How screen readers work and what to keep in mind when designing

A screen reader turns what is on a screen into speech or braille. It does not “see” your design: it reads the structure underneath. If that structure is well built, the experience is good; if not, the site becomes a wall.

What it does with your page

The reader walks through the code and builds an accessibility tree with the headings, links, buttons, form fields and regions of the page. Users do not read from top to bottom: they jump between headings, list the links or go straight to a region, such as the menu or the main content.

What deserves care

• Headings in order. A single H1 and levels that do not skip.
• Regions. Header, navigation, main content and footer properly marked, and a link to skip to the content.
• Meaningful link text. “Download the accessibility guide” instead of “here”.
• Form labels tied to each field, and errors announced.
• Useful alternative text on images that carry information, and empty on decorative ones.
• ARIA with judgement. Native HTML first; ARIA only when needed, because incorrect use makes the experience worse.

How to test it

Test with a real reader, such as NVDA or JAWS on Windows, VoiceOver on macOS and iOS or TalkBack on Android, and better still with people who use one every day. A five-minute test often reveals problems an automated tool cannot see.