Introduction
The DIAGRAM Center conducted an online reading technology survey during November and December 2015, which is a follow-up to a similar survey conducted in 2012. The intent of these surveys has been to identify trends in how people who are blind and have low vision obtain and access reading materials.
As in 2012, the 2015 survey shows some clear trends in where people access reading materials and what technology they use to read them. Interestingly, there have been significant shifts in both of those categories. In addition, this new survey asked questions regarding the quality and quantity of image descriptions found in reading materials.
The 2015 survey was slightly longer with 14 questions, not including demographic questions, and the full results of the survey can be quickly
reviewed. The results are available at the end of this summary as accessible data tables. The results are also available in a PDF produced by Survey Monkey which includes color bar charts.
While the number of respondents was significantly lower in 2015 (136+/-) than in 2012 (230+/-), we are still pleased with the totals.
As in 2012, this survey's demographic data reveal that
most respondents were from a cohort that does not necessarily
represent the majority of blind or visually impaired readers. Most of the respondents were blind (62.5%) and employed, retired or in school with only 18.3% self-identifying as unemployed. In addition, respondents tended to be computer users who accessed electronic
files with screen-readers, screen magnifiers or refreshable braille. Considering that this was an online survey that was announced via email and social media, it is not surprising that our cohort was largely employed and technically savvy.
However, despite the similarities of the respondents, it was
nonetheless striking that their responses were skewed toward
certain products and agencies.
Reading technology
Perhaps the most significant finding is that in every category of reading material (news and information, pleasure, work, and educational,) respondents reported that they use multiple devices to access their reading material. Specifically, respondents report using both mobile devices and computers with screen readers. The use of portable Apple (iOS) products increased significantly from 2012. In fact, when reading for pleasure, respondents reported using iPhone, iPad or iPod more often than a screen reader on a desktop or laptop. While Apple dominated the mobile device category, this was not the case for desktop and laptop computers. Far more respondents reported using Windows computers (presumably with JAWS or NVDA) over Apple's Macintosh computers with the built-in screen reader VoiceOver.
Respondents reported using Library of Congress players and Victor players consistently, though less often than Windows computers or Apple's mobile devices. Kurzweil products lagged behind all of those but were still used significantly more frequently than the remaining products including Android smartphones or tablets, Bookport, Booksense, Easyreader, Kindle, Milestone, Plextalk, or ReadHear.
Top 6 reading technologies
| Name |
News/Info |
Pleasure |
Work |
School/Ed |
| Windows laptop or desktop computer |
74% |
46% |
76% |
59% |
| Apple smartphone or tablet |
65% |
61% |
49% |
41% |
| Library of Congress NLS player |
33% |
50% |
17% |
23% |
| Victor Reader (any model) |
31% |
38% |
18% |
27% |
| Macintosh laptop or desktop computer |
20% |
14% |
12% |
14% |
| Kurzweil software or device |
19% |
12% |
14% |
15% |
Screen readers, magnifiers and braille displays
- 83% of respondents reported using screen readers. Over three-quarters of those respondents report using iOS devices such as iPhone, iPad or iPod, while slightly fewer report using JAWS. Again, the responses indicated that readers used both a Windows computer and an Apple mobile device. Rounding out the category, roughly 20% use NVDA and 20% use VoiceOver.
- 37% of respondents reported using a braille display with Brilliant, Perkins Braille and Focus Braille used in nearly equal percentages with PAC Mate just slightly lower.
- 28% of respondents reported using screen magnifiers with Magnifyier (for Windows) and Zoom (for mac and iOS) being the most used.
Where respondents obtain reading materials
The 2015 survey also indicates changes in where respondents
obtained reading materials. Web sites and the National Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped were ranked highest. As in 2012, Bookshare was ranked behind the top two sources (despite rising considerably in use percentage) and yet far ahead of all others. If we combine the responses for "sometimes" and "often", it is interesting to compare the results from 2015 and 2012, which indicate a rise in use of mainstream retailers Amazon and Audible.com.
It should be noted that since few of the respondents were students, it's logical that DSS offices and school libraries were reported as seldom used. For this reason, the results for APH were removed from the table since APH provides specialized materials for school-age students who are blind or visually impaired and only 7 respondents were of K-12 age. Similarly, Bookshare's high ranking may have been skewed since, as the lead organization in DIAGRAM, Bookshare helped to disseminate the online survey and thus more Bookshare members may have answered than if the survey was advertised by other organizations.
