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How to use a Screen‐Reader
A screen reader is an assistive technology, primarily used by people with vision impairments. It converts text, buttons, images and other screen elements into speech or braille. It also allows users to interact with the content on their screen using their keyboard only.
There are many reason why and individual might choose not to use a screen reader. Many individuals with low-vision will continue to use what vision they have, which can cause further eye strain. Using a screen reader, can often times be a difficult decision as it comes with the acceptance that you are blind.
There are 3 main levels of screen reader users:
| Level | Description | Common Commands |
|---|---|---|
| Level 1: Basic access user | Basic understanding of how to use the screen reader. May use it only when 'needed'. These individuals may be:
|
Tab, Arrow Keys, Space, Enter |
| Level 2: Every-day users | Every-day User, who knows the most commonly used features. They are likely connected with the commission, and has received basic training. These individuals may have/be:
|
Use of a rotator, able to navigate via list of links, headings, landmarks, etc. Often times this persons device is set up for optimal use by a screen reader. |
| Level 3: Advanced Users | Often times this is a highly technical person, who utilizes advanced or developing features of a tool. They are more likely to switch between multiple devices, and types of screen readers. | May use speech command function, OCR page functions, etc. |
Most users on a Windows device, will use both NVDA and JAWS. Those on an iOS or MacOS device will likely be using VoiceOver.
- NVDA can be installed on any windows device.
- JAWS can be installed from the freedom scientific website using your [at]rutgers.edu email address.
- VoiceOver comes preinstalled on all iOS and MacOS devices
Note: Be sure to adjust your settings after installation to prevent it from launching at startup, unless you would prefer these settings.
| Screen Reader | Start program command |
|---|---|
| NVDA | Control + Alt + N |
| JAWS | Control + Alt + J |
| VoiceOver (Laptop/Desktop) | Command + F5 |
| VoiceOver Gesture Input (Track Commander) | VO + rotate two finger clockwise anywhere on the trackpad |
The following takes into account you using the Caps Lock key as your identifier. If you didn't select this option at the start-up screen, use Insert instead.
| Description | Command |
|---|---|
| Stop Speech | Control |
| Pause Speech | Shift |
| Quit NVDA | Caps Lock + Q |
| Read All | Caps Lock + Down Arrow (Desktop Layout)
Caps Lock + A (Laptop Layout) |
| Read Next/Previous item/line | Up and Down Arrow Keys |
| Read next clickable item | Tab
Shift + Tab (Previous item) |
| Activate button or link | Enter |
The following takes into account you using the Alt + Command key as your as your VO identifier. This is the default setting
| Description | Command |
|---|---|
| Stop Speech | Control |
| Pause Speech | Control |
| Quit VoiceOVer | VO + F5 |
| Read All | VO + A |
| Read Next/Previous item/line | VO + Right/Left Arrow |
| Read next clickable item | Tab
Shift + Tab (Previous item) |
| Activate button or link | Enter |
| Mute (with track commander on) | Three-finger double-tap |
| Next/Previous item (track commander) | Flick right/left |
| Move Scrollbar (track commander) | Three fingers up or down |
| Read to the end (track commander) | Two--finger flick down |
Correctly read items should identify the element type (i.e Checkbox), and the state (i.e checkbox not checked). It should also read the label for the items in question. For example, "Cheese on Demand, checkbox, not checked".
The following takes into account you using the Caps Lock key as your identifier. If you didn't select this option at the start-up screen, use Insert instead.
| Description | Command |
|---|---|
| Navigation Checkboxes | Down Arrow or X |
| Select or Deselect Checkboxes | Space bar |
| Navigate Radio Button (also Selects it) | Down Arrow |
| Select Radio button | Because you can only select one option as you press your down arrow it will automatically select the next option. You can use the up/down arrows to select your answer, and then press tab to move to next question or submit option. |
| Open Combo-Boxes/Drop downs | Alt + Down Arrow |
| Browses/select Options | Down arrow For single select, press tab after selection, for multi-select see below. |
| Select multiple options | Shift plus Up/Down arrow |
| Focus Mode | Insert + Space bar Focus mode is designed to narrow the focus to just the form controls opposed to standard browsing controls. |
The following takes into account you using the Alt + Command key as your as your VO identifier. This is the default setting
| Description | Command |
|---|---|
| Navigation Checkboxes | VO + Down Arrow |
| Select or Deselect Checkboxes | Space bar |
| Navigate Radio Button (also Selects it) | VO + Down Arrow |
| Select Radio button | Because you can only select one option as you press your down arrow it will automatically select the next option. You can use the up/down arrows to select your answer, and then press tab to move to next question or submit option. |
| Browses/select Options | Down arrow For single select, press tab after selection, for multi-select see below. |
| Select multiple options | Shift plus Up/Down arrow |
The following takes into account you using the Caps Lock key as your identifier. If you didn't select this option at the start-up screen, use Insert instead.
| Description | Command |
|---|---|
| Open Rotator | Caps Lock + F7 Insert + F7 |
The following takes into account you using the Alt + Command key as your as your VO identifier. This is the default setting
| Description | Command |
|---|---|
| Open Rotator | VO + U |
The following takes into account you using the Caps Lock key as your identifier. If you didn't select this option at the start-up screen, use Insert instead.
| Description | Key-Command |
|---|---|
| Skip to table | T |
| Navigate between cells | Hold Ctrl + Alt, then use arrow keys |
| Jump to next Heading | H (or press 1-6 to jump to next heading level of the number) |
| Jump to next button | B |
| Go to top of page | Ctrl + Home |
| Go to bottom of page | Ctrl + End |
| Description | Key-Command |
|---|---|
| Read Next/Previous Line | Down Arrow/ Up Arrow |
| Read Next/Previous Paragraph | p Shift + P (previous) |
| Read continuously (Say All) | Cap + Down Arrow |
| Go to a page | Ctrl + Shift + N |
| Go to Next/Previous page | Ctrl + Page Down Ctrl + Page Up (previous) |
| Open list of Elements (i.e Headings) | Caps Lock + F7, then Alt + H |
See 247 Documents full list of PDF Commands
In this example you will see the difference between 3 types of PDFS, in addition to where an OCR engine might fail to OCR an entire document