What Is NV Access and What Does the Organization Do?

NV Access is the nonprofit organization behind NVDA (Non-Visual Desktop Access), a free, high-quality screen reader that lets blind and vision-impaired people use a computer. Its stated mission is to make computer access available "no matter your language, location or financial situation." If you're a blind or vision-impaired user looking for an affordable screen reader, a trainer or employer evaluating accessibility tools, or someone who wants to support the project, NV Access is the organization to know.

What NV Access actually provides

The organization describes itself as creating "software by the blind, for the blind," and its work centers on a few connected offerings:

• NVDA screen reader — a free screen reader that translates visual information on screen into speech, so users can navigate and operate a computer. NV Access says it has spent over 15 years developing it and that it has already enabled 250,000+ people to gain "freedom, education and employment."
• Training and support materials — including a Basic Training for NVDA eBook and an NVDA Expert Certification.
• Accessibility consultation services — NV Access offers consultation work for organizations, according to its site.

Why a free screen reader matters

The organization frames the problem plainly: there are 285 million blind and vision-impaired people worldwide, and computers "don't work straight out of the box" without a screen reader. Many commercial screen readers cost thousands of dollars — often more than the computer itself — which the organization says holds millions of people back from affording a computer at all. NVDA is positioned as the free alternative that removes that cost barrier.

A user testimonial on the site, from Reina Brown in the United States, makes the practical point: with NVDA she can buy any new computer she wants and use it "for the same cost as a sighted person," without paying extra for third-party software.

How to get involved or get started

The site lists straightforward entry points:

• Download the NVDA screen reader — the primary action for new users.
• Support NV Access — for those who want to fund the work.
• Training & Support Materials — for users and trainers who want structured learning.

NV Access also maintains a community presence across Mastodon, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram, BlueSky, RBlind, and Discord, plus an official NVDA user email list and local NVDA communities worldwide.

Training and certification products

For users or organizations that want formal credentials, NV Access sells paid training products (prices in AUD, as listed on the site):

The screen reader itself is described as free; the paid items are training and certification materials.

The principles behind the organization

NV Access publishes a manifesto that explains its priorities. In summary, it commits to:

• Access to technology regardless of language, location, or financial situation
• Quality over growth, and access over profit
• Software built by the blind, for the blind
• Innovation and competition to prevent stagnation
• Uncompromising quality, serving minorities rather than only the majority consumer

These principles are the clearest statement of what distinguishes NV Access from commercial screen reader vendors: the software is free, and the organization's stated goal is access rather than profit.

Who should care about NV Access

• Blind and vision-impaired computer users who need a no-cost screen reader, or who want training and certification to use it more effectively.
• Employers, schools, and accessibility teams evaluating screen readers or seeking accessibility consultation.
• Donors and community members who want to support free assistive technology; the site's "How to get involved" section is the starting point.

If your question is simply "what is NV Access," the answer is: the nonprofit that builds and maintains NVDA, the free screen reader, and backs it with training, certification, and accessibility services.