Blind and Visually Impaired Community
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Tutorials for using a browser and the internet (self.Blind)
submitted by idoitforbeer
My wife uses NVDA, but lost her sight before the internet. We haven't been able to find good tutorials for using browser and how to approach reading pages. We've found basic information for launching the browser, but nothing around, what appears to be the art of understanding and navigating web pages.
retrolental_morose 5 points 1y ago
NVAccess's training book has a chapter on this. work through it together. it';; gives you what you need.
bradley22 3 points 1y ago
Another option is the NVDA manual, I've not read it in years as I don't need it but i'm sure it has a section on navigating the internet.
A great thing is the NVDA help, if you press the NVDA key plus number 1 on the keyboard, NVDA will say input help on, you can then press a key, when on a webpage to find out what it does, press NVDA plus 1 to turn that mode off again.
Here's a list of keys: the up and down arrows will move you through a page, line by line.
Tab moves you through a page, ellimment by ellimment I think, I honestly don't use that key that much.
h and shift plus h will move you through headings, pressing h will jump you to the next heading on a page, whilst shift plus h will jump you back.
e and shift plus e will move you forward and backwards through edit boxes, boxes you can type in, you must then press enter to interact with them and start typing, (tab will move you from box to box once you're in the edit mode.)
r and shift plus r move you forward and backwards through radio buttons, pressing space or enter will select that button.
b and shift plus b is for buttons, (things like the submit button at the end of a form.)
g and shift plus g are for graphics (pictures on websites, keep in mind that not all graphics have alt text, text letting a blind person know what the picture's about.)
x and shift plus x are for checkboxes, (I think sighted people call them tick boxes.)
l and shift plus l moves you forward and backwards through lists. You must then arrow down to read it or use the read all command to start reading from there.
t and shift plus t are for tables, use alt control up, down, left, and right to move through a table.
If you have anymore questions, let me know.
A great thing is the NVDA help, if you press the NVDA key plus number 1 on the keyboard, NVDA will say input help on, you can then press a key, when on a webpage to find out what it does, press NVDA plus 1 to turn that mode off again.
Here's a list of keys: the up and down arrows will move you through a page, line by line.
Tab moves you through a page, ellimment by ellimment I think, I honestly don't use that key that much.
h and shift plus h will move you through headings, pressing h will jump you to the next heading on a page, whilst shift plus h will jump you back.
e and shift plus e will move you forward and backwards through edit boxes, boxes you can type in, you must then press enter to interact with them and start typing, (tab will move you from box to box once you're in the edit mode.)
r and shift plus r move you forward and backwards through radio buttons, pressing space or enter will select that button.
b and shift plus b is for buttons, (things like the submit button at the end of a form.)
g and shift plus g are for graphics (pictures on websites, keep in mind that not all graphics have alt text, text letting a blind person know what the picture's about.)
x and shift plus x are for checkboxes, (I think sighted people call them tick boxes.)
l and shift plus l moves you forward and backwards through lists. You must then arrow down to read it or use the read all command to start reading from there.
t and shift plus t are for tables, use alt control up, down, left, and right to move through a table.
If you have anymore questions, let me know.
idoitforbeer [OP] 2 points 1y ago
Thank you for the response. I think I over simplified my question. We are starting with learning the keys and will just jump in to trying to use web pages. The challenge I'm expecting is how discover how the pages are laid out and work as every web site is different. There seems to be an art to the discovery and exploration process. I've been looking for that sense of experience guide that might provide insights for using the screen reader.
Our challenges:
She tends to learn through memorization vs exploration and listening to what the screen reader says.
Her patience level is low for the amount of exploration I suspect she will need to figure out each page as it comes along.
At the moment, she seems finally interested enough to learn. I've been trying to push her along for decades, which could be the source of her resistance. The next step strategy is to pick a few web sites that might keep her interest and get her using them. Once she has a couple down, experiment with more general problems like searching for something and being able to get through new pages.
Our challenges:
She tends to learn through memorization vs exploration and listening to what the screen reader says.
Her patience level is low for the amount of exploration I suspect she will need to figure out each page as it comes along.
At the moment, she seems finally interested enough to learn. I've been trying to push her along for decades, which could be the source of her resistance. The next step strategy is to pick a few web sites that might keep her interest and get her using them. Once she has a couple down, experiment with more general problems like searching for something and being able to get through new pages.
bradley22 3 points 1y ago
Hmm, I've been using screen readers for so long that looking at the layout of a page doesn't really apply to me.
