Chapter 1: ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY
TOOLS
Assistive Technology Manual
JAWS
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JAWS is a computer software
program that provides a person who is blind or with low vision access
to a computer using any version of the Microsoft Windows operating system.
How it works: JAWS converts
what is on the computer screen to synthesized speech or refreshable Braille.
Instead of a mouse, a variety of keyboard commands are used to manipulate
text and controls.
Who will benefit? Individuals
who are blind or have low vision.
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New users should listen to the JAWS
tapes or request an instruction session to get the most out of the program.
Getting Started:
- JAWS will automatically start up when
the computer is turned on.
- JAWS will say "JAWS is Ready"
and will list the help features.
Silencing or Interrupting JAWS:
- Press the CTRL key to silence or interrupt JAWS.
- JAWS will start again when you perform
another task with the arrow keys or the mouse.
- To silence JAWS completely for a specific application,
press the CTRL, ALT and F12 keys simultaneously.
- When you switch to another application, JAWS
will start again.
Navigation Modes:
To navigate in the windows environment and
in specific applications, use the keyboard and one of the cursor modes. There are five cursor modes:
- PC Cursor mode: This is the default cursor
mode for JAWS. The cursor stays in the main part of the application you are
using. If you need to perform a function that is not part of the application,
you will need to use a hot key to access that function.
- JAWS Cursor mode: This cursor acts like
a mouse pointer. You can access any part of the screen without having to use
hotkeys. Press the minus key on the number keypad to activate it.
- Virtual PC Cursor: This cursor loads by
default in HTML documents. The Virtual PC cursor works in much the same way
that the PC cursor does, using JAWS navigation commands to read pages containing
links and frames. One difference is that, unlike the PC cursor, there
is no visual indication on the area of the screen that is being affected.
Another difference is that text is read in one uninterrupted stream, regardless
of whether the text appears on the screen.
- Braille Cursor: This cursor is for use
with the ALVA Braille Terminal. See the instructions "ALVA Braille Terminal
- The Basics" for more information.
- Invisible Cursor: In Invisible Cursor
mode, only speech will follow the cursor movements.
Navigation Keys: Use arrow, tab and hotkeys
to navigate.
Hotkeys Overview: For a complete
list, refer to the JAWS help manual: Press Insert-J to open the manual; press
Alt-F to open the file menu; press the right arrow key to find "help";
press "enter."
- Say Title INSERT+T
- Say Dialog box (tab order) INSERT+B
- Switch Applications ALT+TAB
- Say All INSERT+DOWN ARROW
- >Say Word INSERT+NUM PAD 5
- Say Prior Word INSERT+LEFT ARROW
- Say Next Word INSERT+RIGHT ARROW
- Say Sentence ALT+NUM PAD 5
- Say Prior Sentence ALT+UP ARROW
- >Say Next Sentence ALT+DOWN ARROW
- Say Prior Paragraph CTRL+UP ARROW
- >Say Next Paragraph CTRL+DOWN ARROW
- Interrupt Speech CTRL
- Access the Menu Bar ALT
- >List System Tray Icons INSERT+F11
- Say System Time INSERT+F12
- >Screen Sensitive Help INSERT+F1
- >Keyboard Help INSERT+1
- JAWS Help for Applications INSERT+F1 (pressed
twice quickly)
- Window Keys Help INSERT+W
- Say Help Window INSERT+CTRL+DOWN ARROW
- Say Window Prompt and Text INSERT+TAB
- JAWS Window INSERT+J
- Shut Down JAWS INSERT+F4
Here is an example using JAWS. For
our example, we will open a document in Microsoft Word.
- Once the computer is booted up and JAWS for Windows
has told you it is ready, you must first change the focus from the desktop
to the start menu in the following way:
- Press the tab key.
- By pressing it once, JAWS will read aloud
"Start Button" which means that the focus is on the start menu.
- By pressing it again, the focus will change
to the task bar.
- By pressing it again, the focus will change
to the initial desktop view.
- Once you hear that the focus is on the "start
button," access the start menu by pressing the "enter" key.
- Use the Down key to scroll through the program
choices. For our example, when you hear "Microsoft Word," press
the "enter" key to open the program.
- Now we need to find the document we wish to be
opened.
- Shift the focus to the top menu bar by pressing
the "Alt" and "F" keys at the same time.
- Scroll down the file menu using the Down
key until you locate "Open."
- Once you hear "Open," press the
"enter" key to activate the "Open Dialog" box.
- Use the "tab" key to move forward
through the various fields in the dialog box. Pressing "shift"
and "tab" simultaneously will move you backward through the
field.
- Once you have found your file, open it by
pressing the "enter" key.
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