Summary
This summary has been generated by Microsoft’s Copilot.
The Windows Screenreader Primer: All the Basics and More is a comprehensive guide for beginners and intermediate users of screen readers like JAWS, NVDA, and Windows Narrator. Authored by David Kingsbury, an Assistive Technology Instructor at the Carroll Center for the Blind, the book provides step-by-step instructions, customizable settings, and practical exercises to help users work effectively with essential Windows applications.
The book covers key applications such as the Windows operating system, Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint), popular web browsers (Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Mozilla Firefox), cloud-based platforms (Dropbox, OneDrive, Google Drive for Desktop), and PDF readers like Adobe Acrobat Reader. It also includes new chapters on Google Workspace, audio-video editing, and AI integration, with updates for Windows 11 and recent software versions.
The primer is designed to enhance usability and navigation for screen reader users, making it an invaluable resource for mastering screen reader usage in the Windows environment.
My Thoughts
Desiree and I got free access to The Windows Screenreader Primer because Desiree signed up for a virtual class on using Microsoft Office with a screenreader. Even though we got access to the book for free, I am going to contact David Kingsbury and offer to pay. Simply put, The Windows Screenreader Primer is the best book on using a screenreader with Windows computers I have ever seen.
Although I consider myself an advanced computer user and I think I am an advanced screenreader user, I have learned a lot from this book; in fact, it has encouraged me to try my hand at creating accessible presentations in PowerPoint that contain images to help sighted people stay focused. While that may not sound like much, it’s really important to me. I have been looking for information as to how I could create accessible, visually-appealing presentations independently for years. Even though Kingsbury suggests we ask for sighted assistance when we have finished a presentation, I don’t think I will need much help putting together my presentations any longer.
If you are a screenreader user, I am certain you will learn something that will enhance your productivity and make you a more efficient computer user.
If you are going to buy only one book on using screenreaders with Windows computers, you should buy The Windows Screenreader Primer. I know you will not regret it!