NVDA Screen Reader

August 12, 2024
NVDA (NonVisual Desktop Access) is a popular, free, and open-source screen reader designed to make Windows computers accessible to people who are blind or visually impaired. One of the best features is that you can download NVDA to a flashdrive and use it at any public computer! No need to download software onto the computer. This is a perfect solution if you need to use a screenreader on managed computers! Here are the key features and functionalities:

Text-to-Speech Engine

NVDA converts text on the screen into speech using various built-in and external text-to-speech engines. It supports multiple languages and voices.

Braille Support

It offers support for Braille displays, enabling users to read text in Braille.

Customizable Speech Settings

Users can adjust speech rate, pitch, and volume to suit their preferences. They can also choose from different voices and languages.

Keyboard Navigation

NVDA provides extensive keyboard navigation options to access and interact with various elements of the user interface, including applications, dialogs, and web content.

Web Accessibility

It supports navigation and interaction with web pages, including reading web content, forms, and dynamic web elements. It is compatible with modern web standards and popular web browsers.

Document Reading

Users can read and interact with various document types, including PDFs, Word documents, and plain text files. NVDA can also handle different document layouts and formats.

Configuration and Customization

NVDA includes a range of settings for personalization, including options for voice settings, verbosity, and key commands. Users can also create custom scripts to tailor the screen reader to specific needs.

Add-ons and Extensions

It supports add-ons that can extend its functionality, such as additional voices, custom scripts, or specific features for applications.

Support for Multiple Applications

NVDA is compatible with a wide range of Windows applications, including Microsoft Office, web browsers, and other software.

Automatic Updates

The software includes a built-in update system to ensure users have the latest features and improvements.

Community and Documentation

NVDA benefits from a strong user community and extensive documentation, including tutorials, user guides, and forums for support.

Resources

  • Deque has created a free Quick Reference Guide of Windows Keyboard Commands. They also created NVDA Keyboard Commands. These reference guides are useful if you are using a standard computer keyboard with a number pad. If you don't have an insert key on your keyboard, set up NVDA to use the caps lock key as the NVDA key instead of the insert key.
  • For a full list of commands, visit nvaccess.org.

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