You know what your web page looks like. But what does it sound like?
A screen reader lets you listen to the text of your web page.
What is a screen reader?
A screen reader is assistive technology software that provides a way for a person who is blind or has low vision to read and interact with the web. If your web content doesn't work well with a screen reader, then a person with a vision disability can't use your content.
Try a screen reader
Web Content Managers who care about the accessibility of their web content use a screen reader to test for accessibility compliance.
You probably already have a screen reader on your computer:
- Windows PCs have a built-in screen reader called Narrator.
- Macs have a built-in screen reader called Voiceover.
Windows users can also download or buy a screen reader:
- NVDA is the most popular screen reader for Windows users.
- JAWS is a popular screen reader that users prefer for enterprise applications.
When installing software, comply with your organization's software approval process and State agency’s guidelines, policies, and standards governing installation and use.
Screen Reader Testing Checklist
The Digital Commons platform provides a lot of accessibility "for free", and tools to help you automate accessibility testing, but it's a good idea to do a manual test with a screen reader.
Reading Order
With the screen reader on, arrow down through the page and listen.
- Does the content make sense when read linearly?
Link text
Use the screen reader to view a list of links.
- Are any links ambiguous based on the text provided?
- Would a user need more context to understand a link's destination?
Image Alt Text
Use the screen reader to navigate through the images. Close your eyes and imagine what the image looks like based on its alt text.
- Does the description match the image?
- Is the alt text too verbose? Redundant? Meaningless?
Form Instructions
Navigate through the form with a screen reader.
- Would a user miss any important instructions to complete the form?
- Are required fields announced?
- Do you hear the error messages?
Headings
Use the screen reader to navigate through the headings.
- Does the heading structure create a usable outline of the page?
- Are headings levels skipped?
What Digital Commons handles for you
An accessible CMS (Content Management System) like Digital Commons handles the screen reader accessibility of many "reusable" components and content types.
Things that are screen-reader-ready in the Digital Commons platform are:
- Landmark structure (header, nav, main, footer)
- Keyboard operability of controls (buttons, links, menus, tabs, accordions, dialog boxes, form fields)
- "Skip to content" links
To learn more about how to use a screen reader, watch this screen reader demo (YouTube video) from the April 28, 2026 North Carolina Accessibility Community of Practice.
It's important to remember that not every site visitor uses the web in the same way. Listening to your web page with a screen reader is a great way to experience your web content from the perspective of a person with a vision disability.
On behalf of North Carolinians, thank you for thinking about the accessibility of your web content.