NVDA Setup Guide

Getting Started with NVDA

NVDA (NonVisual Desktop Access) is a free, open-source screen reader for Windows that reads aloud the text and interface elements on your computer. It helps you test how checkpoint announcements sound to blind and low-vision users.

Download NVDA

Visit the official NVDA website and download the installer for Windows:

https://www.nvaccess.org/download/

Choose the "Stable release" version (recommended for most users). The download is a .exe file that runs directly without needing installation, though you can also install it for all users on your computer.

Install NVDA

Run the downloaded installer and follow these steps:

1. Double-click the NVDA executable file to start installation.
2. During the first run, NVDA will prompt you to set up a startup sound. You can accept the defaults or customize them.
3. NVDA will create a desktop shortcut and a Start menu entry so you can launch it easily in the future.

Start NVDA

Launch NVDA from your Start menu or desktop shortcut. NVDA will begin speaking a startup message, confirming it's running. Your system speakers or headphones will output speech. If you don't hear anything, check your system volume and audio device settings.

Test with Checkpoint Demo

Open any checkpoint page from this site (e.g., 1.1.1 Non-text Content). Use arrow keys to navigate the page and listen to NVDA read the content aloud. When you click the demo toggle button, NVDA will announce the fail/pass switch so you can hear the difference.

Basic Navigation with NVDA

Here are the essential keyboard shortcuts for testing:

• Tab key: Move focus to the next link or button.
• Shift+Tab: Move focus to the previous link or button.
• Arrow keys: Read content line-by-line or word-by-word as you move through text.
• Enter: Activate a link or button.
• NVDA+H: Open the NVDA help window with full documentation.
• NVDA+Q: Exit NVDA (Control+Alt+N launches it again).

Helpful Tips

• Start with simple checkpoint pages like 1.1.1 to get comfortable with navigation.
• Use Focus Mode (press NVDA+Space) to switch between browse and focus modes for different interaction types.
• If you toggle a demo and don't hear an announcement, check the data-announce-fail and data-announce-pass attributes in the checkpoint HTML.
• Combine NVDA testing with visual inspection to understand how the checkpoint impacts both screen reader and sighted users.