Designing For Screen Readers: Understanding the Mental Models and Techniques of Real Users
Summary
Starting out with a ten-minute live demo from an expert screen reader user, Samuel Proulx will introduce you to not only how they work, but the thought processes behind using the Internet with a screen reader. What are some of the most important things to take into account when attempting to construct a mental model of a screen reader user? How do these effect the way you think about designing websites and apps? How can designers learn to move beyond thinking visually, to create designs that work for everyone? After this introduction, the floor will open to your questions! If you have burning questions about how people who are blind use the Internet, or what design patterns work best and why or why not, this is your chance! Ask any question at all in an open, safe learning environment.
Key Insights
-
•
Screen reader users consume web pages by skimming headings and landmarks, not reading linearly like audiobooks.
-
•
NVDA screen reader is open source and developed primarily by blind users, demonstrating inclusive design.
-
•
Screen readers are highly customized by users; almost no one uses default settings.
-
•
Semantic HTML landmarks enable quick navigation to relevant page sections, reducing cognitive load.
-
•
Web applications like Google Docs need ARIA application roles and custom hotkeys to manage complex interactions.
-
•
Consistency across a website’s page structure is crucial for efficient screen reader use.
-
•
Mobile apps are gaining popularity among blind users for tasks with limited typing, but desktop remains preferred for heavy typing.
-
•
Learning specialized hotkeys is acceptable if the user frequently returns to that application; infrequent apps should avoid them.
-
•
Partnering with grassroots accessibility organizations fosters trust and helps recruit diverse screen reader users.
-
•
Properly coded tables using semantic HTML enable screen readers to provide meaningful navigation and context.
Notable Quotes
"I can’t remember a day when there wasn’t a talking computer in my house."
"Screen reader users don’t listen to a web page like a podcast, it’s a very forward-leaning interactive experience."
"Most people listen to 250 words per minute; I often listen at 400 to 800 words per minute."
"Every assistive technology is not one size fits all, there are thousands of options to configure."
"Landmarks are like physical landmarks but for web pages, marking content roles for screen reader users."
"The more complicated a web app becomes, the more necessary the ARIA application attribute is."
"Mobile apps simplify design because of less screen real estate, which benefits all users including those using assistive technology."
"The real problem is asking me to learn specialized hotkeys for an application I only use once a year."
"Consistency is very important so what you learn on one page applies to all pages on that website."
"If you partner with grassroots organizations, they can help not only with recruiting but trust building and getting your name out there."
Or choose a question:
More Videos
"With how of work now separated from where we work, the design process stays the same—thinking holistically for all personas and touchpoints."
Lavy Kumar Kat Temple Shan Sebastian Tara Jensen Jenn ChouFuture of Work
June 9, 2021
"Even though Craig and I work closely every day, we haven’t met in person yet, which shows how remote collaboration works well for us."
Andreas Huebner Amy Takata Craig BrookesWhat Is It Like To Be Part of The UX Team at Compass?
March 11, 2021
"Cluster analysis is very useful if you want to avoid a one-size-fits-all approach to product or service design."
Ricardo MartinsUnlocking the power of advanced quantitative methods
March 12, 2025
"Everybody involved in product making should have empathy for each other, not just for the customer."
Monty HammontreeThe Future of UX Research
December 3, 2020
"For me, ideally one design ops manager per 14 designers is the ratio that works best."
Benjamin RealShowing the Value of DesignOps by Not Having a DesignOps Team
October 21, 2020
"Be a magnet for skills around you; build partnerships with legal, procurement, HR to share the load."
Kate TowseyAsk Me Anything (AMA) with Kate Towsey
April 2, 2025
"Building an internal research practice is critical for long-term value and integration of insights."
Steve Portigal Chris Chapo Kelly Goto Christian RohrerDiscussion
May 13, 2015
"Lack of confidence caused by unlabeled or difficult controls often leads assistive tech users to give up on purchases."
Sam ProulxOnline Shopping: Designing an Accessible Experience
March 28, 2023
"Consistency between control labels and prototype instructions matters a lot, because mismatches can cause big problems for alternative navigation."
Sam ProulxPrototype Reviews, People With Disabilities, and You
October 1, 2021
Latest Books All books
Dig deeper with the Rosenbot
What are the benefits of linking AI-powered research repositories with tools like Slack for organizational adoption?
How do research operations teams manage the tension between consolidating tools and needing specialized capabilities?
Why is focusing on a specific area crucial during a career pivot into climate?