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NECC Library Database Accessibility

Adobe Acrobat Reader

Some database materials are only available in PDF format, and thus can only be opened in Adobe Acrobat or Adobe Reader. Luckily, most (but not all) PDFs are compatible with Adobe's built-in read-aloud feature. 

The following instructions are for use on computers WITHOUT assistive technology software installed, to be used in lieu of assistive technology. If you regularly use assistive software (JAWS, etc.), use your software of choice to navigate PDFs in Adobe. 

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Read Aloud Activation in Windows OS

  • Open PDF
  • Select "View" from the options bar at the very top of the window, directly beneath the PDF's title

 

A screen grab of a PDF in Adobe Acrobat Reader, cropped to show the upper left quadrant of the window. A red circle surrounds the "View" menu option at the top of the page

  • Hover over "Read Out Loud" in the drop down menu and select "Activate Read Out Loud" from the subsequent menu

A screen grab of a PDF open in Adobe Acrobat Reader, cropped to show only the upper left quadrant of the window. The "view" drop down menu is opened, the "Read Out Loud" option is highlighted, and the "Activate Read Out Loud" option in the secondary menu is circled in red.

 

  • Click anywhere on the screen to begin reading
  • To pause, select a specific section, or read to the end of the document, return to the View-->Read Out Loud menu (shown above) and select these options from the secondary menu to which you navigated when activating the Read Out Loud feature. 

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Keyboard-Only Read Out Loud Activation

  • Press Shift+Ctrl+Y to activate Read Out Loud
  • Press Shift+Ctrl+V to use the Read Out Loud feature on only the current page you are viewing
  • Press Shift+Ctrl+B to use the Read Out Loud feature until the end of the document
  • Press Shift+Ctrl+C to pause reading out loud
  • Press Shift+Ctrl+E to stop reading out loud

Mildred F. Sawyer Library. (2020, April 8). Screen Reading and Library Resources: A Guide for ADA Accessibility Retrieved from https://suffolk.libguides.com/c.php?g=654172&p=4589949

To cite this LibGuide use the following templates:

APA: Northern Essex Community College Library. (Date updated). Title of page. Title of LibGuide. URL

MLA: Northern Essex Community College Library. "Title of Page." Title of LibGuide, Date updated, URL.