What is JAWS?

• JAWS (Job Access With Speech) is a screen reader, an assistive technology tool.
• Allows the visually impaired to access their computer. 
• Verbalizes the screen.
• Keyboard based, no mouse input.

General tips for improving JAWS accessibility.

• JAWS is much more friendly with Word Documents than PDFs. 
• If using images, provide alt text so a JAWS user will understand the graphic. 
• Use clear and consistent formatting in documents and presentations to enhance navigation for screen readers, including:
  • Headings
  • Lists
  • Descriptive hyperlinks
• An audio description for videos is another great resource. Audio-only videos are difficult to understand without context, so providing context is helpful. 
• Occasionally, JAWS will be incompatible with certain software. A visually impaired student may require accommodations in order to complete their classwork. 

JAWS and Canvas

Canvas is a highly accessible platform. There are numerous features tailored to enhance accessibility. Nevertheless, it’s important to present materials in the most effective manner possible. 

General Recommendations

• Use Clear Formatting: Ensure that all text is well-formatted with appropriate font size, headings, bullet points, and spacing to aid readability for screen readers. 
• Maintain consistency: If Start Quiz is a button, all Start Quiz options should be a button. Nothing is more frustrating than expecting  a button, then realizing it is a link on the next module.
• Provide Descriptive Alt Text: It’s important to provide descriptive alt text for all images, charts, and other visual content. 
• Provide course materials in multiple formats: Providing a variety of formats such as text documents, .txt, word documents, .doc, or html will accommodate various screen reader preferences and assistive technologies. (Note: Some students use an embosser, which prints documents into Braille. This requires certain file types to convert the file into a .brf file, or a Braille Ready File.)
• Use Accessible Links: Ensure that all hyperlinks are descriptive, providing clear information about the destination. Avoid using generic phrases like “click here.”

Designing Quizzes in Canvas 

Quizzes typically offer a straightforward task to complete, yet it’s crucial to consider how questions are presented. 

Most question formats, such as multiple choice, true/false, matching with combo boxes, and free response, are easy to handle. However, Drag and Drop questions are inaccessible as JAWS lacks a cursor, making it impossible to select and relocate elements. 

Moreover, providing ALT Text for images within questions is essential for ensuring that the necessary context to answer the question is present.

Discussion Boards in Canvas

For JAWS users, engaging in discussions, replying to others, and formatting their responses according to their preferences are straightforward tasks. 

Compared to the challenge when attempting to upload documents through the Canvas menu. This is a Canvas issue, however, it still effects the visually impaired student. It is difficult to find the upload menu, difficult to find the Browse this computer button,  and upload the file. 

I would also like to add that it is possible to record a video, and even add captions to it using JAWS.

Headings:

• Label different headings as either level 1, 2, or 3.

Lists:

• Use either numbered or bulleted lists.

Tables:

• Use tables for data, not for layout.
• Provide descriptive table captions.
• Label Rows and Columns

Images:

• Provide alt text for all graphics.
• Ensure the alt text is descriptive and conveys the purpose of the image.

Videos:

• Provide captions or transcripts for all video content.
• Ensure videos have audio descriptions for visually essential content.

Audio:

• Provide transcripts for audio content.

Quizzes and Exams:

• Use Accessible question types.
• Add descriptive alt text if questions involve images, charts, or graphs.

Accessible Question Types:

• Multiple Choice
• Multiple Answer
• True/False
• Fill-in-the-Blank
• Numeric
• Essay
• Matching (with dropdowns)
• Formula Questions
• Short Answer

Difficult or Impossible for Screen Readers:

• Hotspot
• Categorization
• Ordering
• Drag and Drop elements in other question types
• Questions that feature graphics, charts, or diagrams. (Unless Alt Text is provided.)

Students with visual impairments rely on a braille display. This device converts the information on the computer into readable braille. 

This device facilitates math work by expressing the math content in Nemeth. 

Nemeth is a braille code exclusively for math symbols and numbers. To ensure that math is output in Nemeth, the Math Editor must be used in Microsoft Word. This is accessible using Alt + =. 

What I do is input the math I need, then select it, then press Alt + =. This automatically converts the math into Nemeth. 

Do not copy and paste images that contain math problems or numbers. 

