WebAIM: Screen Reader Survey Results
I found the results to be quite useful:
- Headings really are important: "It is clear that providing a heading structure is important to screen reader users with 76% always or often navigating by headings when they are available." 90% of the expert users used headings always or often.
- Site maps were not particularly useful: "The majority of respondents seldom or never use site maps."
- Pop-up windows are difficult for less proficient screen readers to deal with. More proficient users had much less difficulty.
- Photos should be identified as such in their alt text, rather than just described with brief text: "It was very clear that the vast majority of screen reader users prefer to have photos identified as such. Interestingly, those that do not have a disability were three times more likely to prefer the briefer alt text than those that do have a disability."
- Flash is difficult for screen reader users: "71.5% of screen reader users reported that Flash is difficult while only 14.2% reported that it is easy."
- Frames are not that big of a problem. "While the majority (58%) of users reported that frames are easy, those that are blind were 3 1/2 times more likely to indicate that they are easy than those with no disability."
