guide/

Using VoiceOver to Evaluate Web Accessibility http://webaim.org/articles/voiceover/.

READING SOFTWARE (text to speech)

“Reading software (also called Literacy software) are particularly helpful for individuals with visual or learning disabilities. Reading software tends to have screen reading functions as well other features; for example, a dictionary, spellcheck, word prediction, tools to help with research, a notes area, calculators, etc. Some examples of popular reading software are Read&Write Gold (Links to an external site.) and Kurzweil; (Links to an external site.)however, they may be cost prohibitive for some. Free software may only provide screen reading functionality.”

Read&Write Gold https://www.texthelp.com/en-us/products/read-and-write-family

Kurzweil 3000 https://www.kurzweiledu.com/default.html

Premier by Reading Made EZ http://www.readingmadeez.com/home.php

Read&Write Gold (YouTube 3:47) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H42LYA5eeJE

Includes extracting notes in Read&Write Gold