Read the screen in Braille

The Orca screen reader can display the user interface on a refreshable Braille display. It uses the BRLTTY service, which provides access to the Linux console for a blind person using a refreshable Braille display.

To learn the basic control of the screen reader, go to Get started with the screen reader.

Warning

Ubuntu 24.04 LTS might present some challenges when using the screen reader. If you experience difficulty, refer to Improve screen reader usability.

  1. Add your user to the brlapi group to allow access to the Braille device:

    sudo usermod --append -G brlapi <user-name>

  2. Enable the BRLTTY service:

    sudo systemctl enable --now brltty

  3. Start the Orca screen reader. If it’s already enabled, restart it:

    Super+Alt+S

    In the accessibility menu in the top bar, select Screen Reader.

  4. Open Orca preferences:

    CapsLock+Space

    Insert+Space

    orca --setup

  5. Under the Braille tab, make sure that Enable Braille support is on.

  6. Click OK to confirm.

  7. Connect your Braille device to the system over USB, serial port or Bluetooth.

  8. If you use Firefox, close it and reopen it. Orca can then read the browser content.

Disable speech

The screen reader speaks at the same time as it presents text on your Braille device. You can disable speech:

CapsLock+S

Insert+S

Braille display commands

You can control the screen reader from your Braille device. Use the following commands:

Action

Key

Pan Braille display to the left

Line Left

Pan Braille display to the right

Line Right

Toggle Flat Review mode

Freeze

Review the word above

Line Up

Review the word below

Line Down

Review bottom left

Bottom Right

Review the home position

Top Left

Contracted Braille

Six Dots

Mark the beginning of a text selection

Cut Begin

Mark the end of a text selection

Cut Line

Process a cursor routing key

Cursor Routing

Return to the object with keyboard focus

Cursor Position

Read a document in a different language

If you’re reading a document in a language different than your system language, set the language text table in BRLTTY.

  1. Browse the available text tables. They’re stored in the /etc/brltty/Text/ directory:

    ls /etc/brltty/Text/

  2. Select the code of the language that you need for your document.

    For example, if you want to read a document in Italian, the text table file is /etc/brltty/Text/it.ttb and the language code is it.

  3. In the /etc/brltty.conf file, set the language code in the text-table directive. For example, to set the Italian text table:

    text-table	it

Configure the Braille screen reader

You can configure how Orca presents information on the Braille display.

  1. Open Orca preferences:

    CapsLock+Space

    Insert+Space

    orca -s

  2. Go to the Braille tab.

For an explanation of the Orca Braille settings, see Braille Preferences in the Orca documentation.

Troubleshooting

Fix common issues with the Braille screen reader.

The screen reader isn’t installed

Orca and Braille support are installed by default on Ubuntu Desktop. If you’re using a custom desktop or package set, they might not be installed.

  • Make sure that Orca is installed:

    sudo apt install orca

  • Make sure that the BRLTTY service is installed:

    sudo apt install brltty brltty-espeak

My Braille device isn’t detected

If your Braille devices isn’t detected, try the following options.

  • Manually set the driver for your Braille device:

    1. In the /etc/brltty.conf file, find the braille-driver directive.

    2. Uncomment the line that lists your Braille device driver.

  • Manually set the connection method:

    1. In the /etc/brltty.conf file, find the braille-device directive.

    2. Uncomment the line that matches your connection method.

      For example, to connect to the first paired Bluetooth device that matches your Braille driver, use the following line:

      braille-device bluetooth: