[Speaker] Content Lab brings you the next in our series about
accessibility practices.
In this video, you'll learn how screen readers work
and why they matter for web authors.
Screen readers are a type of assistive technology used
by people with certain visual, physical,
or cognitive disabilities.
Screen readers convert content on a screen
to audio making text, images,
everything on the screen accessible
for the people using them.
Notice how Robert Dias, an Assistive Technology Information
Specialist, uses a screen reader.
[Robert Dias] I am a screen reader user, so I share my screen,
I share my sound, the, you know, screen reader output,
and I'm reviewing digital content in real time.
[Speaker] People using screen readers rely on their keyboards
to navigate instead of a mouse. They use the tab
and arrow keys and shortcuts to find what they want.
Screen readers interact
with the code on a webpage or a document.
The code identifies elements like headings, buttons, links,
and alt text, so the screen reader can announce
that information to the user.
The Mass.gov content management system
or CMS is coded for accessibility,
but what you do with content
as a Mass.gov author will affect the
screen reader experience.
If you know how screen readers work, you can take steps
to make sure that every piece of content you add
to Mass.gov is accessible for users who are consuming it auditorily.
Screen readers work in a linear way
to reveal structures and elements on the page
and announce them to the user.
Screen readers use text to stand in for visual information,
so it's critical, for example,
that your content follows proper heading structure without
skipping any levels, that means H1 or heading level 1
titles are followed by heading level 2s
or H2s, heading level 3s, or H3s, and so on.
Good alt text is the auditory equivalent of an image.
The person using a screen reader understands the purpose
of the image based on the alt text that is announced.
[Screen reader] An illustration of a webpage with a Welcome
to the Berkshires sign on it.
A tag marked with alt text points to the image graphic.
[Speaker] Using these text structures correctly creates a
predictable experience.
The screen reader user can trust
that things are in the right place
and they're not missing anything.
Your titles, headings and links should be descriptive
and specific for the person hearing them announced.
Notice here that generic headings like "Programs
and services" won't help people find what they want.
Screen reader users can pull up lists of headings
and links on a page to help them quickly navigate
and scan information. Without surrounding context,
they won't mean much if they're not specific.
Check out our videos on headings
and link text for more guidance.
One way to know how screen readers work is
to enable the one built into your operating system.
If you use Windows, you can use the built-in
screen reader Narrator.
If you are a Mac user,
Voiceover is your built-in screen reader.
See how it functions on some of your Mass.gov pages.
It's powerful to experience it for yourself.
[Screen reader] Heading Level one, apply
for home heating and energy assistance.
The Massachusetts Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) is a
free resource to help eligible households
pay a portion of winter heating bills.
Link. HEAP application plus service provider location portal
[Speaker] Before you enable a screen reader,
you should know how to turn it off.
To quit Narrator, press Windows plus Control, plus Enter.
To quit Voiceover, press Command plus F5.
For more help with understanding how screen readers work,
check out the Access Team resources.