[Trainer-Talk] Is NVDA enough for the blind?

Fri Jun 5 05:59:40 UTC 2026

So far, it appears that the majority of trainers participating in this discussion believe that NVDA is sufficient for most blind users. If I am misunderstanding that consensus, please correct me.

If the prevailing belief among NFB trainers and blindness professionals is that NVDA provides adequate access to technology, then would it follow that vocational rehabilitation agencies should no longer routinely fund, teach, or prioritize JAWS, except in cases where there is a clearly demonstrated need? If that conclusion is incorrect, I would genuinely like to understand why.

I ask because JAWS has been the standard in the blindness field for decades. Throughout my career, the expectation was that blind consumers would typically learn JAWS first, with NVDA introduced as an additional tool or alternative option. Now, I am seeing a growing trend among VR agencies to question the value of purchasing JAWS licenses, funding JAWS training, or supporting JAWS as a primary screen reader. Before I simply accept that shift in philosophy, I want to make sure I am not overlooking something important.

This question has significant professional implications for me. I work with multiple rehabilitation agencies, school districts, and training programs. Historically, the approach I was taught, and the approach my teams followed, was to ensure proficiency with JAWS before introducing NVDA. Increasingly, however, I am encountering organizations that are moving away from that model and placing greater emphasis on NVDA.

I also recognize that, at the end of the day, our goal as blindness professionals is not to teach a particular screen reader but to teach nonvisual access to technology. The skills we are really teaching are navigation, problem-solving, efficiency, and independence. However, this shift still carries significant implications. If the consensus is that NVDA is sufficient for the overwhelming majority of blind users, then perhaps training centers, VR agencies, and schools should simply focus their resources on teaching NVDA and move away from JAWS altogether.

What I am struggling with is determining whether that is truly the best decision for consumers. If a training center is directed to focus primarily on NVDA, should we simply follow that direction because it is the most cost-effective approach, or should we be concerned about what blind consumers may gain or lose as a result? I am genuinely asking because I find myself conflicted. On one hand, I understand the arguments for NVDA and appreciate the accessibility that a free screen reader provides. On the other hand, I have spent years in a field where JAWS was considered the standard, particularly in vocational rehabilitation, education, and employment settings.

Perhaps my confusion comes from trying to reconcile these two perspectives. If the field has truly determined that NVDA provides everything most consumers need to be successful, then I can accept that. But if there are still compelling reasons to ensure consumers are exposed to and trained on JAWS, then I worry that we may be making decisions based primarily on budget considerations rather than on what best prepares blind individuals for success.

If the field truly believes that NVDA and JAWS are functionally equivalent for the vast majority of users, then perhaps the reduction in JAWS funding and training is a logical outcome. However, if there are still meaningful advantages to JAWS in employment settings, educational environments, enterprise software, technical support infrastructure, or long-term career readiness, then I believe those factors deserve serious consideration before we collectively move away from it.

I am not advocating for one product over the other. Rather, I am trying to determine whether the field is making a philosophical shift based on evidence and best practices, or whether financial pressures are driving decisions that may ultimately limit opportunities for blind consumers.

For those of you actively teaching, placing consumers into employment, or working within VR systems, what do you see as the long-term implications of moving away from JAWS as the primary screen reader taught to blind individuals? Thank you for reading my very long but tired ramble... 

