Reviews
Which assistive technology fits which barrier: screen readers, magnifiers, voice control, switches and captions
Match a barrier to the right type of assistive technology, see what each built-in tool does, and trial it on a real task before you spend money on anything.
What to take away
- Start with the barrier and the task, not the product. "Read a bank statement for 30 minutes" is testable. "Needs a screen reader" is a guess.
- The W3C separates assistive technologies (screen readers, screen magnifiers, speech recognition, selection switches) from adaptive strategies such as bigger text, slower mouse speed and captions. Many people use both at once.
- Apple, Microsoft and Google each provide a screen reader, a magnifier, voice control and captions. All but Android's Voice Access, which is a Google Play download, ship with the system. Try those before you buy anything.
- Switch access works by scanningthe device highlights items in turn and the user picks one with a switch, so test timing and fatigue, not just whether it works.
- In the US, a public body must give primary consideration to the aid the person with the disability asks for. The person's own choice should drive the decision.
Match the barrier to a tool type
The W3C Web Accessibility Initiative describes the main groups in its overview of tools and techniques people use: screen readers read pages aloud for people who cannot read the text, screen magnifiers help some people with low vision, and speech recognition software and selection switches serve people who cannot use a keyboard or mouse. The US National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) lists the same families under assistive devices: voice recognition programs, screen readers and screen enlargement for computer use, and closed captioning for media.
| Barrier | Tool type | What it changes | Where to start |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cannot see the screen | Screen reader | Turns the interface into speech or braille | VoiceOver, TalkBack, Narrator |
| Can see, but not comfortably | Magnifier, text size, contrast | Makes content larger or clearer | Zoom, Magnifier, Android magnification |
| Cannot use touch, keyboard or mouse well | Voice control | Replaces taps and typing with spoken commands | Voice Control, Voice Access |
| Can make only a few reliable movements | Switch access | Replaces pointing with scanning and one or two inputs | Switch Control, Switch Access |
| Cannot hear speech or sound | Captions and visual alerts | Turns speech into text | Live Captions, Live Caption |
Editorial suggestion: most people need a mix, such as a magnifier plus speech, or captions plus visual alerts. Test combinations, not single tools.
What the built-in tools do
These descriptions come from the platform makers, so check the exact names on your device version.
Screen readers. Apple describes VoiceOver as a screen reader that speaks what is on screen, in braille, or both, and is controlled by gestures on a touchscreen or trackpad. Google's TalkBack does the equivalent on Android and changes how you touch the screen: Google's help page says that with TalkBack on, one finger selects and moves focus, two fingers scroll, and a double-tap activates (Turn off TalkBack). Windows includes Narrator (Microsoft: Chapter 1, Introducing Narrator). NVDA is a separate screen reader for Windows that its maker, NV Access, offers free and open source (NV Access).
Magnifiers. Apple's Zoom has a full-screen mode and a window mode with a resizable lens, and it can follow the cursor or typing point (Apple accessibility: vision). Microsoft says Magnifier is built into Windows 11 with nothing to install, and it offers several views (Microsoft: complete guide to Magnifier). Android has its own magnification, with some steps limited to Android 13 and later (Google: use magnification).
Voice control. Apple's Voice Control uses commands such as click, swipe and tap, and shows numbers or a grid so you can select precisely (Apple accessibility: mobility). Windows 11 has voice access, which Microsoft says uses on-device speech recognition and works without the internet. It needs Windows 11 version 22H2 or later, and Microsoft's page says it replaces Windows Speech Recognition on Windows 11 22H2 and later, starting in September 2024 (Microsoft: voice access). Android has the Voice Access app (Google: Voice Access).
Switch access. Google explains that Switch Access scans the items on screen, highlighting each in turn until you make a selection. A switch is a device that sends a keystroke signal, and it connects by USB or Bluetooth. Google names AbleNet, Enabling Devices, RJ Cooper and Tecla as companies that sell them and says it does not endorse them. A standard USB or Bluetooth keyboard can also act as the switch. Apple's Switch Control accepts adaptive switch hardware, game controllers, head and hand gestures, AirPods gestures, Back Tap, or simple sounds (Apple accessibility: mobility).
Captions. On Windows 11 (version 22H2 or later), Live captions can be started with Windows logo key + Ctrl + L, and Microsoft says audio and captions stay on the device (Microsoft: live captions). iPhone Live Captions needs an iPhone 11 or later and is not offered in all languages or regions, and Apple warns that accuracy varies and should not be relied on in high-risk or emergency situations (Apple: live captions). Android's Live Caption needs Wi-Fi the first time to download a language pack (Google: Live Caption). For exact menu paths and shortcuts, see how to set up accessibility features.
What these tools do not fix
Editorial suggestion, based on how the tools work: a screen reader can only announce what an app or page exposes. If a button has no label, the reader cannot invent one. That is a fault in the content, and it is why the W3C's Web Content Accessibility Guidelines exist. For live audio in video, WCAG 2.2 success criterion 1.2.4 at level AA requires captions for all live audio content in synchronized media. Automatic captions on your own device are a personal aid, not a substitute for captions that a site or meeting host is expected to provide.
Editorial suggestion: a tool can also work and still fail the person. Common reasons are fatigue from panning a magnified screen, voice commands that fail in a noisy room or expose private information aloud, and scan timing that is too slow or too fast. Only a trial shows these.
For phones, a hearing-aid-compatible handset is a separate question from captions. The FCC hearing aid compatibility rules for phone purchases explain how to read the ratings.
Trial it on a real task
Editorial suggestion for a method that works for any tool:
- Pick three tasksthe person does weekly, such as reading email, filling in a form and joining a video call. Add one recovery task, such as getting out of a wrong screen.
- Use the person's own accounts, files and apps.A store demo cannot show whether your bank's site or your workplace system works.
- Start from the built-in tool.It costs nothing and moves with the device.
- Time-box each trial.Use a realistic session length, not five minutes.
- Score the same five things for every candidate:can the person finish alone, how many errors, how tired they are afterwards, whether private content is exposed, and whether it still works after a restart or update.
- Record the workarounds.A tool that works only in one browser or only with a helper beside you has a narrower fit than it first seems.
- Decide with the user.If the person prefers a tool that scores slightly lower, find out why before overruling it.
The ADA position supports this. The US Department of Justice says that when a state or local government chooses an aid or service for a person with a communication disability, it must give primary consideration to the choice that person requests, unless an equally effective alternative exists or the choice would be an undue burden or a fundamental alteration (ADA.gov: effective communication). That rule applies to public entities under Title II. Employers and private businesses fall under other provisions, so ask the relevant agency or an adviser about your case. The same DOJ page lists real-time captioning, screen reader software and magnification software among the aids covered.
Where to try before you buy
Built-in tools need no purchase. For dedicated hardware or paid software, look for a loan library or a demonstration service first. Washington and Massachusetts programs are listed in assistive technology programs in Seattle and Boston. If cost is the obstacle, assistive technology funding through vocational rehabilitation explains when a state agency can pay for devices tied to a job goal.
Before committing, ask the seller for the exact model, supported operating system versions and trial or return terms in writing. Price and compatibility change with each software release, so this article gives no prices.
Sources
- [Apple accessibilityvision](https://www.apple.com/accessibility/vision/)
- [Apple accessibilitymobility](https://www.apple.com/accessibility/mobility/)
