I started creating audio narrated images for low vision accessibility when I was in high school using a now-defunct app called Clarisketch, which enabled me to combine audio narration, annotations, and images from my device gallery to create short tutorial or explanation videos. I used these audio narrated images to explain the functions of a remote, giving a visual description of a classroom, and even for answering questions as part of a virtual science lab.
While Clarisketch is no longer in development, I have continued to use other tools for creating audio narrated images for low vision, along with accessible screencasts and voice recordings for visually impaired students. There are so many ways to incorporate audio narrated images into components of the Expanded Core Curriculum (ECC), so I have updated this post with more tips for creating audio narrated images for low vision audiences with a mix of free tools for educators along with a few paid/premium apps. When available, I have also included accessibility pages or information on accessibility for each of the applications.
Background: Incorporating audio narrated images into ECC lessons
Adding narration to images is a strategy for creating accessible images for visually impaired audiences, as the narration can provide additional context or clarification about what is in an image. Unlike videos that can involve lots of scene changes or inconsistent lighting, audio narrated images can augment existing visual access by drawing attention to specific components of an image, or providing instructions/feedback based on what is shown. There are many ways to integrate audio narrated images into Expanded Core Curriculum (ECC) lessons, including:
- Compensatory skills
- Creating short lessons for academic concepts, e.g. how to balance a chemistry equation
- Having students show their work or talk through steps of a problem
- Indicating places to store items or teaching organizational skills
- Assistive technology
- How to use AT hardware/software
- Sharing information on device troubleshooting
- Orientation and Mobility (O&M)
- Annotating maps
- Providing directions for how to navigate a space
- Previewing a location prior to a lesson, e.g. bus stop
- Independent living skills
- How to use appliances
- Process for accessing information related to bills/utilities
- Simple recipes
- Social interaction
- Creating posts for social media
- Engaging in wordless picture book activities
- Recreation and leisure
- Describing artwork or other visual information
- Pre-teaching game rules
- Rehearsing lines for a play/script for feedback
- Career education
- Learning how to navigate workplace environment
- Tutorials on how to access time sheets or other work-related information
- Self-determination
- Explaining disability and access needs/access preferences
- Showing examples of barriers
- Sensory efficiency
- Using both audio and visual information to access content
- Teaching strategies for dual media access
The process of adding a secondary narration track to a video is known as audio description or descriptive audio. While audio narrated images could be considered a form of audio description, they are primarily intended for use with 2D images and static content that does not otherwise include movement or animation.
Related links
- Purposes of Media Descriptions for Visual Impairment
- Smartphone Apps For Orientation and Mobility
- Building Identification: College O&M
- How To Write Alt Text For Amateur Art
- How To Describe Science Experiments For Visually Impaired Students
- Participating In Drama and Theater Programs With Low Vision
- Expanded Core Curriculum categories | Veroniiiica
Web application for animation and audio: Canva
Canva offers several options for using keyboard shortcuts for creating graphic design projects, and can be accessed as either a web application or mobile application. Users have the option of adding audio to their Canva graphics and recording their own audio, as well as adding animations such as arrows, dots, and text effects on top of content. Canva is free to use with an account, though users interested in premium graphics or audio libraries can upgrade to Canva Pro.
- To add an animation to a Canva project, insert a design element such as a line, shape, or image onto the canvas and select the Animate option to choose how it moves.
- To add audio to a Canva project, either select an audio option from the Elements section or upload a custom audio track in the Uploads section. Audio tracks can be trimmed, and to my knowledge there is no limit to how long an audio track can be.
Canva projects can be shared as a public or private link, or downloaded as MP4 videos for offline viewing.
Related links
- Home – Canva
- Canva accessibility | Canva
- How To Create High Resolution Images For Low Vision
- Must-Have Tech Skills For Online Classes
Recording with Microsoft 365: PowerPoint
Users can record a single slide or full PowerPoint presentation and include audio/voice, ink gestures, animations, and even video presence from the presenter. I prefer to record one slide at a time, and set the background of the slide as an image or screenshot. This can be saved as part of the PowerPoint presentation or exported as its own video.
To record a PowerPoint presentation, users can either select the Record option in the Slide Show section of the ribbon, or the dedicated Record button at the top right section of their screen.
Previously, Microsoft Sway allowed users to record their own audio tracks, though this is no longer supported. That said, users can embed audio from another website or source to create audio narrated images, or embed videos created in another application.
Related links
- How To Create Accessible PowerPoints
- Tips For Screensharing With Low Vision
- How I Access PowerPoints with Microsoft Sway
Microsoft video editor: Clipchamp
Clipchamp is a video editing application now owned by Microsoft which is available as a web application, mobile application, and Windows 11 application. With Clipchamp, users can create audio-narrated images using either their own voice or an AI text-to-speech voice by adding one or more images to their project timeline and using the Record & Create tab. Clipchamp also allows users to make screen recordings or annotate images and screenshots with drawings or stickers. Clipchamp offers a free plan as well as premium features for Microsoft 365 users, including a specific Clipchamp for Education experience.