Showe

Sent from my iPhone

> On Jun 4, 2026, at 11:44 AM, Matthew Duffell-Hoffman via Trainer-Talk <trainer-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> Good morning all,
> 
> I’ve always been confused by the conversation of should we be teaching JAWS or NVDA. I don’t consider myself a JAWS teacher, even though that is the primary screen reader used in my classroom, and I correct students when they say they are learning JAWS. I don’t teach a JAWS class, I teach nonvisual access to technology. The most important skills a student needs to get out of my class are the problem solving and critical thinking skills required to use a computer or smartphone. Additionally, the vast majority of functions performed while learning to type, navigate the Windows environment, use Office products, use Google workspace, and all the other little things are wholly independent of the screen reader being used, and the differences are largely superficial keystroke differences or variations in how information is presented. Any perceived difference in difficulty in using JAWS vs NVDA is a difference in familiarity, not something inherent to the programs themselves.
> I could go point for point defending NVDA, instead of picture smart you can use BeMyEyes for desktop, NVDA addons are more powerful than JAWS scripting, NVDA remote access instead of JAWS tandem, and NVDA alternatives to the text analyzer. I personally believe the NVDA user guide is easier to follow than JAWS documentation. I find there are very few things that JAWS does that cannot be done with NVDA and other programs. But this is a pointless exercise. As AT instructors we should put so little focus on the screen reader being used that a student should be able to use any screen reader of their choice. The concept of moving the cursor by paragraph, line, word, and/or character to efficiently edit text has nothing to do with the screen reader. The screen reader or even whether you are using Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, or Android may affect the specific mechanics of how those actions are performed and where exactly the cursor lands but the decision making process of switching to word navigation to move deeper into a line and then character navigation to correct the mistake is not.
> I agree that VR should never deny a client requested technology based on cost. If a client requires that technology, they require it and that’s the end of story. However, as the price of JAWS skyrockets, we all need to take an honest and open-minded look if JAWS is truly necessary for all or even most clients. I invite anyone who has not done so to make NVDA their primary screen reader for a few months. Yes, you will find things that work differently or that you are unsure how to do with NVDA but use the resources and learn it. I made the switch 6 months ago and now that I am through the transition period I will continue to use NVDA as my primary screen reader as I like the experience better. For the few tasks I would rather perform with JAWS, I can complete those withing 40 minutes anyways.
> This does not preclude that some clients will need the specific features JAWS provides due to their career choice, and we continue to recommend all our clients receive JAWS licenses from VR. However, if a day comes where VR here in Arizona starts denying the recommendations for JAWS, that will not meaningfully change my instructional approach, and I am confident in my ability to justify the purchasing of JAWS for those rare clients who need it specifically.
> 
> Best,
> Matthew Duffell-Hoffman
> 
> Access Technology Instructor
> Saavi Services for the Blind
> 2920 N 7th ST
> Phoenix, AZ 85014
> Office Phone: 602-795-0195
> Email: mduffell-hoffman at saavi.us
> Website: www.saavi.us
> 
> Expect more,
> Achieve more,
> Become More
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Trainer-Talk <trainer-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Will Walsh via Trainer-Talk
> Sent: Thursday, June 4, 2026 8:53 AM
> To: List for teachers and trainers of adaptive technology <trainer-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: Will Walsh <willwalsh at blindmast.com>
> Subject: Re: [Trainer-Talk] Is NVDA enough for the blind?
> 
> Hi Showe,
> 
> I'm actually quite glad you've brought this up. We too are feeling the shift over here, and I have personally found that NVDA works well enough for me in my daily workflow. If I can make a product work for me practically speaking, then I figure it's good enough for other fellow AT professionals as well as clients alike. Sure, we don't have the luxury of fancy scripts on the Jaws side, but add-ons are catching up quite rapidly as it is. I am what most people would call a Jaws snob, so I was surprised that I was able to use NVDA and not feel immediately done within five minutes. I think we are going to have to immerse ourselves in this ecosystem as a whole if we want to remain relevant. Budgets are being cut left and right, and VR agencies just aren't buying into the steep price of perpetual Vispero licenses anymore much less an SMA. Supernova on the Dolphin side is fascinating, but it's not there for me. Unless a client has an advanced need for scripting professionally, I'm on the bandwagon of just recommending NVDA. If the client's low vision, magnifier is more than enough.
> Just my thoughts.
> 
> Best,
> 
> Will Walsh
> Adaptive Technology Specialist, (ATS)
> Miles Access Skills Training LLC
> 1400 SW 5th Ave, Suite 690
> Portland Or, 97201
> Phone: 971-257-9958
> Email:
> willwalsh at blindmast.com
> Web:
> www.blindmast.com
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Trainer-Talk <trainer-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Showe Trela via Trainer-Talk
> Sent: Thursday, June 4, 2026 5:48 AM
> To: List for teachers and trainers of adaptive technology <trainer-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: Showe Trela <myshowe86 at gmail.com>
> Subject: [Trainer-Talk] Is NVDA enough for the blind?
> 
> Hello fellow trainers.
> I am writing this email to ask you all this question because I want to educate myself and be a better AT trainer, looking at all sides and choosing what is best for the individuals I instruct. Here in Minnesota, state services are telling us that NVDA should be enough for blind people to use and using JAWS is no longer ideal and might need further justification. In states like Virginia and Delaware and Colorado, I am hearing the same tune. I am also hearing other AT instructors supporting this claim that people don't really need to learn JAWS and NVDA is enough. Admitedly, I am way more proficient with JAWS and can get by on NVDA when I have to. Can you all chime in and share your thoughts on this? I have always thought that because NVDA is open source software, workplaces will sometimes balk at installing this screen reader. Although free.99 is always good for employers. I understand that NVDA add-ons make it so much more efficient but I have wondered about workplaces allowing for those installations as well. Can you all enlighten me on this matter? Thank you.
> 
> Showe
> Sent from my iPhone
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