Qualified Reader

A reader is someone who can read out loud from hardcopy material or from a computer screen for an employee who is unable to read because of a disability. There are no national standards or accreditation for a reader, but the reader must be qualified to read at the required level. A reader does not interpret the information, but may need specialized knowledge, for example to pronounce technical words correctly so the employee with the disability can understand the information.  A reader is often used for testing situations when a job applicant cannot read the test. Because they help with work-related functions, it is typically the employer’s responsibility to hire and pay for readers.