For the 2.2 billion people worldwide with vision impairment, consuming news presents daily challenges. Screen readers help, but they're not perfect — they read everything on a page, struggle with complex layouts, and require constant navigation.

Audio-first news apps offer a better experience: press play and listen. No navigation, no fighting with layouts, no accidentally triggering pop-ups.

This guide covers the best options for blind and visually impaired users who want to stay informed efficiently.

The Problem with Traditional News Consumption

For visually impaired users, consuming news online means dealing with:

Cluttered websites: Ads, navigation menus, sidebars, and pop-ups that screen readers vocalize
Inconsistent accessibility: Many news sites aren't properly labeled for screen readers
Paywalls and modals: Interrupt the reading experience with inaccessible overlays
Time-consuming navigation: Finding the actual article content takes effort
Cognitive load: Managing screen reader commands while trying to absorb information

Audio-first solutions eliminate most of these problems by design.

Best Audio News Options for Accessibility

1. Tera.fm — AI-Summarized Audio News

Tera.fm is an audio-first news platform designed for simplicity. It works well for visually impaired users because:

No navigation needed: Select a channel (BBC, NPR, Hacker News, etc.) and press play
AI summaries: Instead of full articles, you get concise summaries of key points
Clean interface: Minimal UI that works well with screen readers
Keyboard accessible: Spacebar to play/pause, arrow keys to skip
Web-based: No app installation required — works in any browser

How to use: Visit tera.fm, select a news channel (like BBC News or NPR), and press the play button. Five summarized stories play automatically.

Price: 6 channels free forever. Pro $5/month unlocks all 50+ channels.

2. NFB-NEWSLINE — Free for Blind Users

NFB-NEWSLINE is a free service from the National Federation of the Blind that provides access to over 500 newspapers and magazines via phone, web, email, or smart speaker.

Completely free for eligible users (must be legally blind or have a print disability)
Multiple access methods: Call in, use the app, ask Alexa, or receive by email
500+ publications: Local and national newspapers, magazines
Human-quality TTS: Professional text-to-speech voices

How to sign up: Visit nfb.org/programs-services/nfb-newsline and complete the eligibility application.

Price: Free for eligible users.

3. BARD Mobile — Library of Congress

BARD (Braille and Audio Reading Download) is a free service from the Library of Congress National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled.

Audiobooks and magazines: Vast library of accessible content
Free: Available to US residents with qualifying disabilities
Includes news magazines: Time, Newsweek, and others
Offline access: Download content for offline listening

Best for: Long-form content and magazines rather than breaking news.

4. Smart Speaker News Briefings

Amazon Alexa, Google Home, and Apple HomePod all offer "news briefing" features:

"Alexa, what's the news?" — Plays news from selected sources
"Hey Google, tell me the news" — Similar functionality
Hands-free operation: No screen interaction needed
Customizable sources: Choose which news outlets to include

Limitations: Usually plays headlines only (not summaries), and some audio briefings include ads.

Tips for Accessible News Consumption

Use keyboard shortcuts: Most audio players support spacebar for play/pause and arrow keys for navigation. Learn these for hands-free control.
Set up daily routines: Same time each day, same sources. Consistency reduces cognitive load.
Combine tools: Use Tera.fm for quick briefings, NFB-NEWSLINE for deep dives into specific publications.
Adjust playback speed: Many tools let you speed up audio. Start at 1.25x and increase as you get comfortable.
Give feedback: If an app has accessibility issues, report them. Most developers want to improve but may not know about problems.

The Importance of Audio-First Design

The best accessibility isn't retrofitted — it's built in from the start. Audio-first news apps aren't "accessible versions" of text apps. They're designed around listening as the primary experience.

This benefits everyone, not just visually impaired users. Drivers, exercisers, busy parents, and anyone with their hands full can use audio news.

Universal design is good design.

Try Tera.fm: Simple, accessible audio news — just press play and listen.

Audio News Apps for Visually Impaired Users