Use a Screenreader to Test Documents

As you finish designing your documents, using the built in accessibility checker in Word is a helpful way to pin point potential issues. Likely, using a screenreader like JAWS, Job Access With Speech, may be useful to understand what your students would hear read aloud to them. JAWS is one of many screen readers available to blind or low vision users but it is one of the most used and the one available at our campus computer labs. It is a Windows only program. Mac computers are equipped with "VoiceOver" which can be enabled via settings.

Basic Keyboard Commands for Reading Content with JAWS

If you install JAWS or go to one of the computer labs here on campus, you can launch JAWS by holding down the keyboard keys: CTRL + ALT + J. You will then hear "JAWS for Windows is ready". You can then start using the keyboard commands below to hear your document read aloud back to you. I would recommend that you open your document prior to loading JAWS.

The following keyboard commands can be used while JAWS is open to read your documents.

Insert + down arrow = Say All,
CTRL = Interrupt Speech
Insert + Up Arrow = Say Line,
Insert + Left Arrow = Say prior word
Insert + Right Arrow = Say next word
Insert + F6 = List of Headings
Insert + F7 = List of Links
Insert + F9 = List of Frames
Insert + F5 = List of Form fields

Please watch this Demonstration of JAWS Screenreader by Pennsylvania State University video to get an idea of what it is like to use a screenreader to access content: