1. Independent screen reader
1.1. JAWs Keyboard Shortcuts
(https://www.freedomscientific.com/training/jaws/hotkeys/)
JAWs is a paid computer screen reader program for Windows. It helps blind and visually impaired users to read computer screen by text-to-speech output or navigate windows by keyboard. JAWs provides speech and Braille output for the most popular computer applications on Windows PC. It allows users to navigate the Internet, write a document, read an email and create presentations.
General Keystrokes
| Description | Keystroke |
| Go Back a Page | ALT+LEFT ARROW or BACKSPACE |
| Go Forward a Page | ALT+RIGHT ARROW |
| Read Address Bar | INSERT+A |
| Next Link | TAB |
| Prior Link | SHIFT+TAB |
| Open Link | ENTER |
| List Frames | INSERT+F9 |
| List Links | INSERT+F7 |
| List Headings | INSERT+F6 |
| Heading at Level | 1 through 6 |
| Virtual HTML Features | INSERT+F3 |
| JAWS Find Next and Previous | F3 and SHIFT+F3 |
| Assign Custom Label | CTRL+INSERT+TAB |
| ARIA Drag-and-Drop | WINDOWS Key+CTRL+EQUALS |
| ARIA Live Region Text Filter | WINDOWS Key+CTRL+DASH |
| Open Flexible Web Wizard | INSERT+SPACEBAR followed by X |
| Temporarily Toggle Smart Navigation | INSERT+X |
Tabbed Browsing Quick Keys
| Description | Keystroke |
| Open a New Tab | CTRL+T |
| Open a New Tab from the Address Bar | ALT+ENTER (on address bar) |
| Switch to the Next Tab | CTRL+TAB |
| Switch to the Previous Tab | CTRL+SHIFT+TAB |
| Switch to a Specific Tab Number | CTRL+n, where n is a digit from 1 through 8 |
| Switch to Last Tab | CTRL+9 |
| Close Current Tab | CTRL+W or CTRL+F4 |
| Close All Tabs | ALT+F4 |
| Close Other Tabs | CTRL+ALT+F4 |
| Open Links in a New Tab in the Background | CTRL+ENTER |
| Open Links in a New Tab in the Foreground | CTRL+SHIFT+ENTER |
Navigation Quick Keys
Tip: If you press and hold SHIFT before pressing one of the following Navigation Quick Keys, you can move to the previous instance of that element, for example, press A to move to the next radio button, press SHIFT+A to move to the previous radio button.
In addition, if you press and hold CTRL+INSERT while pressing keystrokes with an asterisk (*) next to them, JAWS displays a list of those elements on the page.
| Description | Keystroke |
| Next Radio Button | A* |
| Next Button | B* |
| Next Combo Box, List Box, or Tree View | C* |
| Next Different Element | D |
| Next Edit Box | E* |
| Next Form Control | F |
| Next Graphic | G* |
| Next Heading | H |
| Next Item in a List | I |
| Jump to Line | J* |
| Next PlaceMarker | K* |
| Next List | L* |
| Next Frame | M |
| Skip Past Links | N |
| Next Article | O* |
| Next Paragraph | P* |
| Move to Main Region | Q |
| Next Region | R* |
| Next Same Element | S |
| Next Table | T* |
| Next Unvisited Link | U |
| Next Visited Link | V |
| Next Check Box | X* |
| Next Division | Z* |
| Next Tab Control | APOSTROPHE* |
| Next Separator | DASH |
| Next Clickable Element | SLASH* |
