JAWS screen reader users may encounter problems when trying to access WebVista sites. We have identified several issues and options for dealing with them as described below.
Reading Page Contents
Issue
JAWS is unable to read anything using the Virtual PC Cursor, including lists of links. Pressing the Tab key does not work, even with the Virtual PC Cursor disabled. The issue can be identified by reading the status line (press the Insert plus number pad page down keys), which will indicate a Java Applet is running.
Options
To move to another window, follow these steps:
- Press and release the Alt plus Tab keys.
- Press and release the Alt plus Tab keys again to return to WebVista.
If there are other application windows open, follow these steps:
- Press and release the Windows plus M keys to move to the desktop.
- Then, press and release the Alt plus Tab keys to return to WebVista.
Tabbing to Instructor-Defined Links
Issue
In many cases, JAWS users are unable to tab through an entire set of instructor-defined links. For example, in a set of ten instructor-defined links, a JAWS user may only be able to tab to the first two or three before the screen reader wraps to the top of the page.
Options
- Create a JAWS links list by pressing the Insert plus F7 keys.
- Navigate by line pressing the up and down arrow keys.
- Use navigation quick keys:
- Press the U key to move to next unvisited link.
- Press the Shift plus U keys to move to the previous unvisited link.
- Press the V key to move to next visited link.
- Press the Shift plus V keys to move to the previous visited link.
- Turn off the JAWS Virtual PC cursor by pressing the Insert plus Z keys.
Changing a Combo Box Selection
Issue
When JAWS users attempt to change the selection in an online form combo box by pressing the up or down arrow keys, a new page is launched automatically.
Steps
- Press the Alt plus down arrow keys to "open" the combo box.
- Press the up or down arrow keys to make a selection; then, press the Enter key or the Alt plus up arrow keys to activate it.
Triggering OnMouseOver Events
Issue
An OnMouseOver event can be assigned to many HTML elements and is used to trigger specified scripts when a mouse pointer is moved over the element. An onMouseOver may be used to initiate an action or momentarily display text, graphics, or links.
Steps
- Press the Control plus Enter keys to simulate moving the mouse pointer over the element at the Virtual Cursor location.
- If this causes some part of the page to change, the line where the change occurred will be announced. Press the J key to activate the "Jump to Line" feature, enter the number of the line that changed, and press the Enter key.
- Press the Shift plus J keys to return the cursor to its previous location on the page.