A Dyslexic's Guide to Screen Readers

My ability to read does not match my ability to understand. My dyslexia causes me to see words as patterns so I end up having to basically translate hieroglyphics every time I read. It is exhausting! It is like weeding a garden in the summer. Everytime you clear a section, another one has grown back. It is relentless and a pain.

When I can listen to text, my understanding improves tenfold. This is where screen reading technology comes in. Screen readers or text to speech software allow those who have difficulty reading access to content by reading information on your screen out loud.

This guide will explain the different types of screen readers, how to use them and why they are not just for blind users, but can be a game changer for anyone.

I believe that accessibility should be available for everyone and should not break the bank, so I prefer to recommend free or low-cost tools. These recommendations are also mine and from my personal experience, but I always welcome suggestions!

Contents

What Are The Two Types Of Screen Readers?

Navigational ‘Comprehensive’ Screen Readers

Primarily designed for blind users, comprehensive screen readers navigate every single element on screen, including the window title, menu items, notifications, buttons, form fields, emojis, images and of course, the text. It then outputs the information through speech (commonly high speed) or a Braille reader.

It is a layer of software which sits on top of a computer's operating system and because of its complex nature, using it well is not something you pick up overnight, it requires specialist training.

While life changing for people with severe sight impairments, they are often inappropriate for dyslexic users as it is like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut! Because these tools are designed to read out every single structural element, they can quickly cause sensory overload for someone who just wants help reading an article.

1. Job Access With Speech (JAWS) - Built for Microsoft Windows, this is the gold standard, but it is expensive!
2. Non Visual Desktop Access (NVDA) - Built for Microsoft Windows, this is a very popular and excellent alternative to JAWS. It is free and open source.
3. Apple VoiceOver - Built into macOS, iOS, iPadOS, and visionOS.
4. Windows Narrator - Built into Microsoft Windows.
5. Orca - For Linux users, it is completely free and open source.
6. TalkBack - Built into Android devices.
7. ChromeVox - Built into Chromebooks.

The WebAIM Screen Reader Survey is an excellent source of information about screen reader users, how their habits are changing over time and the frustrations they continually encounter.

‘Lightweight’ Screen Readers

Lightweight screen readers (text to speech software) are much simpler to use as they only read what you want them to read. They are commonly used by dyslexic and neurodiverse people, but they are useful for everyone, compared to the navigational screen readers which are too powerful for text only.

There are two types of text to speech readers. One is point and shoot where you select the desired piece of text and get the system to read it to you. The other reads everything that is in your clipboard.

Most devices already come with one built in, you just have to know where to look!

Built Into The System

1. Read & Speak - Mac’s built-in screen reader. To access the shortcut, press Option + Esc. I have customised mine so all I have to do is highlight the text I want to listen to, press F6 and the screen reader reads it aloud to me. You can also tell Siri to “Speak screen”.
   A major issue I have with this is although I have set up my shortcut, sometimes it takes several attempts to get it to work. It is a major bug and will read the whole page rather than just the highlighted text. This is exhausting and time consuming.
2. Select to Speak - Android's built-in screen reader. You can turn it on in the Accessibility section of your Settings and a floating button or shortcut icon will appear on the edge of your screen. Click on it and then choose an area of the screen to have read aloud. It can also read aloud text in images which is pretty cool 😎.

Text to Speech Software & Extensions

1. Ghost Clipboard Reader - A free app for Windows which can read everything you copy in your clipboard. It is brilliant for long articles with images, code, or recipes, because you can select only the bits you actually want to hear. It will continuously read whatever you add to your clipboard plus you can pause it and if you right click the little icon that lives in your task bar you can tell it to stop monitoring your clipboard.
2. Voice Aloud Reader - I have had this mobile screen reader the longest. It is free or you can choose to pay a small one time fee and available on Android, Firefox and Chrome. You select the text and use the share menu to have it read aloud. You can also send text to the app and save it as an audio file to listen to later.
3. Speech Note - Takes notes with your voice for free and automatically transcribes audio and video recordings.
4. Microsoft Immersive Reader - Free with Edge or Microsoft Office. It comes built into these apps and is not available separately in Windows. This has the widest range of features of the lightweight screen readers, letting you tailor the speech, font, spacing and line focus, along with picture dictionaries, grammar highlighting and real-time translation.
5. Foliate - A free eBook Reader for Linux.
6. Outloud - Free and available on all platforms. It uses a private AI to read aloud web pages, PDFs and ebooks.
7. MLXRead - Free for macOS and provides a wide range of voice models. For example, if you are a doctor, you might choose to download the pack with scientific terms.

Internet Browsers

These are not screen readers, but many browsers have a read mode that instantly strips back the clutter of pop-ups and ads. This is a hidden gem for those who just want to read the text on screen with no added elements. It also makes information easier to decipher for a lightweight screen reader to read aloud.

