Picture this.
You land on a website only to find that it all makes zero sense.
The content is unreadable, key functions are hidden, and you can’t make head nor tail of how to find what you’re looking for.
For millions of people who rely on screen readers, this isn’t a hypothetical situation – it’s a daily digital experience.
Screen readers are essential tools for digital accessibility. They convert on-screen content into synthesized speech or Braille, allowing people with visual impairments to navigate websites and applications with ease.
But in reality, many developers and designers lack a clear understanding of how these tools work and what makes a digital experience accessible.
It’s a knowledge gap that can unintentionally exclude people who rely on screen readers every day.
In this article, we break down what screen readers are, how they function, who uses them, and how sites can be designed inclusively – with a few technical tips and practical examples thrown in.
First things first, what exactly are screen readers?
Essentially, they’re assistive technologies that read digital content aloud or translate it into Braille.
They help users navigate content using a keyboard or input methods other than a typical mouse. Screen readers rely on the structure and semantics of HTML code to make sense of web content.
Screen readers work by building an “accessibility tree,” which is a simplified version of the webpage’s underlying structure (called the DOM, or Document Object Model).
This “tree” picks up on meaningful elements in the code, like headings, labels, and ARIA (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) attributes – all of which help users make sense of the content.
If the code for a button was written as:
<button aria-label=“Submit form”>Submit</button>
A screen reader will announce it as “Submit form button.”
It’ll also give navigation shortcuts to move through headings, landmarks, links, and form fields. That’s why proper markup and labeling are crucial for easy navigation.
Screen readers are mostly used by people with:
Users often pair screen readers with keyboard navigation, screen magnifiers, or Braille displays.
With several screen readers available across different platforms, it helps to understand which ones are the most commonly used and how they differ.
Here are some of the most widely used screen readers:
Screen readers are built to work across different operating systems, and each platform comes with its own set of tools, features, and user expectations.
If you’re designing for inclusivity, it’s important to know what screen readers are available on each system and how they differ from each other.
Each system has its own keyboard shortcuts and navigation paradigms, so testing across platforms is always a good idea.
Screen readers are a bridge between visual interfaces and non-visual experiences.
They support accessibility in several key ways:
💡 Compliance and usability go hand-in-hand. See how iubenda’s Accessibility Solution can help.
Despite all the best intentions, many digital experiences still fall short when it comes to accessibility.
Screen reader users often face a range of barriers that make navigation frustrating, or in some extreme cases, impossible.
Some common challenges include:
Designing for screen reader accessibility doesn’t have to be complicated – but it does require intentional choices.
Here are some practical ways to make your website more usable for screen reader users:
<label for=”email”>Email address</label>
<input type=”email” id=”email” name=”email” />
Testing is always an important step in any accessibility effort.
Luckily, there are a number of different tools and techniques you can use to help you evaluate how well your site works with screen readers.
As with any accessibility improvements, creating screen reader-friendly experiences isn’t just a box-ticking exercise.
Not only does it help with your site’s SEO and keep your site compliant with evolving laws and expectations, it makes the web a more inclusive and welcoming place for everyone.
By understanding how screen readers work and taking simple, thoughtful steps in your design and development process, you can help remove barriers that stand in the way of equal access.
So start with small improvements, keep testing, and make accessibility a standard part of your workflow.
A screen reader is software that reads digital text aloud or converts it to Braille, enabling non-visual access to content
People with full visual impairment or low vision, individuals with cognitive impairments, and those with temporary visual issues.
No. They are also used in mobile apps, documents, software interfaces, and operating systems.
Not by default. Websites must be designed and coded with accessibility in mind.
Use semantic HTML, label elements properly, provide alt text, and follow accessibility guidelines. Tools like iubenda’s Accessibility Solution can help you get started with most of these improvements.
ARIA (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) roles enhance accessibility by providing additional context, especially for dynamic content.
Try screen readers like NVDA or VoiceOver, use browser audit tools, and run real user testing.
According to WebAIM, JAWS, NVDA, and VoiceOver are the most commonly used.
They can help detect issues, but manual testing and proper coding practices are essential.
Visit iubenda’s Accessibility Solution for more resources and tools.