Text-to-Speech for the Blind: Digital Accessibility Technologies

In Education:

• 90% of curricula are not available in audio format
• Lack of Braille books (high cost and large size)
• Difficulty accessing modern references and research
• Delays in obtaining educational materials

In Work:

• 70% unemployment rate among blind people in Arab region
• Difficulty using traditional computer systems
• Inaccessible websites and applications
• Lack of training on assistive technologies

In Daily Life:

• Difficulty reading messages and emails
• Inability to browse the internet easily
• Problems using banking applications
• Difficulty accessing entertainment (books, news, articles)

1. Screen Readers: NVDA (Free):

• Good Arabic support
• Works with most programs
• Open source and continuously developed
• Small size and fast

JAWS (Paid - Most Popular):

• Excellent Arabic support
• Advanced features for professionals
• Strong integration with Microsoft Office
• Cost: Approximately $1,000

VoiceOver (Built into Mac/iOS):

• Free with Apple devices
• Good Arabic support
• Easy to use for beginners
• Regular updates

2. Mobile Applications: TalkBack (Android):

• Built into all Android phones
• Arabic support with Google TTS
• Easy navigation gestures
• Works with most applications

Voice Dream Reader:

• Specialized reader for books and articles
• High-quality voices
• Support for multiple formats (PDF, EPUB, Word)
• Full control over speed and voice

Seeing AI (Microsoft):

• Read texts from images
• Describe scenes and people
• Read barcodes and products
• Recognize colors and lighting

Special Features for the Blind:

• Natural Arabic Voices: Easier and faster understanding
• Adjustable Speed: From 0.5x to 3x
• Pitch Control: To avoid auditory fatigue
• Smart Pauses: Better understanding of punctuation
• Navigation Mode: Skip headings and paragraphs

Practical Use Cases: 1. University Student:
Ahmed, law student:

• Converts lecture notes PDFs to audio
• Listens to laws and rulings while commuting
• Reviews for exams through listening
• Saved 70% of study time

2. Accountant Employee:
Fatima, company accountant:

• Listens to daily financial reports
• Reviews important emails
• Follows legal updates
• Increased productivity by 50%

3. Housewife:
Khadija, mother of three:

• Listens to news and articles
• Follows new cooking recipes
• Reads stories to children
• Learns new skills through audio courses

Digital Accessibility Principles (WCAG 2.1): 1. Perceivable:

• Alt Text for Images: Accurate description for each image
• Logical Headings: H1, H2, H3 in correct order
• High Contrast: For visually impaired users
• Text Enlargement: Up to 200% without content loss

2. Operable:

• Keyboard Navigation: All functions available without mouse
• Sufficient Time: No strict time limits
• Avoid Flashing: To prevent seizures
• Skip Links: To jump directly to content

3. Understandable:

• Clear Language: Avoid complex terminology
• Consistent Navigation: Same order on every page
• Clear Error Messages: Explain problem and solution
• Descriptive Labels: For fields and buttons

4. Robust:

• Valid HTML Code: For screen reader compatibility
• ARIA Labels: To describe interactive elements
• Test with Accessibility Tools: Before publishing

Traditional Code (Not Accessible): <div class="news-item">
  <img src="news.jpg">
  <div class="title">News Title</div>
  <div class="content">News content...</div>
  <div class="read-more">Read More</div>
</div> Accessible Code: <article role="article" aria-labelledby="news-title-1">
  <img src="news.jpg" alt="Illustration: Arab Health Ministers meeting in Riyadh">
  <h2 id="news-title-1">Arab Health Ministers Meet to Discuss Medical Cooperation</h2>
  <div class="content">
    <p>Arab Health Ministers met today in Riyadh...</p>
  </div>
  <a href="/news/123" aria-label="Read more about Arab Health Ministers meeting">
    Read More
  </a>
</article> Experience Difference:

• Screen reader says: "Article, heading: Arab Health Ministers..."
• Describes image instead of ignoring it
• Clearly explains link destination
• Organizes content logically

1. Advanced Artificial Intelligence:

• Automatic Image Description: AI describes image content
• Handwritten Text Reading: From images
• Instant Translation: Content in multiple languages
• Smart Summarization: For long articles

2. Augmented Reality Technologies:

• Smart Glasses: Read texts from environment
• Camera Apps: Convert visual world to audio
• Voice Navigation: Precise walking directions

3. Advanced Voice Interaction:

• Smart Assistants: Understand context and emotions
• Complete Voice Control: For all devices
• Voice Translation: Multilingual conversations

Best Practices:

• Test with Real Users: Blind people are the best testers
• Use Screen Reader: Test your site with eyes closed
• Focus on Content: Clarity is more important than beauty
• Provide Multiple Alternatives: Audio, text, touch
• Learn from Community: Join blind people groups

Testing Tools:

• WAVE: Free website accessibility analysis
• axe DevTools: Browser extension
• Lighthouse: Built into Chrome
• NVDA: Test with real screen reader

"Voice for Everyone" Program:

• Free Accounts: For blind students
• Training Workshops: For using assistive technologies
• Educational Partnerships: With schools and institutes for the blind
• Custom Development: Special accessibility features

Goal: Make Arabic content accessible to everyone, regardless of their visual abilities. Because the right to information, learning, and entertainment is a basic human right that should not be limited by disability. With Nabarati, every text becomes voice, and every voice becomes a bridge to equality.