Where respondents obtain reading materials
| Name |
2015 rank |
2015 % |
2012 rank |
2012 % |
| Web sites (news, blogs, listserves, etc.) |
1 |
93% |
2 |
69% |
| National Library Service for the Blind and Physically
Handicapped |
2 |
80% |
1 |
81% |
| Bookshare |
3 |
70% |
3 |
57% |
| Amazon |
4 |
46% |
8 |
31% |
| Audible.com |
5 |
42% |
7 |
31% |
| Public library |
6 |
33% |
6 |
38% |
| Learning Ally (formerly RFB&D) |
8 |
27% |
4 |
41% |
| Disability Student Services |
9 |
15% |
9 |
19% |
| School library |
10 |
13% |
10 |
19% |
Image descriptions
This year, questions were added about image descriptions. Respondents were roughly split as to whether, over the past five years, the quantity and quality of image descriptions had increased or stayed the same. While this may be disappointing in light of the considerable efforts made to increase the number of images descriptions, it should be noted that much of that work is happening in educational publishing and is perhaps removed from the respondents of this survey.
Responses also varied on which providers of reading materials most often included image descriptions. The top five providers of image descriptions were definitive. However, there was discrepancy in whether respondents reported that a provider offered image descriptions "often" or "sometimes." The variations are so large that simply combining the results for "sometimes" and "often", as we have with other categories, could be misleading. Please see the table below.
From which providers do you find image descriptions most often?
| Name |
Often |
Sometimes |
Combined Often and Sometimes |
| Learning Ally (formerly RFB&D) |
30% |
22% |
52% |
| National Library Service for the Blind and Physically
Handicapped |
27% |
31% |
58% |
| Bookshare |
19% |
46% |
65% |
| Web sites (news, blogs, listserves, etc.) |
13% |
49% |
62% |
Conclusions and Notes
There are trends apparent in the comparison of the 2012 and 2015 reading technology surveys. Clearly, respondents are reading with multiple devices and those tend to be Windows computers and Apple iPhone and iPads. This extraordinary rise the use of mobile devices, and particularly iOS devices, was also documented in the 2015 WebAIM Screen reader survey The WebAIM survey, which had a larger and more diverse cohort, also showed a significant decline in the use of JAWS.
Respondents continue to obtain most of their reading materials from Web sites, the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped and Bookshare. Whether a shift toward mainstream retailers Amazon and Audbile.com and away from other sources is widespread among users with print disabilities or simply a quirk of this largely adult and computer literate survey cohort, certainly bears more investigation.
As always, any research should be repeated before it is considered
meaningful and this survey is only a first step in discovering what tools and technologies people who are blind and visually impaired are actually using. Such data are
valuable since with limited resources dedicated to assistive
technology, support should be focused on those devices and reading
tools that are most used by the people who rely on them for access to
education, employment and enjoyment.
Full Survey Results provided in accessible data tables.
Note: the results for APH were removed since APH provides specialized materials for school-age students who are blind or visually impaired and only 7 respondents were of K-12 age.
1. What devices do you regularly use for news and information reading? Please
select all that apply. Total responses: 136
| Answer Choices |
Percent |
Count |
| Windows laptop or desktop computer |
73.53% |
100 |
| Macintosh laptop or desktop computer |
19.85% |
27 |
| Android smartphone or tablet |
11.76% |
16 |
| Apple smartphone or tablet |
65.44% |
89 |
| BookPort Plus |
3.68% |
5 |
| BookSense (any model) |
5.15% |
7 |
| EasyReader |
2.21% |
3 |
| Kindle (any model) |
6.62% |
9 |
| Kurzweil software or device |
14.71% |
20 |
| Milestone |
2.94% |
4 |
| Library of Congress NLS player |
33.09% |
45 |
| Plextalk (any model) |
