Adaptive software on Ubuntu for the blind?

Question

I am a blind computer user Who is A lifelong Windows user who is looking at other operating systems. On windows are use third-party installed speech programs to make my computer talk but at the very minimum I need a speech program similar to window's narrator or Mac's voiceover and I was wondering if anyone could tell me if Ubuntu has adaptive software built-in like the other operating systems. I know almost nothing about Linux at all but I'm interested in learning so I'm contemplating installing it on a virtual machine and playing around with it to see how it would work for me but I'm wondering if it has any speech software similar to the other operating systems that could help me during the installation?

Answer 1

There are two options I found in this regard:

1. Installing a Linux OS that is made specifically for the physically impaired, and
2. Installing screen readers into an existing Linux OS

In the first case, the following OS are available:

1. Vinux, based on Ubuntu
2. Sonar, based on Arch Linux
3. Knoppix ADRIANE, based on Debian

And for the second situation look at this article and see which works for you:

http://usabilitygeek.com/10-free-screen-reader-blind-visually-impaired-users/

I have never tried any of them, so I can provide any technical specifications but I believe the first option to install a Linux made specifically for the impaired would a better decision.