Something to bear in mind, read mode is only available on articles, news stories, blogs, or text heavy pages normally shown with an icon in the address bar. On the mobile version, the screen reader might not be available as there is usually one built in already.

1. Firefox

   On some web pages, Reader View can be accessed by a page shaped icon in the address bar.

   The shortcuts are F9, Control + Alt + R on Windows, or Command + Option + R on Mac.

2. Google Chrome

   Reading Mode can be found by right clicking on the page and selecting Open in reading mode.

   The shortcut is Alt + Shift + R on Windows, or Command + Option + R on Mac.

3. Microsoft Edge

   Reading Mode can be accessed by the reader icon in the address bar. You can also select text, right click on the page and choose Open in Immersive Reader.

   The shortcut is F9.

   To start or stop Read Aloud, use Control + Shift + U on Windows, or Command + Shift + U on Mac.

Integrated AI Tools

There are two language models I use every day, Google Gemini and ChatGPT, because they have screen readers already integrated. Claude has one too, but I do not use it very often because I do not have a subscription.

ChatGPT wins on voice because you can choose who reads to you. I use Juniper because she sounds more like me but with an American accent! The only drawback is that you cannot pause her. If you get interrupted mid-way through a long answer, you end up having to listen to the whole thing all over again. An additional benefit is that it skips reading the code.

Gemini, on the other hand, lets you pause, which is a huge plus. The downside is that you are stuck with a male voice, and if you are using Firefox like me, you cannot change it.

All these AI tools have a reader. To access it, navigate to the sub menu, which is normally shown with three dots or in the bar under your chat, and click Listen or the speaker icon (Read Aloud).

Tips for Using Screen Readers

It can take a bit of time to get used to using a screen reader. These are just a few things that might help you adjust quickly.

1. Set Up A Shortcut

   If you are using a screen reader, you will want to have the settings easily accessible in a dedicated shortcut.

   Shortcuts can be accessed in Settings > Accessibility, or System Settings > Keyboard > Keyboard Shortcuts.

2. Customise Your Voice

   Choose a voice you actually like. Personally, I always prefer a female voice. I often find the American ones are better sounding than the British ones. You are not stuck with the built in voices either. There are loads more you can buy or download for free.

3. Adjust The Speed

   Once you have found a voice you like, give yourself a few days to get used to it. Then start changing the speed and adjusting the pitch so it reflects a more realistic reading speed and tone. Small increases work best. Before long, it will start to sound like your personal reading assistant.

4. Pair Audio with Visual Highlighting

   If you like your text to be highlighted at the same time as hearing it, you will be able to change that in the settings. It can often increase your focus and may help you with word recognition.

5. Get Rid Of The Clutter First

   Screen readers can get side tracked by pop-ups, sidebar ads, and navigation menus. Before turning on your reader, switch your browser to Reader View. Stripping away the clutter leaves clean text so the screen reader can perform at its best.

Reasonable Adjustments

Understanding which type of screen reader you need becomes particularly important when asking your employer for reasonable adjustments or applying for additional support through Access to Work.

Some of the comprehensive screen readers come with a hefty price tag. JAWS, for example, can easily cost over £1,000 depending on the licence. If you need specialist software like this to do your job, it is worth discussing your requirements with your employer and finding out whether additional support may be available through Access to Work (ATW).

There is also no rule saying you must use the same screen reader for everything. I use different tools depending on what I am doing and which device I am using. You might have one on your phone, another on your tablet, one on your personal computer and something different on your work computer.

Being able to listen to emails, documents, messages and your own writing can reduce the effort involved in reading and help improve your efficiency at work and beyond. Do not be afraid to open up that conversation with your employer. Remember that schemes like ATW are not grants, they are there so you can stay in work.

If you were a professional tennis player, you would use a specialist tennis racket, not your hand! It is a way of giving you the correct equipment for your job. So if you are holding back on asking for adjustments, consider this a gentle nudge to go for it!

How Can Screen Readers Benefit Everyone?

While screen readers are an absolute lifeline for visually impaired and neurodivergent people, they can make life easier for anyone. Here is why you should consider using one, even if you think you do not need it.

• They support temporary barriers such as when you are tired or distracted. Screen readers are not just for the blind, they are also an aid for people with any visual problems, like short sightedness or even a bad hay fever day.
• Multi-tasking becomes easier, as you can do things such as making a coffee or stretching while listening to information instead of staring at a screen.
• Your comprehension may improve because you are just concentrating on what you are hearing.
• They remove the limitation of your reading speed.
• Screen readers are an incredible editing tool. Your brain often auto-corrects typos when reading visually, but your ears will catch missing words and awkward phrasing.

Even if you do not have dyslexia or processing difficulties, try a screen reader anyway. It might help your focus, efficiency and energy, and make life just that little bit smoother. We rarely notice how much reading we actually do until it becomes hard work. Count how many times you have to read today. That is how much I have to rely on assistive technology.

My screen reader has become an essential part of my life and a vital piece of equipment in my every day tool kit.