Using GSuites with a screen reader.
Strategy

Google Docs and Sheets with a Screen Reader: Resources

Struggling with Google Docs when running a screen reader? Here are some helpful resources!

Are you having trouble using Google Docs and Sheets when using JAWS, NVDA or a screen reader?  Normally, when you open Google Drive, Docs or Sheets, the virtual cursor is automatically turned off.  These programs are applications running inside the website.  You do not want JAWS to use the  navigational shortcut commands; therefore, you want to turn off the virtual PC cursor so that you can interact with the application (Google Docs) and not the website itself.  For example, if you are in Google Docs and you press the letter “h”, you expect the letter “h” to be inserted into the document.  If you hear JAWS move to a heading on the page and read that heading, you know that the virtual cursor is still active. Use Insert + Z to toggle the virtual cursor on and off.

The key to using Google Docs (and other Google applications) is to turn off the virtual PC cursor when interacting with the document.

Freedom Scientific has free webinars and printed resources covering a variety of topics, including for using Google Drive, Docs and Sheets with JAWS and Magic.

Google Drive: Lesson 1 (beginner)

Lesson 1 Webinar

Lesson 1 HTML Document

Google Drive Webinar: Lesson 2 (beginner)

The Google Docs and Sheets with JAWS and Magic Webinar

Google Docs and Sheets with JAWS and Magic Webinar

Google Docs and Sheets with JAWS HTML Document

Teacher Hints:  JAWS 18 is said to have added better functionality with Google.

In the recent AFB/Google Train the Trainer Conference (Dec. 2016),Google trainers recommended using NVDA and the Firefox browser.  The materials from this training are also available on-line.

AFB/Google Train the Trainer Resources

AFB/Google Train the Trainer resources

By Diane Brauner

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