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JAWS for Windows is a powerful accessibility solution that reads information on your computer's screen and supports Braille and standard Windows applications such as e-mail programs, word processors, spreadsheets and Web browsers.
JAWS has an internal software speech synthesizer, which interprets what is happening on the screen and reads that aloud for visually impaired or blind individuals.
The Library has one copy of JAWS version 4.5, which has been installed on Priority Station 1.
Visit the JAWS Features and Enhancements page to learn more about the capabilities of JAWS.
Double-click the JAWS icon on the workstation desktop will launch the application, which remains minimized on the Task Bar (bottom of the desktop). A voice will begin telling you about JAWS. The thin blue banner at the top of the program shows the menu items you can use to configure the program.
Pressing either Alt or F10 directs the focus from the title bar to the the menu bar. Use the left and right arrow keys to navigate to different menu items:
To open a menu, use the down arrow key. Pressing the Enter key while on a menu selection causes that selection to be activated.
To read out-of-bounds areas of the screen such as toolbar information you should use the JAWS Cursor, which is linked to mouse pointer functions. Activated with the minus key (-) on the number pad, the JAWS cursor can even move away from the active window to read parts of other windows.
The PC Cursor, on the other hand, is linked to the keyboard functions and is used when the user types information.
Note: to run JAWS commands, the Num Lock should be turned off.
| Keystroke | Action |
|---|---|
| Insert + T | Say window title |
| Number Pad Plus (+) | PC cursor |
| Shift+Insert+Down Arrow | Say selected text |
| Number pad 5 | Say character |
| Insert+Number pad 5 | Say word |
| Insert+Up Arrow | Say current line |
| Insert+Down Arrow | Say all |
| Insert+Number Pad 5 twice quickly | Spell word |
| ALT+Delete | Say active cursor |
| Keystroke | Action |
|---|---|
| Number Pad Slash ( / ) | Left mouse button |
| Number Pad Star ( * ) | Right mouse button |
| Keystroke | Action |
|---|---|
| CTRL | Interrupt Speech |
| Insert+J | JAWS Window |
| Insert+F4 | Shut down JAWS |
| Windows Key+M | Minimize all applications |
| Insert+H | Hot key help |
| Insert+W | Windows key help |
To bring JAWS into focus while you are working with several different programs at the same time, use the Insert + J keystrokes.
For additional help using this software, call the Computer Support Desk at (630) 942-2679 or Dan Blewett, Reference Librarian, at (630) 942-2279.
