A screen reader is a type of assistive technology that takes the text and images on a computer screen and translates the information into synthetic speech. This enables users with a severe vision impairment or literacy difficulty to effectively use a computer. Many screen reader users can’t see to use a mouse so keyboard accessibility is vital.

At Network Rail our screen reading software is JAWS from Freedom Scientific:

•              JAWS, Job Access With Speech, is the world’s most popular screen reader, developed for computer users whose vision loss prevents them from seeing screen content or navigating with a mouse.

•              JAWS provides speech and Braille output for the most popular computer applications on your PC. You will be able to navigate the Internet, write a document, read an email and create presentations from your office, remote desktop, or from home.

•              Licence cost is a one off payment of ~£1200 which includes 1 year maintenance

If you have used assistive technology at a previous employer following an assessment and do not require any training on it, you can simply order it directly from the catalogue here – New Software – Service Portal.

If you aren’t sure what you need, please contact the adjustments team and we can support you in looking at options and potentially completing a KeyTools assessment to understand your needs, including any training required. You can contact them via their shared inbox – AdjustmentsTeam@networkrail.co.uk