5.15% |
7 |
| ReadHear for Mac |
1.47% |
2 |
| ReadHear for Windows |
1.47% |
2 |
| Victor Reader (any model) |
30.88% |
42 |
| I do not use reading devices for news and information reading. |
0.00% |
0 |
| Other (please specify) |
19.85% |
27 |
2. What devices do you regularly use for pleasure reading? Please
select all that apply. Total responses: 133
| Answer Choices |
Percent |
Count |
| Windows laptop or desktop computer |
45.86% |
61 |
| Macintosh laptop or desktop computer |
13.53% |
18 |
| Android smartphone or tablet |
8.27% |
11 |
| Apple smartphone or tablet |
60.90% |
81 |
| BookPort Plus |
6.02% |
8 |
| BookSense (any model) |
5.26% |
7 |
| EasyReader |
2.26% |
3 |
| Kindle (any model) |
6.77% |
9 |
| Kurzweil software or device |
12.03% |
16 |
| Milestone |
1.50% |
2 |
| Library of Congress NLS player |
49.62% |
66 |
| Plextalk (any model) |
3.76% |
5 |
| ReadHear for Mac |
1.50% |
2 |
| ReadHear for Windows |
0.75% |
1 |
| Victor Reader (any model) |
37.59% |
50 |
| I do not use reading devices for pleasure reading. |
1.50% |
2 |
| Other (please specify) |
24.81% |
33 |
3. What devices do you regularly use for work reading? Please
select all that apply. Total responses: 132
| Answer Choices |
Percent |
Count |
| Windows laptop or desktop computer |
75.76% |
100 |
| Macintosh laptop or desktop computer |
12.12% |
16 |
| Android smartphone or tablet |
7.58% |
10 |
| Apple smartphone or tablet |
48.48% |
64 |
| BookPort Plus |
3.03% |
4 |
| BookSense (any model) |
3.79% |
5 |
| EasyReader |
3.03% |
4 |
| Kindle (any model) |
3.79% |
5 |
| Kurzweil software or device |
13.64% |
18 |
| Milestone |
0.00% |
0 |
| Library of Congress NLS player |
17.42% |
23 |
| Plextalk (any model) |
2.27% |
3 |
| ReadHear for Mac |
1.52% |
2 |
| ReadHear for Windows |
0.76% |
1 |
| Victor Reader (any model) |
18.18% |
24 |
| I do not use reading devices at work. |
10.61% |
14 |
| Other (please specify) |
19.70% |
26 |
4. What devices do you regularly use for school or educational reading? Please
select all that apply. Total responses: 128
| Answer Choices |
Percent |
Count |
| Windows laptop or desktop computer |
58.59% |
100 |
| Macintosh laptop or desktop computer |
14.06% |
18 |
| Android smartphone or tablet |
6.25% |
8 |
| Apple smartphone or tablet |
41.41% |
53 |
| BookPort Plus |
4.69% |
6 |
| BookSense (any model) |
3.13% |
4 |
| EasyReader |
1.56% |
2 |
| Kindle (any model) |
3.13% |
4 |
| Kurzweil software or device |
14.84% |
19 |
| Milestone |
0.00% |
0 |
| Library of Congress NLS player |
22.66% |
29 |
| Plextalk (any model) |
0.78% |
1 |
| ReadHear for Mac |
1.56% |
2 |
| ReadHear for Windows |
0.78% |
1 |
| Victor Reader (any model) |
26.56% |
34 |
| I do not use reading devices for school or educational reading. |
21.09% |
27 |
| Other (please specify) |
16.41% |
21 |
5. Do you regularly use a screen reader? Total responses: 132
| Value |
Percent |
Count |
| Yes |
88.33% |
110 |
| No |
16.67% |
22 |
6. How often do you use the following screen readers? Please select one response for each. Total responses: 102
| Answer Choices |
Rarely or Never |
Count |
Sometimes |
Count |
Often |
Count |
Total Count |
| NVDA |
55.00% |
44 |
23.75% |
19 |
21.25% |
17 |
80 |
| JAWS |
23.08% |
21 |
17.58% |
16 |
59.34% |
54 |
91 |
| VoiceOver/OS X on laptop or desktop |
64.56% |
51 |
15.19% |
12 |
20.25% |
16 |
79 |
| VoiceOver/iOS on iPad, iPhone or iPod |
18.28% |
17 |
5.38% |
5 |
76.34% |
71 |
93 |
| TalkBalk/Android |
79.45% |
58 |
10.96% |
8 |
9.59% |
7 |
73 |
| Chrome Vox/Chrome OS |
90.14% |
64 |
8.45% |
6 |
1.41% |
1 |
71 |
7. Do you regularly use a screen magnifier? Total responses: 131
| Answer Choices |
Percent |
Count |
| Yes |
28.24% |
37 |
| No |
71.76 |
94 |
8. How often do you use the following screen magnifiers? Please select one response for each. Total responses: 37
| Answer Choices |
Rarely or Never |
Count |
Sometimes |
Count |
Often |
Count |
TotalCount |
| Zoom (for Mac and iOS) |
37.50% |
12 |
15.63% |
5 |
46.88% |
15 |
32 |
| Magnifier (for Windows) |
29.03% |
9 |
16.13% |
5 |
54.84% |
17 |
31 |
