Using the JAWS Screen Reader To Test Web Accessibility
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JAWS is one of the most widely used screen readers, helping millions navigate digital content daily. To ensure your content works with JAWS, it’s essential to test it. We’ll walk you through how to test your content with JAWS and highlight key areas to focus on during testing.
Originally Posted on March 27, 2023.
For millions of people with disabilities, screen readers like Jobs Access with Speech (JAWS) are essential for navigating the digital world. In fact, according to a 2024 survey by WebAIM, JAWS is one of the most widely used screen readers, with 41% of respondents using the device, outpacing other tools like NonVisual Desktop Access (NVDA) and Apple VoiceOver.
Suppose you’re trying to build an accessible website. In that case, screen reader testing can play a key role in your strategy — and help you comply with legal requirements such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the European Accessibility Act (EAA), Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and more. It also helps you meet the conformance standards outlined in the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). However, it’s essential to understand screen readers' features and limitations and remember that web accessibility isn’t just for blind or low-vision users.
Below, we’ll provide an overview of the JAWS screen reader and share tips on how to test your digital content with JAWS. Before we dive into that, a quick overview of JAWS.
What is JAWS?
Developed by Freedom Scientific, JAWS provides auditory and tactile feedback to help individuals with disabilities, including visual and physical, interact with digital content. More simply, JAWS converts on-screen text into synthesized speech or Braille output through a refreshable braille display. This makes it possible for users to browse websites, navigate software, and access documents independently.
One of the key strengths of JAWS is its feature set, which includes:
- Customization options: Users can configure their own hotkeys (keyboard commands to trigger certain actions) or use the software’s built-in hotkeys for popular applications like Microsoft Office.
- Multilingual options: JAWS includes two multilingual synthesizers that can be customized with different voices for a more pleasant listening experience.
- Refreshable Braille displays: Users can use these displays to type or read content without listening to audio.
- Integration: JAWS works well with a wide range of assistive technologies, allowing users to work with the tools they’re most comfortable with.
- Navigation options: JAWS has a few different navigation modes, enabling users to quickly jump between headings, links, tables, and other web elements, even on more complex web pages.
While JAWS is a useful tool, it’s not free. The standard version costs $95 per year; users can also pay $1,000 for a perpetual license.
How JAWS Supports Individuals with Disabilities
People prefer different screen readers for different reasons. For some users, JAWS provides the most consistent output, while others have learned how to use JAWS before encountering other options.
Regardless, JAWS plays a key role in helping individuals with disabilities access information and participate in online spaces. For example, users who are blind or who have low vision, JAWS provides an auditory representation of the content, describing everything from text and images to form fields and error messages. Individuals with physical disabilities who may have limited use of a keyboard or mouse, JAWS supports alternative input methods, such as single-switch devices, to ensure they can navigate effectively.
How to Use JAWS to Test Your Website’s Accessibility
Testing your website with JAWS can provide valuable insights into how users experience your content using the screen reader, enabling you to make improvements as needed. Additionally, testing with JAWS can help you ensure you’re meeting accessibility requirements outlined in the ADA, the EAA, and WCAG.
To test your website’s accessibility using JAWS, follow these steps:
- Download the free version of JAWS (Windows only) onto your device.
- Next, open JAWS first, then the browser you want to test. It works best with Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or Microsoft Edge; be sure each of these browsers are up-to-date.
- Remove any distractions such as visual or sound notifications so you can focus on the screen reader output.
- Open your website in the browser of your choice. It’s important to note that JAWS relies solely on keyboard navigation. Using a mouse at all during the testing process will not accurately represent the user experience.
- Next, begin testing various components of your website, including:
- Headings: Use the “H” key to move through headers and ensure they follow a logical hierarchy (H1, H2, H3, etc.) and provide a good reading order for users.
- Links: Use the “Tab” key to move between various hyperlinks on the page. Ensure each link is descriptive and clearly tells users where they will go when they select it.
- Forms: Press the “Enter” key to activate Forms Mode when interacting with fields, dropdowns, or checkboxes.
- Alt text: Navigate to images using the “G” key. Verify that JAWS reads the alt text for each image and accurately describes its purpose.
- ARIA roles and alerts: Ensure dynamic content, like pop-ups and live updates, are announced properly. You can use JAWS commands like “Insert + F5” to view a list of ARIA regions.
- Navigation landmarks: Use the “R” key to move through different regions and confirm they’re labeled correctly. For example, buttons are announced as buttons and footers are announced as footers.
- Online documents: Test electronic documents, including PDF documents, word documents, PowerPoint presentations, and Excel spreadsheets. Accessible documents are a requirement in WCAG, which means you need to ensure screen readers can easily
As you’re navigating through your digital content, pay attention to the overall user experience. Is it easy to navigate from element to element? Is content read in a logical order? Are there any sections where JAWS doesn’t provide clear guidance or where it gets stuck? You can then make adjustments to your web content based on these answers to improve the overall user experience.
It’s important to note that while testing with JAWS can give you an idea of how a screen reader user experiences your content, JAWS testing shouldn’t be used as a comprehensive approach to accessibility testing — especially if you don’t have experience using screen readers.
For example, if you’re unfamiliar with JAWS keyboard commands, you might struggle to navigate a website that wouldn’t pose any difficulties to a more experienced screen reader user.
It would be a bit like testing your website with a smartphone if you had no experience with touchscreens. You’d probably run into some frustrating issues, but how many of those would be due to poor website design? And how many would be due to your lack of experience with touchscreen control?
Tips for Using the JAWS Screen Reader
Though JAWS is just one part of a comprehensive accessibility testing strategy, it does offer a unique and valuable perspective into how compatible your digital content is with screen readers. Incorporating screen reader testing into your process helps you create a more inclusive experience for all users.
This is particularly beneficial for web developers and designers. By understanding how screen reader users interact with your website, you gain insights that empower you to make more thoughtful, user-friendly design decisions.
Here are a few tips to help you get the most out of JAWS accessibility testing:
- Start by familiarizing yourself with JAWS keyboard shortcuts. Review Freedom Scientific’s JAWS guides and use them as a reference when testing the software.
- Always open JAWS before launching your web browser or other software.
- Remember that visual content won’t always sync up with JAWS’ audio output. For example, JAWS may read content on a web page that isn’t visible without scrolling down the page.
- Pay attention to headings and landmarks. Be sure these follow a logical structure and that it’s easy to move between landmarks such as banners, navigation menus, and main content areas.
- Simulate real-world scenarios. For example, try completing a form or navigating to a specific section of the page. Doing so will help you identify potential usability issues that might not be obvious from a technical perspective.
- Use JAWS speech history to troubleshoot unclear messages.
- Stay current with the latest JAWS features to fully utilize its tools and ensure your testing reflects current user experiences.
- Pay attention to how visual elements are presented. For example, if you focus on an image, JAWS will read the image’s alternative text — unless the image is missing alt text.
Once again, the goal of JAWS accessibility testing is not to test your website’s accessibility but rather to increase your understanding of how screen reader users experience your site.
If you’ve never used a screen reader, you’ll probably feel frustrated when using JAWS (or any other assistive technology). That’s okay — stick with it. As you learn keyboard commands, you’ll gain perspective about the experiences of real-life users with disabilities.
Is JAWS Testing Enough for Digital Accessibility Compliance?
Accessibility testing has two primary goals:
- To ensure content works well for all users, regardless of their abilities or the technologies they use to browse the internet.
- To meet established digital accessibility standards, more specifically those outlined in WCAG 2.1 Level AA, the international standard for accessibility.
Ultimately, accessibility testing provides insights on how to create an accessible experience that aligns with WCAG standards and meets accessibility requirements. By ensuring your website is accessible, you not only improve usability for people with disabilities but also reduce legal risks and enhance your overall user experience.
At the heart of accessibility testing are the POUR principles: content should be Perceivable, Operable, Understandable, and Robust. Testing your content through the lens of POUR ensures your digital content isn’t just accessible in theory but truly functional and user-friendly in practice.
While tools like JAWS provide valuable insights, they’re just one piece of the puzzle. A hybrid approach — one that combines automated testing with expert audits from accessibility experts and individuals from the disability community — can help you uncover additional accessibility issues and further improve the user experience on your site.
Build Your Strategy for Digital Accessibility Testing with AudioEye
With the right accessibility testing strategy, you can build more accessible and compliant digital content from day one. Screen reader testing is a key part of this — supplementing it by testing with additional accessibility tools or with the help of experts can take your content even further.
With AudioEye’s three-pronged approach to accessibility testing, you’ll save time and up to 90% in accessibility costs compared to traditional methods. By incorporating AI-driven automation technology, AudioEye finds and fixes common accessibility issues in real-time while our team of experts identifies more complex issues. With AudioEye, accessibility improvements are implemented into your digital content continuously and instantly, allowing you to create and maintain compliant websites without sacrificing the user experience.
Want to see how accessible your existing content is? Use our free Web Accessibility Checker below to get started.
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