NVDA Coach Practice Page
About This Page
Welcome to the NVDA Coach practice page. This page has been created specifically for practicing screen reader navigation. It contains headings, links, a form, a table, and lists — everything you need to practice the skills taught in NVDA Coach.
You can navigate this page in browse mode using the keyboard shortcuts you are learning. There is no need to click anything. Everything here is for practice, so feel free to explore freely.
How to Use This Page
Simply press the navigation keys your NVDA Coach lesson is teaching. For example, press H to jump between headings, K to jump between links, and F to jump between form fields. Use Down Arrow to read line by line, or Say All to read the entire page (NVDA+Down Arrow on desktop layout, NVDA+A on laptop layout).
Text Reading Practice
This section has longer paragraphs so you can practice reading and navigation. NVDA can read all of this text using Say All. On desktop layout press NVDA+Down Arrow; on laptop layout press NVDA+A. You can stop reading at any time by pressing Control.
The History of Screen Readers
Screen readers have been around since the 1980s. The first screen readers were simple programs that converted text displayed on screen into speech using synthesizers. Over time, they became much more sophisticated, learning to interpret graphics, web pages, and complex layouts.
Today, screen readers like NVDA, JAWS, and VoiceOver are capable of reading web content, spreadsheets, email, and documents with remarkable accuracy. NVDA, which stands for NonVisual Desktop Access, was first released in 2006 and has grown into one of the most widely used screen readers in the world, largely because it is free and open source.
Why Practice Matters
Learning a screen reader takes time and repetition. The keyboard shortcuts may feel unfamiliar at first, but with practice they become automatic. Most experienced screen reader users navigate web pages and documents at high speed, using heading navigation, landmark navigation, and link lists to find information quickly.
The key is to practice a little every day. Focus on one set of commands at a time, use them in real situations, and gradually build up your speed and confidence. NVDA Coach is designed to help you do exactly that.
Links Practice
This section has several links for practicing link navigation. Press K to jump to the next link, Shift+K to go back, or Tab to move through interactive elements.
Forms Practice
This section has a sample form. Practice navigating to form fields with F, E, and B. To type in a text field, press Enter or NVDA+Space to enter focus mode first.
Tables Practice
This section has a data table. Press T to jump to the table. Once inside, use Control+Alt+Arrow keys to navigate between cells. NVDA announces the row and column headers as you move.
| Key | What It Does | Reverse (Shift+Key) |
|---|---|---|
| H | Next heading | Previous heading |
| 1 through 6 | Next heading at that level | Previous heading at that level |
| K | Next link | Previous link |
| B | Next button | Previous button |
| F | Next form field | Previous form field |
| E | Next edit field | Previous edit field |
| L | Next list | Previous list |
| D | Next landmark | Previous landmark |
| T | Next table | Previous table |
Lists Practice
This section has both an unordered list and an ordered list. Press L to jump to the next list. Press I to move between items within a list.
Essential NVDA Commands (Unordered List)
- NVDA+T — Read the title bar of the current window
- NVDA+Tab — Report current focus
- NVDA+Up Arrow — Read the current line
- NVDA+Down Arrow (desktop) / NVDA+A (laptop) — Say All from current position
- NVDA+F12 — Report the time (press twice for date)
- NVDA+1 — Toggle input help mode
- NVDA+F7 — Open the elements list
- NVDA+Space — Toggle between browse and focus mode
- Control — Cancel speech
- NVDA+N — Open the NVDA menu
Steps to Navigate a New Web Page (Ordered List)
- Press NVDA+T to confirm which page you are on.
- Press H to scan the headings and get an overview of the page structure.
- Press D to jump to the main content landmark, skipping the navigation.
- Press Down Arrow to read the page content.
- Use K to find and follow links as needed.
- Use F and E to fill in any forms on the page.
- Press NVDA+F7 to get a full list of links or headings if you need to find something specific.