Note: Any math input into a Google Doc will be automatically converted into Nemeth when downloaded into a Word Doc. 

When math is incorrectly formatted, it will be output in UEB. This braille code takes triple the amount of braille cells to display the same equation as compared to Nemeth. 

Text

Quick Navigation Tips to Use Around the Web 

Keystroke	Command
Caps Lock + Down arrow	Read All
Control + Up/ Down Arrow	Read by Paragraph
Up/ Down Arrow	Read line by line
Control + Left/ Right Arrow	Read word by word
Home Key	Take cursor to the beginning of the line
End Key	Take cursor to the end of the line

Note: Adding the shift key to any of the above commands will allow you to select the text. 

Keystroke	Command
Control + A	Select all
Control + C	Copy selected text
Control + V	Paste text
Caps Lock + Y	Read the previous sentence
Caps Lock + H	Read the current sentence
Caps Lock + N	Read the next sentence

Note: The previous commands refer to the cursors placement and will read between periods.

How to Navigate Canvas

Once you log in, you will arrive at your dashboard. 

From here, you have a few options. Press H for headings, twice, and you will hear published courses. You can down arrow until you hear the link for the course you want to access. Alternatively, you can press V for visited link, and it will jump you right to your course. Press enter to access.

Some Notes Before Discussing how to Navigate Your Course

I recommend exploring the page with the keyboard commands. Remember, press Control + Home to start at the top of the page. 

There are 2 important regions. 

Global Navigation Region contains a list of 9 items. It contains links to your dashboard, inbox, a page listing your current and previous courses, and a link to the Canvas Studio. 

Courses Navigation Region contains a list of links that are relevant to the course you accessed. Links include Home Page, Modules, quizzes, assignments, discussion boards, and a my grades page. 

These are all links, so you can also quickly pull them up using your links list, Caps Lock + F7. 

Navigating the Course 

Access any of the links mentioned above, and then use the keyboard commands we discussed to explore the page. All modules should begin with a heading, so pressing H will jump you to the top of the module. If there are links within the module, U will jump your cursor there. 

Using your links list to find what you’re looking for is most efficient. 

Using T to view your grades on the grades page is quick. Use either the table layered command or the control + alt + arrow keys to navigate.

Discussion boards are navigable by using buttons to post or reply. Use H to view peer posts. 

Quiz questions are headings, so press H to quickly find the question. Submit is usually a button, so press B to submit your answer. Note: JAWS reads every answer choice twice, so be careful to select the check box that you want. Listen to the entire answer choice. 

Additional Keyboard Commands:

Keystroke	Command
Control + Home	Send the cursor to the top of the page, I recommend doing this every time you load a new page.
Q	Jump to the Main Region
R	Cycles through different regions on the page, for instance, navigation region, and main region.
U	Will cycle through Unvisited Links
V	Will cycle Visited Links
B	Will cycle through buttons
G	Will cycle through graphics.
L	Will jump the cursor to nearest List
E	Will jump you to nearest edit box. Press enter to start typing. Will hear a noise indicating you have entered the edit box.
C	Will jump cursor to nearest Combo Box.
Alt + Down Arrow	Will open the combo box, allowing you to press enter on the option you desire.
X	Will jump cursor to nearest Check Box.
T	Will jump cursor to nearest Table
Control + Alt + Arrow Keys	Will allow you to navigate a table in any direction.
F5	Refreshes the Page
H	Will cycle through different headings on the page.
1,2,3 on the number row.	Will jump you to that number heading level.
Caps Lock + 2	Will toggle say characters, words, or both when typing
Caps Lock + 1	Toggles Keyboard Help. Great for trying commands without computer executing command.
Altt	Will take you to the menu of the current application.
Caps Lock + Space Bar, then V.	Turns off JAWS Voice.
Caps Lock + Space Bar then F4.	Restarts JAWS.
Windows Key + R	Brings up Run Dialogue Box. Type %temp%, select all with Control + A, then press Shift + Delete Key. Press Alt + A, then Press Alt + S. Repeat. This command cleans your temp folder. Doing this allows JAWS to run much better.
Caps Lock + 8	Left Mouse Click
Caps Lock + 9	Right Mouse Click
Control + Windows Key + Alt + Page Up/Down	Increases or decreases JAWS Rate of Speech.