I just press h, if there's no heading, I go down the page with the arrows and so on.
I've also turned automatic say all on page load off so that nothing is read out when going to a webpage.
I just press h, if there's no heading, I go down the page with the arrows and so on.
I've also turned automatic say all on page load off so that nothing is read out when going to a webpage.
nullatonce 3 points 1y ago
Also i find using a mobile view of a website (by minimizing browser window) makes websites more straight forward.
Note: In mobile view some functions of website can be hidden thus requiring to maximize the window. (shortcut \[win\] + up arrow/down arrow
​
From my experience social networks are quite uncomfortable to use (facebook, twitter) would recommend starting with some blogs. Most of them have a common heading followed by the entry structure. I find reddit quite a easy to use platform for basicfeed viewing, maybe introduce it to her, there are a lot of communities that can be interesting.
​
Nvda user guide, quite a read, can be started from chapter 4:
https://www.nvaccess.org/files/nvda/documentation/userGuide.html
​
Learn keyboard shortcuts for everything: browser, nvda, windows
Note: In mobile view some functions of website can be hidden thus requiring to maximize the window. (shortcut \[win\] + up arrow/down arrow
​
From my experience social networks are quite uncomfortable to use (facebook, twitter) would recommend starting with some blogs. Most of them have a common heading followed by the entry structure. I find reddit quite a easy to use platform for basicfeed viewing, maybe introduce it to her, there are a lot of communities that can be interesting.
​
Nvda user guide, quite a read, can be started from chapter 4:
https://www.nvaccess.org/files/nvda/documentation/userGuide.html
​
Learn keyboard shortcuts for everything: browser, nvda, windows
nullatonce 3 points 1y ago
And yes, you can't avoid exploring websites. By using them more and more it will start to give off patterns. For example web stores when in view of a single product have it's price near "enter amount to buy" field by pressing e, or shift+e if already passed it can check the price again.
In a catalogue of products if each item's title is not a heading you might be able to navigate quicker using g (imagesimages).
Also each heading have a level as a word user shoud be familiar)) so using 1,2,3,4... will navigate those headings and skip other levels.
In a catalogue of products if each item's title is not a heading you might be able to navigate quicker using g (imagesimages).
Also each heading have a level as a word user shoud be familiar)) so using 1,2,3,4... will navigate those headings and skip other levels.
facilelavage 2 points 1y ago
I only understood NVDA with websites using that basic manual they sell. Everything I looked at before that free online, including the NVDA online manual, no help.
bradley22 2 points 1y ago
the other options cost money from what I understand, you can pm me and I can give you a rundown of the keys and things like that if you like?
idoitforbeer [OP] 2 points 1y ago
We have the manuals and will get the keys memorized. What options are out there that cost money.
At one time I did reach out to the local community looking to see if a tutor might be available, but we didn't get very far. I've seen some occasional courses, but most spend their time on typical windows office applications. She has sufficiently master office and similar windows applications. It is really jumping out and working with the Internet that has stalled her.
She has recently become more motivated. At the moment, I'm hoping it is strong enough to over come the frustration.
At one time I did reach out to the local community looking to see if a tutor might be available, but we didn't get very far. I've seen some occasional courses, but most spend their time on typical windows office applications. She has sufficiently master office and similar windows applications. It is really jumping out and working with the Internet that has stalled her.
She has recently become more motivated. At the moment, I'm hoping it is strong enough to over come the frustration.
bradley22 2 points 1y ago
I think NVAccess sells some stuf you can pay for.
There's videos: https://www.afb.org/blindness-and-low-vision/using-technology/assistive-technology-videos/learn-nvda/using-internet
There's videos: https://www.afb.org/blindness-and-low-vision/using-technology/assistive-technology-videos/learn-nvda/using-internet
CloudyBeep 2 points 1y ago
Try the Basic Training for NVDA available from NV Access.
Kelashara 1 points 1y ago
if you would like help, learning how to use the Internet and browsing the Internet with a screen reader; please get with me off the Reddit chat here, and let us talk; I train people in the usage of screen readers, and the computer or smart phones that they use on a daily basis. If you are interested let me know.
rwbeardjr 1 points 1y ago
Hi. So there are some tutorials on YouTube that are easy to understand.
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