| Screen Magnifier (for Android) |
80.00% |
20 |
12.00% |
3 |
8.00% |
2 |
25 |
9. Do you regularly use a braille display? Total responses: 131
| Answer Choices |
Percent |
Count |
| Yes |
36.64% |
48 |
| No |
63.36 |
83 |
10. How often do you use the following braille displays? Please select one response for each. Total responses: 42
| Answer Choices |
Rarely or Never |
Count |
Sometimes |
Count |
Often |
Count |
TotalCount |
| Brilliant |
67.65% |
23 |
11.76% |
4 |
20.59% |
7 |
34 |
| Perkins Braille |
69.70% |
23 |
9.09% |
3 |
21.21% |
7 |
33 |
| PAC Mate |
81.82% |
27 |
3.03% |
1 |
15.15% |
5 |
33 |
| Focus Braille |
69.70% |
23 |
9.09% |
3 |
21.21% |
7 |
33 |
11. Where do you obtain your reading material? Please
select one response for each. Total responses: 124
| Answer Choices |
Rarely or Never |
Count |
Sometimes |
Count |
Often |
Count |
TotalCount |
| Amazon |
53.68% |
51 |
33.68% |
32 |
12.63% |
12 |
95 |
| Audible.com |
58.16% |
57 |
18.37% |
18 |
23.47% |
23 |
98 |
| Bookshare |
30.00% |
33 |
28.18% |
31 |
9.00% |
9 |
100 |
| Learning Ally (formerly RFB&D) |
73.00% |
73 |
18.00% |
18 |
9.00% |
9 |
100 |
| National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped |
21.05% |
24 |
13.16% |
15 |
65.79% |
75 |
114 |
| Web sites (news, blogs, listservs, etc) |
7.34% |
8 |
25.69% |
28 |
66.97% |
73 |
109 |
| Disability Student Services |
85.11% |
80 |
8.51% |
8 |
6.38% |
6 |
94 |
| School Library |
86.67% |
778 |
11.11% |
10 |
2.22% |
2 |
90 |
| Public Library |
67.35% |
66 |
20.41% |
20 |
12.24% |
12 |
98 |
12. Consider how often image descriptions are included in reading material. Compared to five years ago, do you find image descriptions, Total responses: 115
| Answer Choices |
Percent |
Count |
| more often |
45.22% |
52 |
| the same |
44.35 |
51 |
| less often |
10.43 |
12 |
13. Consider the quality of image descriptions. Over the past five years, have the quality of image descriptions, Total responses: 119
| Answer Choices |
Percent |
Count |
| improved |
42.02% |
50 |
| stayed the same |
49.58% |
59 |
| declined |
8.40% |
10 |
14. Of the various providers of reading material, from which do you find image descriptions most often? Total responses: 106
| Answer Choices |
Rarely or Never |
Count |
Sometimes |
Count |
Often |
Count |
TotalCount |
| Amazon |
85.29% |
58 |
13.24% |
9 |
1.47% |
1 |
68 |
| Audible.com |
84.62% |
55 |
13.85% |
9 |
1.54% |
1 |
65 |
| Bookshare |
35.44% |
28 |
45.57% |
36 |
18.99% |
15 |
79 |
| Learning Ally (formerly RFB&D) |
47.83% |
33 |
21.74% |
15 |
30.43% |
21 |
69 |
| National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped |
42.35% |
36 |
30.59% |
26 |
27.06% |
23 |
85 |
| Web sites (news, blogs, listservs, etc) |
37.35% |
31 |
49.40% |
41 |
13.25% |
11 |
83 |
| Disability Student Services |
83.61% |
51 |
14.75% |
9 |
1.64% |
1 |
61 |
| School Library |
90.00% |
54 |
10.00% |
6 |
0.00% |
0 |
60 |
| Public Library |
88.52% |
54 |
11.48% |
7 |
0.00% |
0 |
61 |
15. Which best describes your current school enrollment? Total responses: 121
| Answer Choices |
Percent |
Count |
| Elementary school student |
1.65% |
2 |
| Middle school student |
0.00% |
0 |
| High school student |
4.13% |
5 |
| College student (undergraduate/graduate) |
8.26% |
10 |
| Post-graduate student |
5.79% |
7 |
| Not attending school |
66.94% |
81 |
| Other (please specify) |
13.22% |
16 |
16. Which best describes your current employment? Total responses: 120
| Answer Choices |
Percent |
Count |
| Employed |
59.17% |
71 |
| Unemployed |
18.33% |
22 |
| Retired |
22.50% |
27 |
17. What best describes the print disability that prevents you from reading print materials? Please select one. Total responses: 120
| Answer Choices |
Percent |
Count |
| Blind |
62.50% |
75 |
| Low vision |
24.17% |
29 |
| Physical disability |
3.33% |
4 |
| Learning disability |
5.00% |
6 |
| Other print disability, please specify |
5.00% |
6 |
18. Do you live in the United States? Total responses: 121
| Answer Choices |
Percent |
Count |
| Yes |
91.74% |
111 |
| If you do not live in the U.S., please list your country of residence |
8.26% |
10 |