Related links
Using a stylus: Record whiteboard applications
When working through steps of a math problem or brainstorming ideas/creating tutorials with audio narrated images, I often use screen recording tools with digital whiteboard applications, such as Freeform for iOS, Microsoft Whiteboard, or the Witeboard web application. This can also be useful for annotating images that I add to my whiteboard canvas.
While none of these tools have dedicated recording features, users can use built-in screen recording tools from their devices to record audio or add audio through another video editing program— the iOS screen recording tool allows users to record audio with their microphone.
Related links
- How I Use Microsoft Whiteboard With Low Vision
- Witeboard website (opens new board)
- Ten iOS Shortcuts For Visual Impairment
- How I Use The Apple Pencil With Low Vision
- Apple Pencil Customizations For Writing With Low Vision
Video and audio options: iMovie
Since the Apple Clips app was discontinued in 2025, Apple users now have iMovie for recording audio narrated images on iPhone or iPad and adding narration to photos. While iMovie does not offer as many stickers or emoji options compared to Clips, users can insert emoji as a title or subtitle on top of images or configure video overlay settings to allow Picture in Picture, with the caveat that only one picture can be inserted per scene.
To enable picture-in-picture in iMovie for iPad and add overlays to images/videos:
- Open a new or existing iMovie project and add at least one photo/video
- Position the playhead (white line) over the scene where the overlay will be added
- Select the Add Media button (plus icon)
- Locate the image/video that will be used as an overlay and tap to select
- Select the three dots menu and select Picture in Picture
- The image/video will be inserted at the current playhead location, above the main image/video content. To make additional edits, select the content on the timeline.
Once Picture in Picture is enabled, users can reposition the image/video, adjust the size of the content, zoom in/out, or add additional filters.
Related links
Screen capture tool: Snagit
Snagit is a web tool for capturing, annotating, and sharing screenshots with audio narration, with options for adding callouts to images or highlighting specific areas of interest. Also available as part of the broader Camtasia screencasting application, Snagit offers an education plan that can be useful for creating audio narrated images and tutorials that students can play back on their own devices. One of my friends uses Snagit in their workplace for adding narration to visualizations like graphs and charts, or for creating step-by-step instructional videos, though the tool is not fully accessible for screen reader users.
I have included a link to the Snagit accessibility page so users can access the most up-to-date VPAT/accessibility information.
Related links
- Snagit | Screen capture software
- TechSmith (Snagit) Accessibility
- How To Write Alt Text For Educational Content
Digital whiteboard with pictures: Explain Everything
Explain Everything is a digital whiteboarding app designed for teachers to create their own digital lessons that integrates with several online learning platforms. Explain Everything is available as a web application and iOS/Android application, and offers several templates for creating audio narrated images and adding narration to 3D models. While Explain Everything content can be exported as a video and played back for students with visual impairments, the Explain Everything creator does not offer full keyboard access and has several unlabeled buttons
Related links
- Explain Everything | Interactive Whiteboard for Teaching and Learning
- Explain Everything VPAT
- Using Digital 3D Models With Low Vision
Create interactive tutorials: Iorad
While not specifically for creating audio narrated images, Iorad is a tool for creating interactive tutorials that prompt the user to click on specific parts of the screen as they follow steps to complete a task, with options for adding guided audio narration. I have not used Iorad successfully to capture keyboard shortcuts, but it can be useful for annotating screenshots or creating tutorials for how to use a visual application with a mouse or learning how to input text. One of my professors used Iorad for demonstrating how to navigate a web application for class, and I found the focus indicators helpful for tracking where items were located on the screen.
Related links
- Iorad | Create interactive tutorials
- Pre-Teaching Programming Languages To Visually Impaired Students
More resources on using audio narrated images for low vision
- Want to create a text-based description for an image instead? I recommend reading How To Write Alt Text and Image Descriptions for the Visually Impaired
- Video links can be embedded in QR codes for easy scanning or access. This can be helpful for creating bulletin boards like the ones shared in Creating Accessible Bulletin Boards For College Dorms
- When sharing audio narrated images on a course website or learning management system, make sure to include transcripts for the audio content so that it can be read visually or with a braille display. Learn more about accessible online learning in in Make Online Learning Accessible For VI Students: Quick Start Guide
- Need to share videos in class? Check out How To Make Classroom Videos Easier To See
- I mentioned Clarisketch in a presentation I gave to my school district during my senior year of high school, and have an updated version of the presentation at Five Apps That Help Students With Low Vision In The Classroom
Published March 24, 2020. Updated March 2026