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Re: - recommendations for screen reader training?

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From: Hayman, Douglass
Date: Mar 25, 2024 12:07PM


I'd recommend using NVDA in Windows. While JAWS may dominate the market, they do place restrictions on using their screen reader for testing web sites. NVDA doesn't have such a restriction.

A few good resources are:

https://webaim.org/resources/shortcuts/nvda

https://dequeuniversity.com/screenreaders/nvda-keyboard-shortcuts

I always "warn" people to first know how to quit NVDA as it can be confusing to escape out of it when control has changed.

And finally, know that you won't be the same as a person who uses a screen reader full time. Those folks likely use screen readers better and differently than sighted users and they should be consulted as well along the "for us by us" way of doing things.

Doug Hayman
IT Accessibility Coordinator
Information Technology
Olympic College
<EMAIL REMOVED>
(360) 475-7632



-----Original Message-----
From: WebAIM-Forum < <EMAIL REMOVED> > On Behalf Of Hatfield, Evan via WebAIM-Forum
Sent: Monday, March 25, 2024 11:00 AM
To: <EMAIL REMOVED>
Cc: Hatfield, Evan < <EMAIL REMOVED> >
Subject: [EXTERNAL] - [WebAIM] recommendations for screen reader training?

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Hello, WebAIM Nation -

My colleagues and I work in online education at a college. We are interested in becoming proficient enough in the use of a screen reader - or screen readers -- to effectively review the accessibility of digital resources like Word documents, PDF's and pages in our learning management system. We have tried to use the built-in trainers that come with VoiceOver and Narrator, but without much luck. We're also not certain if those are the best tools to use.

We have three questions to start:


* Is there a screen reader - or screen readers - that we should focus on?
* Can you recommend training resources to help us develop proficiency?
* Are we thinking about this correctly?
Thanks for your help!

Evan

Evan Hatfield (he/him)
Instructional Support Specialist
Distance Education + DSPS
College of the Redwoods
707-476-4574