Webform Navigation with JAWS

For your convenience, you may download this MS Word file.

If you are using a screen reader other than JAWS, please consult support/help for that program.

Navigation is different for some field types.

To find the section of the page you want to read or work on, you can often use the letter “H” to jump to all of the headings on the page, so you know all of the exciting information that is there.

If you hit “H” and get to the form you want to fill out, you can start tabbing as soon as you know you are on the heading right before the place where the form begins.

While tabbing through a form with “Forms Mode”, set to Auto:

• Text fields read the label fine, which means you can start typing right away as soon as you are in the edit box.
• Combo boxes read the label, so all you have to do is arrow up and down until you land on the choice you want.
• Radio buttons do not automatically read the label, but go directly to the choices. When you come to a field that is reading choices, do this to navigate to read the field label:
  • Switch to “Virtual PC Cursor” (or Escape).
  • Hit the letter “A” to go from the current radio button to the next radio button or “Shift A” to move backwards among the radio buttons.
  • When on the one you want to select, simply hit the Spacebar to choose it.
  • Tab to go to the next field.

Hitting the letter “A” will take you to all of the radio buttons on the page, so make sure you are in the question you want to answer before hitting the space bar. You can always go back with “Shift A” to make sure you have finished with the radio buttons you wanted to pick.

Hit “X” to have JAWS search for any check boxes.