| Next Mouse Over Element | SEMICOLON* |
| Next Element | SHIFT+PERIOD |
| Previous Element | SHIFT+COMMA |
Forms
| Description | Keystroke |
| Enter Forms Mode | ENTER |
| Exit Forms Mode | NUM PAD PLUS |
| List Form Fields | INSERT+F5 |
| First Form Field | INSERT+CTRL+HOME |
| Next Form Field | F |
| Prior Form Field | SHIFT+F |
| Last Form Field | INSERT+CTRL+END |
| Next Radio Button | A |
| Prior Radio Button | SHIFT+A |
| List Radio Buttons | CTRL+INSERT+A |
| Next Button | B |
| Prior Button | SHIFT+B |
| List Buttons | CTRL+INSERT+B |
| Next Combo Box, List Box, or Tree View | C |
| Prior Combo Box, List Box, or Tree View | SHIFT+C |
| List Combo Boxes, List Boxes, or Tree Views | CTRL+INSERT+C |
| Next Edit Box | E |
| Prior Edit Box | SHIFT+E |
| List Edit Boxes | CTRL+INSERT+E |
| Next Check Box | X |
| Prior Check Box | SHIFT+X |
| List Check Boxes | CTRL+INSERT+X |
Tables
| Description | Keystroke |
| List keystrokes for table navigation | INSERT+SPACEBAR, followed by T, and then QUESTION MARK |
| Next Table | T |
| Prior Table | SHIFT+T |
| Select Table | F8 |
| Next Row | WINDOWS KEY+ALT+DOWN ARROW |
| Prior Row | WINDOWS KEY+ALT+UP ARROW |
| Read Row | WINDOWS KEY+COMMA or WINDOWS KEY+NUM PAD 5 |
| Next Column | WINDOWS KEY+ALT+RIGHT ARROW |
| Prior Column | WINDOWS KEY+ALT+LEFT ARROW |
| Read Column | WINDOWS KEY+PERIOD |
| Next Cell in Row | ALT+CTRL+RIGHT ARROW |
| Prior Cell in Row | ALT+CTRL+LEFT ARROW |
| Cell Below in Column | ALT+CTRL+DOWN ARROW |
| Cell Above in Column | ALT+CTRL+UP ARROW |
| Jump to Table Cell | CTRL+WINDOWS KEY+J |
| Return to Previous Cell | CTRL+WINDOWS KEY+SHIFT+J |
PlaceMarkers
| Description | Keystroke |
| Set Temporary PlaceMarker (Permanent Marker for Word) | CTRL+WINDOWS Key+K |
| Add, Delete, Edit, or Rename Permanent PlaceMarkers | CTRL+SHIFT+K |
| Move to the Next or Prior PlaceMarker | K or SHIFT+K |
| Read Text at PlaceMarkers 1 through 4 | Number Row Keys 7 through 0 |
| Move to PlaceMarker 1 through 4 | SHIFT+ number row keys 7 through 0 |
| Return to PlaceMarker in Word | ALT+WINDOWS Key+K |
| Select Text from PlaceMarker to Cursor Position | INSERT+SPACEBAR followed by M |
Frames
| Description | Keystroke |
| Next Frame | M |
| Prior Frame | SHIFT+M |
| List Frames | INSERT+F9 |
Elements
| Description | Keystroke |
| Next Same Element | S |
| Prior Same Element | SHIFT+S |
| Next Different Element | D |
| Prior Different Element | SHIFT+D |
| Next Element | SHIFT+PERIOD |
| Prior Element | SHIFT+COMMA |
| Select Entire Element | F8 |
| Display Entire Element | SHIFT+INSERT+F1 |
| Display Detailed Element Information | CTRL+SHIFT+INSERT+F1 |
| Activate Mouse Over | INSERT+CTRL+ENTER |
1.2. NVDA Keyboards Shortcuts
NVDA allows blind and visually impaired users to access and interact with the Windows operating system and associated third-party applications. It is free software and provides users to navigate, read, and write in web browsers and applications.
