Navigating the Internet with a Screen Reader

Social Security does not endorse any specific assistive technology, browser or software products.

The information on this page about navigating the Internet has been tested using the screen readers, JAWS and Window Eyes. Since there are several screen readers, many versions of the screen reader, different browsers and versions, the instructions may or may not apply to your particular screen reader. A list of screen readers has been included at the end of this page so you can check with the company that produced your software for additional navigation information.

General Navigation

Traditionally, web pages have been navigated by using the Tab key to move from link to link. Insert + F7 will bring up a links list with JAWS or Insert + Tab with Window Eyes. INSERT + Down Arrow would speak the entire page.

Since there is no visible cursor in Internet Explorer, screen reader vendors have had to make some modifications for navigation. Navigating to controls is accomplished using the Tab key. Using the Tab key will take you to list/combo boxes, buttons, check boxes and radio buttons. Specific keys for navigating to text, headings, sentences, paragraphs, etc. vary from vendor to vendor, do please check with screen reader vendors for any clarifications that might be necessary.

• The Tab key also takes you from check box to check box. Use the space bar to select or deselect check boxes. You can select multiple check boxes.
• When you get to a set of radio buttons, use the arrow keys to move from button to button and automatically select one. You can only select one radio button.
• You can select list boxes or combo boxes by arrowing through the list or using ALT + Down Arrow to open up the box.

Once the highlight is on an item, pressing Enter usually takes you to the selection. You can press the space bar or Enter key to select a button. ALT + Left Arrow will take you back a page and ALT + Right Arrow will move you forward.

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Virtual Cursor

A virtual cursor is on when Windows browsers are loaded. This means that an invisible cursor is positioned at the top of the page and screen readers will start speaking the page. Users can control the speaking of the information on the page per the individual keystrokes of each screen reader.

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Tables

There are commands for navigating tables and gaining access for table “mode” specific to each screen reader.

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Forms

When you are in a form, you can use the Tab key to navigate from control to control. Tab will take you to input boxes, buttons, radio buttons, check boxes and list boxes. It is important to note that when using screen readers, the user must be in the appropriate forms mode in order to access and activate specific form controls.

• When you are on a radio button, the arrow key moves from radio button to radio button and selects the button you arrowed to.
• Tab takes you from check box to check box while the spacebar selects or deselects the choice.

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Navigation Keys

Caution: Some keystrokes may not work with every Internet browser, but SSA will try to point out critical conflicts when or where appropriate.

Caution: You can use the following selections to navigate through our web pages but you cannot use them in our Online Claims and Services pages.

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Additional Information

The screen reader software we know about is listed below for the convenience of our users. The product names are linked to the web pages of the companies that produce them. (Note: the web pages will open in new browser windows.)

• HAL,
• JAWS,
• Supernova,
• Window-Eyes
• System Access