What works and what doesn’t for JAWS users
Target Corporation recently settled a lawsuit with the National Federation for the Blind over access to its Web site, target.com How do other Web sites compare? Access Press contributing writer Clarence Schadegg tests a few:
With the use of my screen reader, Job Access With Speech (JAWS), I was able to read through information on the Web sites cited below. My biggest difficulties were with the Web site for the Minnesota Department of Human Services, and Lund’s and Byerly’s web site. It took me sometimes several efforts to open and read some links on these web sites. I’ve had no such problem accessing anything on the Bookshare Web site.
Department of Human Services (DHS) Web site
Access the Department of Human Services (DHS) Web site at www.dhs.state.mn.us/
I was unable to open and read some links the first time I tried. It took me two or three times to open some links. When it did open, my screen reader didn’t read anything. I tried it again, and this time I had no problem to open a link and read the information on it. I opened and read a link again, and again, I had no problem to read and navigate around the Web site. After I got more familiar with the DHS Web site, it became easier for me to figure out how to open problematic links and read information with the use of my screen reader.
Lunds and Byerly’s Web site
www.lundsandbyerlys.com
I had some trouble initially navigating around this Web site. My screen reader couldn’t read some of the information on the Web page and I had to enter twice on some links for them to open. With a little more effort, I was able to open links and read information. I did not place a grocery home delivery order from the Web site, however.
Bookshare Web site at www.bookshare.org
Bookshare is a library Web site for downloading books, magazines and newspapers. For a fee this is an excellent on-line library for the blind. I have no problem navigating the Bookshare Web site and opening and reading links. Bookshare is an easy Web site to navigate and to use for screen reader users.