The basics
| Topic | Task | Command |
| On/Off: | Turn NVDA on | Control + Alt + N |
| Turn NVDA off | Insert + Q | |
| Reading: | Stop Reading | Control |
| Start reading continuously from this point on | Insert + or Numpad + | |
| Read next item | ||
| Read next focusable item (e.g., link, button) | Tab | |
| Activate: | Link | Enter |
| Button | Enter or Spacebar | |
| Headings: | Go to next heading | H |
| Go to next heading of level [1-6] | 1 – 6 | |
| List all headings | Insert + F7 | |
| Landmarks: | Go to next landmark/region | D |
| Elements list: | Show list of all links, headings, form fields, buttons, and landmarks | Insert + F7 |
| Tables: | Go to next table | T |
| Navigate table cells | Ctrl + Alt + or or or | |
| Lists: | Go to next list | L |
| Go to next list item | I | |
| Graphics: | Go to next graphic | G |
| Links: | List all links | Insert + F7 |
| Go to next link | K | |
| Go to next unvisited link | U | |
| Go to next visited link | V | |
| Navigate: | Toggle between: Radio buttons, <select>list items, Tabs (ARIA widget), Tree view items (ARIA widget), Menu items (ARIA widget) |
or or or |
| Go backward: | To previous heading, landmark, table, focusable item, etc. | Shift + [H, D, T, Tab, etc.] |
Reading text
| Topic | Task | Command |
| Line: | Say prior line | or Numpad 7 |
| Say next line | or Numpad 9 | |
| Say current line | Insert + or Numpad 8 | |
| Start of line | Shift + Numpad 1 | |
| End of line | Shift + Numpad 3 | |
| Top line | Shift + Numpad 7 | |
| Bottom line | Shift + Numpad 9 | |
| Character: | Say prior character | or Numpad 1 |
| Say next character | or Numpad 3 | |
| Say current character | Numpad 2 | |
| Say character phonetically | Numpad 2 twice quickly | |
| Word: | Say prior word | Ctrl + or Numpad 4 |
| Say next word | Ctrl + or Numpad 6 | |
| Say current word | Numpad 5 | |
| Sentence: | Say prior sentence | Alt + |
| Say next sentence | Alt + | |
| Say current sentence | Alt + Numpad 5 | |
| Paragraph: | Next paragraph | Ctrl + or Q |
| Spelling: | Spell word | Numpad 5 twice quickly |
| Spell word phonetically | Numpad 5 thrice quickly | |
| Spell current line | Insert + twice quickly | |
| Spell current line phonetically | Insert + thrice quickly |
Tables
| Topic | Task | Command |
| Table: | Go to next (previous) table | T (Shift + T) |
| Cell: | Cell to right | Ctrl + Alt + |
| Cell to left | Ctrl + Alt + | |
| Cell below | Ctrl + Alt + | |
| Cell above | Ctrl + Alt + |
Forms
| Topic | Task | Command |
| List all: | List all form elements | Insert + F7 |
| Navigate: | Next form field | F |
| Next focusable item | Tab | |
| Next button | B | |
| Checkboxes: | Select and deselect | Spacebar |
| Next checkbox | X | |
| Combo boxes (<select>): | Open combo box | Alt + |
| Browse/select options | or the First letter | |
| Select multiple options | Shift + (or ) | |
| Next combo box | C | |
| Radio buttons: | Toggle selection | / |
| Next radio button | R | |
| Focus mode*: | Toggle between focus mode and browse mode | Insert + Spacebar |
* “Focus mode” allows you to enter data into form fields. Browse mode allows you to navigate the page using standard screen reader shortcuts (e.g., to navigate headings, landmarks, and links)
Other commands
| Task | Command |
| Search for a word or a phrase | NVDA + Ctrl + F |
| Keyboard help | Insert + 1 |
| Next blockquote | Q |
| Next key you hit ignores NVDA and is a normal keystroke | Insert + F2 |
| Speak characters typed | Insert + 2 |
| Speak words typed | Insert + 3 |
| Read entire foreground window (e.g., for dialogs) | Insert + B |
| Announce title of the current foreground window | Insert + T |
2. Screen Readers in operating systems
2.1. VoiceOver Keyboard Shortcuts (MAC)
(https://www.apple.com/voiceover/info/guide/_1131.html)
VoiceOver is a screen reader program built into Apple’s product such as MAC computer. Blind and visually impaired users can access their Apple devices based on speech or a keyboard.
2.2. Windows PC Keyboard Shortcuts
(https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/13810/windows-keyboard-shortcuts-accessibility)
Windows provides some features for supporting blind and visually impaired users such as a keyboard shortcuts for navigating programs and a Narrator for reading aloud the text on the PC screen.
3. Screen readers as a browser extension (no shortcut)
Below listed programs are screen readers that can be installed as a browser extension. You can check whether your website or a destination website supports accessibility such as alt-text for images.
3.1. ChromeVox
It is a screen reader program from Google.
3.2. Read Aloud
It is a text to speech browser extension for Chrome and Firefox.
3.3. Funkify-Disability Simulator
Simulations for experiencing web and interfaces through the eyes of extreme users with difficulty.