Screen readers are software programs that allow people who are blind or visually impaired to hear the text on a computer screen. A screen reader looks at the coding behind the scenes while it reads the text -- and also reads popup boxes, buttons, etc. As assistive technologies advance, more screen readers become available. Here are a few to explore:
NVDA (NonVisual Desktop Access) - Designed by a blind individual; free but available for Windows only
Apple VoiceOver - A platform built-in to iOS products
JAWS (Job Access With Speech) - Popular, available for a fee, and for Windows only
Visit the American Foundation for the Blind website for a list of additional platforms.