How Do Blind People Read? Braille, Screen Readers and Everyday Access

Blind people read in different ways. Some use braille, some use screen readers, and others prefer audio, large print or a mix of formats. The right option depends on the person, the task and what works for them.

There isn’t one method everyone should use. Here’s a practical guide to some common ways of reading, and a few simple ways to make information easier to access.

There is no single way to read

Reading can mean following a novel, checking a text message, scanning a menu or working through a form. Different formats can suit different tasks, and someone’s preferred way of reading may vary from day to day.

Some blind people use braille. Others use speech software, audio books or magnification. Many use more than one approach. People with sight loss also have different experiences of vision and different access needs. Our guide to the spectrum of sight loss and the BLIND ISN’T BLACK AND WHITE. statement explore why one person’s experience cannot speak for everyone. The What Does Blind Look Like? page covers why appearance tells you very little about someone’s vision.

Braille is read by touch

Braille is a system of raised dots that represents letters, numbers and punctuation. A reader feels the patterns with their fingertips. It is a tactile writing system, not simply ordinary print converted into a different-looking font.

Braille gives readers direct access to how words are spelled and punctuated. That can matter for learning, writing, checking details and reading privately. As RNIB explains, braille can support understanding of spelling, grammar and punctuation in ways that audio alone may not.

Not everyone who is blind reads braille, and people learn or use it for different reasons. It is one valuable option among several, not a test of how someone should access written information.

Screen readers turn digital text into speech

A screen reader is software that reads information on a computer, tablet or phone aloud. It can announce text and describe elements such as headings, links and buttons. What it can communicate depends partly on how the website, app or document has been made.

Many phones, tablets and computers have a screen reader built in. Additional software is also available. Readers navigate using keyboard shortcuts, touch-screen gestures or other commands; as with any tool, it can take time and practice to find a way of working that suits.

Screen readers are useful for everyday tasks such as reading messages, browsing websites and working with documents. They do not make every digital service accessible automatically. If a page is confusingly structured, or important information appears only in an image without a text description, there may be little for the software to read.

RNIB’s guide to screen-reading software explains how it works and outlines built-in and downloadable options.

Braille displays can work alongside speech

A refreshable braille display connects to a device and uses small pins to form braille characters, updating as the reader moves through digital text. It can be used with a screen reader, so information can be available as speech and braille at the same time.

Speech can make it quick to listen through longer passages. Braille offers another way to read, including access to individual letters and punctuation. Some people use one; some use both. Neither is the right choice for everyone.

Audio books, DAISY and human readers

Audio is another way to access books and written information. An audiobook may have a human narrator, while text-to-speech software generates spoken output from digital text. A DAISY player or compatible app can play accessible talking books and other audio publications, with features that help readers move through the content.

Audio may be convenient for a book or a long document, but it does not suit every situation or every reader. Listening, braille and screen-reader speech all offer different experiences. RNIB’s reading and books information covers options including Talking Books and other accessible formats.

Large print, magnifiers and digital adjustments

Some people with useful vision read print more comfortably when it is larger. RNIB describes large print as generally 16 to 18 point, while giant print is larger. The most comfortable size is individual: contrast, spacing, font style and lighting can matter too. Handheld magnifiers or electronic magnification can also help some readers.

Digital text can offer more choice than a fixed-size page. An eBook, document or webpage may allow a reader to enlarge the text, adjust colours or use speech. RNIB’s guides to large and giant print and eBooks explain some of these options.

Why “just make the font bigger” is not always the answer

Larger text can help, but it is not a universal fix. A person may prefer speech or braille, need a different contrast or layout, or find that enlarging text makes a page harder to navigate. A photograph of a printed page is not made accessible just by increasing its size.

The useful question is not “How big should I make this?” It is “Which format works for you?”

Small changes that make information easier to access

If you are sharing a document, menu, handout or online post:

1. Ask which format someone prefers. Offer a choice where you can, and follow their lead.
2. Send an accessible digital file. Share a Word document or a properly structured PDF with selectable text, rather than a photograph or image-only PDF.
3. Use clear headings and links. A logical structure helps people navigate content with assistive technology.
4. Add meaningful alt text to informative images. Describe what matters in the image; don’t leave important information available only visually.

These are useful starting points, not a guarantee that every format will work for every person. Accessibility also depends on the technology and content being designed to work together. RNIB’s 2024 report on sight loss and technology highlights why accessibility should be considered from the start, not added as an afterthought.

If you’re unsure what someone needs, asking is more useful than guessing. Our guide to helping without making assumptions has more on following a person’s preferences.

How do blind people read? In many ways: through touch, speech, audio, magnification and more. The practical answer is to make information available in accessible formats and let the reader choose what works for them.

If you’d like to hear more about sight loss from people describing their own experiences, you can explore Real Voices in their own words.