Newton's Carroll Center For The Blind Launches New Career Program

NEWTON, MA — The Carroll Center for the Blind in Newton has launched a new career development course that aims to help adults who are blind or visually impaired gain skills to become screen reader testers.

The Screen Reader User Tester Training Program, supported by funding from The Gibney Family Foundation, will teach visually impaired adults seeking employment how to professionally explore, test, and report about the accessibility of websites, mobile applications, and digital document files.

“Through the Screen Reader User Tester Training Program, we’ll establish a pipeline of candidates qualified for launching a meaningful career path of opportunity, said Bruce Howell, Accessibility Services Manager at the Carroll Center for the Blind, in a statement. "This will ultimately create more inclusivity and diversity within the workforce."

"The unemployment rate for people who are blind or visually impaired is nearly 70%," he continued. "Our goal is to lower that number by providing much-needed work experience and learning opportunities so participants can achieve success and realize their full potential.”

Screen reader software, which converts text, images, and digital elements into speech or braille, is essential for the blind and required through the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). By identifying and communicating accessibility issues to web developers and digital content creators, screen reader user testers play a critical roll in helping people of all abilities have access to digital content.

After completing the program, participants will have the opportunity to gain internship and mentorship experience through My Blind Spot, a nonprofit consultancy that delivers digital accessibility solutions to organizations of all types.

For more information about the Screen Reader User Tester Training Program, click here.