Introduction to JAWS Shortcuts and Web Accessibility
Shawn Sandy (Ally.Cafe) ~
JAWS (Job Access With Speech) is one of the most popular screen readers, developed by Freedom Scientific. It helps visually impaired users navigate digital content by converting text to speech or braille. Mastering JAWS shortcuts can significantly enhance the efficiency and experience of these users.
Why JAWS Shortcuts Matter
- Efficiency: Shortcuts allow JAWS users to navigate and interact with web content more quickly and efficiently.
- Accessibility: Knowledge of these shortcuts improves the accessibility of digital content for visually impaired users.
- Enhanced User Experience: Providing information about these shortcuts can greatly enhance the user experience for JAWS users.
Common JAWS Shortcuts
General Navigation
- JAWS Quick Settings:
Insert + V - JAWS Help:
Insert + F1 - JAWS Voice Settings:
Insert + F2 - Toggle Virtual PC Cursor:
Insert + Z - List Headings:
Insert + F6 - List Links:
Insert + F7 - List Form Fields:
Insert + F5 - Next Element:
E - Next Heading:
H - Next Link:
Tab - Previous Element:
Shift + E - Previous Heading:
Shift + H - Previous Link:
Shift + Tab - Read Current Line:
Insert + Up Arrow - Read Next Line:
Down Arrow - Read Previous Line:
Up Arrow - Read All:
Insert + Down Arrow - Stop Reading:
Control - Activate Link/Button:
Enter
Forms and Interactive Elements
- Next Form Field:
F - Previous Form Field:
Shift + F - Next Button:
B - Previous Button:
Shift + B - Next Check Box:
X - Previous Check Box:
Shift + X - Next Edit Field:
E - Previous Edit Field:
Shift + E - Next Radio Button:
A - Previous Radio Button:
Shift + A - Next Combo Box:
C - Previous Combo Box:
Shift + C
Best Practices for Web Developers
- Use Semantic HTML: Proper use of HTML5 elements ensures that JAWS can correctly interpret and navigate the content.
- Provide ARIA Landmarks: Use ARIA roles (e.g.,
role="banner",role="navigation",role="main",role="contentinfo") to define regions of the page. - Ensure Keyboard Accessibility: All interactive elements should be accessible via keyboard.
- Provide Text Alternatives: Use
altattributes for images, captions for videos, and text alternatives for other non-text content.
Example:
<img src="example.jpg" alt="Description of image">- Use Skip Links: Implement skip links to allow users to bypass repetitive content.
Example:
<a href="#maincontent" class="skip-link">Skip to main content</a>
<main id="maincontent">
<!-- Main content here -->
</main>Resources for Further Learning
Here are some valuable resources to help you understand and implement accessibility for JAWS:
- Freedom Scientific JAWS (opens in a new window)
- Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2 (opens in a new window)
- Introduction to ARIA (opens in a new window)
- Accessible Rich Internet Applications (WAI-ARIA) 1.2 (opens in a new window)
- WebAIM: Web Accessibility In Mind (opens in a new window)
- The A11Y Project (opens in a new window)
Utilizing these JAWS shortcuts and implementing best practices can significantly enhance the accessibility and usability of your website for visually impaired users.
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