SCREEN READER FOUNDATIONS
One course from foundations to practice
Follow 20 lessons in sequence or open the part most relevant to your work. Platform guides and hands-on exercises appear under the lessons where they belong.
- 20 primary lessons
- 33 hands-on exercises
- Knowledge checks and a final exam
- About 128-153 minutes for the core course
Everything in the course is free. No account, payment, or subscription is required. You only pay if you choose the optional $39 USD verified certificate after passing the final exam.
Start Part 1PART 1
How screen readers work
Build a reliable mental model of the non-visual interface before you learn individual tools or testing techniques.
About 27-31 minutes for lessons and knowledge checks
- Start with the right mental model (4 min reading)
- Follow the information chain (5 min reading)
- Navigate with different input models (5 min reading)
- Compare web and app environments (5 min reading)
PART 2
Screen readers
Understand the major screen readers, choose defensible testing combinations, and describe each environment consistently.
About 51-60 minutes for lessons and knowledge checks
- Know the major screen readers (5 min reading)
- Choose testing combinations (5 min reading)
- Describe each reader consistently (5 min reading)
- Use VoiceOver on macOS (3 min reading)
- Use VoiceOver on iOS and iPadOS (3 min reading)
- Use TalkBack on Android (3 min reading)
- Use NVDA for Windows web testing (3 min reading)
- Use JAWS for Windows web testing (3 min reading)
- Use Narrator for Windows web testing (3 min reading)
PART 3
Interface patterns
Connect screen-reader concepts to structure, forms, updates, controls, navigation, and complex widgets.
About 22-27 minutes for lessons and knowledge checks · 33 optional exercises, about 220-385 minutes
- Structure and content (2 min reading)
- Forms and validation (2 min reading)
- Dynamic updates (2 min reading)
- Controls and navigation (3 min reading)
- Complex widgets and data (3 min reading)
PART 4
Product practice
Turn screen-reader knowledge into responsible testing and repeatable team practice.
About 13-15 minutes for lessons and knowledge checks
- Test responsibly (4 min reading)
- Make accessibility a team practice (5 min reading)
PLAN YOUR TIME
Core course and optional practice
- Lesson reading
- About 73 minutes
- Knowledge checks
- About 40-60 minutes
- Final exam
- About 15-20 minutes
- Optional hands-on practice
- About 220-385 minutes across all 33 exercises
Platform guides and cheat sheets are additional reference material and are not included in these estimates.
Finish with the final exam
The open-book, unproctored exam is free and uses new scenario questions. Passing completes the free course and gives you the option to purchase a verified course-completion certificate.