Screen

Readers
By Margarita Hernandez
EDU 214-1007
Professor Joni Flowers
February 25th, 2021
 Screen Readers
• Screen Readers are assistive technologies that can be used to help those who
are visually impaired or blind.
• Screen Readers convert printed text into audio using built in speaking program
and audio pronouncing machines.
• They are used to help those who are visually impaired to be able to read what
is in front of them whether on phone or computer without needing assistance
from others read it for them.
• Screen readers can be used of phones, computers, laptops and tablets.
• When it comes to phones and tablets, they can be configured with a
combination of multiple touch gestures and screen reading. Gestures such as
taps, drags, flicks, or rotors (a two-finger rotation as if one is turning a dial) are
used to navigate screens and make selections while
the screen reader announces the location of whatever you are clicking on.
• There are also screen readers for computers and laptop that can be
downloaded or used via different websites. That will read what is on the
screen in a similar way to phones but using specific key and shortcuts instead
of using a mouse or touch technology.
 Screen Readers in the Classroom
• Students can use Screen Readers to help them read what is on the screen in
front of them when using computers, tables and phones. This helps them to do
things independently without help from specialist, interpreters or teachers.
• Screen Readers encourage individual learning for students who are visually
impaired and usually have to work together, instead they can work for
themselves and explore the internet all they want.
• Students can use Screen Readers to help them read assignments that are online,
read math equations, and even help them to learn foreign languages through
different software programs such as JAWS or NVDA.
• Screen readers help students to browse through internet browsers, move
between the sites, uploading, downloading files, filling out forms, and
connecting with the others via Social networking platforms.
Pros of Using Screen Readers
• Screen Readers encourage individual learning and gives
those who are visually impaired independence allowing
them to do online tasks by themselves.
• Screen Readers allows visually impaired students to gain
access to the internet and explore the different resources
and information that could help them not just in their
education but in real life as well.
• Screen Readers produce an opportunity to learn and
acquire skills that will qualify those who are blind or visually
impaired to work in various fields of life.
Cons of Using Screen Readers
• Some Screen Readers programs cost money to be able to
download them and use them on computers.
• When studying foreign languages many screen readers will
need extra equipment or software such as a foreign language
synthesizer.
• Screen readers will stop at some complicated things such as
complicated math problems which may frustrate the learner.
• There are many short cuts and controls that the students have
to learn in order to properly use the screen readers/
 NVDA
Links and • https://www.nvaccess.org/
YouTube Software for Schools
Videos on • https://www.freedomscientific.co
m/products/software/school-
Screen Readers licenses/

• Screen Reader Demo

• https://www.youtube.com/watch
?v=dEbl5jvLKGQ
Screen Reader Design
 • Kapperman, G., Koster, E., & Burman, R. (2017,
November 30). The study of foreign languages by
students who are blind using the JAWS screen
reader and a refreshable braille display. Retrieved
February 24, 2021, from
https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ1182385

• Mostafa, A. F., & Bin Mta'en, I. Y. (2016, November

30). Effect of two different Screen Readers'
programs on developing using the internet skills of
Citations Blind middle school students. Retrieved February
24, 2021, from https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ1144085

• Puckett, K. S. (2015). Technologies for Persons with

Visual Impairments. In J. M. Spector (Ed.), The
SAGE Encyclopedia of Educational Technology (Vol.
2, pp. 716-718). SAGE Reference.
https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/CX6197800277/GV
RL?u=las55353&sid=GVRL&xid=01335bdd
 • https://ezproxy.library.csn.edu/logi
n?url=https://link.gale.com/apps/d
oc/CX6197800277/GVRL?u=las5535
3&sid=GVRL&xid=01335bdd

Web
• https://ezproxy.library.csn.edu/logi
n?url=https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ11
44085
Addresses
• https://ezproxy.library.csn.edu/logi
n?url=https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ11
82385