Users with diverse accessibility needs can navigate and interact with Lucid documents using screen readers and keyboard navigation. While specific commands may vary depending on your device and screen reader software, the shortcuts and functions covered in this article work consistently across Lucid. For the best experience, consult your screen reader’s specific documentation to learn more about its unique keyboard commands, modifier keys, and additional accessibility features.

What to expect with screen readers in Lucid

While screen reader commands vary by device and program, there are some universal commands you can expect to perform the same function in Lucid.

In Lucid, you can use a screen reader to:

Navigate elements and text using Tab and the arrow keys on your keyboard.
Read pop-up messages and notifications in a document.
Read text within objects using the arrow keys on your keyboard.
Understand the type of object on the canvas (for example, a container, shape, or text).
Get a count of objects within a container shape as well as how many sibling objects a container has.
Understand the organization of objects including its order from left to right and top to bottom.
Use a timer in Lucidspark
- Screen readers announce when another collaborator in Lucidspark starts, pauses, resumes, stops, or adds time to a timer.
- Press Alt+T (PC) or Option+T (Mac) when a timer is running to have your screen reader tell you how much time is remaining.

Lucid is optimized to work best with NVDA and JAWS. Built-in screen readers like ORCA (Linux) and VoiceOver (Apple) work with Lucid, but we can’t guarantee a consistent experience.

Tip: Pair your screen reader software with Lucid’s built-in canvas navigation and keyboard shortcuts.

Export an accessible PDF

In Lucidchart and Lucidspark, you have the option to download a PDF that has been optimized for assistive technologies like screen readers. These PDFs contain searchable text and descriptive elements, as well as alternative text for shapes and images if it has been added manually in Lucid.

To export an accessible PDF:

Locate the Export menu.
- In Lucidchart, select File from the menu bar.
- In Lucidspark, select the More menu from Board Controls in the upper-left of the workspace.
From the dropdown, hover your cursor over “Export”.
Select PDF.
Under “Advanced” in the export options, check the box next to “Accessible PDF”.
Click Download.

The file will download to your local device.

Resources

To learn more about accessibility in Lucid, explore the additional resources below.

Community post (English only)
Accessibility in Lucid

Webpage
Lucid accessibility home page

External screen reader resources
To learn more about various screen reader softwares, explore the external resources below.

JAWS is a paid screen reader available to Windows users.

NVDA is a free screen reader available to Windows users.

ORCA is built-in screen reader technology available on Linux devices. Click here to navigate to the Gnome website and learn more about ORCA.

VoiceOver is built-in screen reader technology available on Apple devices. For support and more resources, navigate to the Apple Support’s accessibility page.

Post in the Lucid Community

We are committed to improving the accessibility of Lucid products according to WGAC compliance standards. As we work toward this goal, we welcome your feedback and we’re ready to help when you have questions. Visit the Lucid Community to share your experience and get support.

If you are a user on a FedRAMP account, please use this form to share any feedback or feature requests.

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