Screen readers turn the structure of a page into speech or braille. They do not "see" your layout the way a sighted user does. They jump by headings, links, buttons, and landmarks. When those are missing or fake, the page becomes a flat wall of text.
What a screen reader user does on your site
- Skim headings to find the right section
- Pull a list of links to jump to contact or pricing
- Tab through interactive controls
- Hear image alternatives and form names
Structure mistakes that hurt most
Multiple empty headings, a single giant paragraph, clickable cards with no accessible name, and carousels that never announce slide changes.
A minimal owner test
- Turn on VoiceOver or NVDA
- Navigate by headings on the homepage
- Open the contact form and listen to each field
- Activate the main call-to-action without looking at the screen
Where widgets help and do not help
A widget can increase font size or contrast for some visitors. It does not invent a heading hierarchy or name unlabeled icons for a screen reader.