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RE: Screen readers and telephone numbers

for

From: Paul Bohman
Date: Mar 3, 2003 10:32AM

Ideally screen readers would be able to recognize phone numbers. Home Page
Reader *does* read phone numbers correctly (pronouncing each number
individually). Window Eyes does not. I don't believe JAWS does either, but I
don't currently have it installed.

Even so, people who use screen readers are generally able to understand
phone numbers when they are spoken. It is more confusing to new users than
to experienced users. As Jukka said, as long as the number is written in a
standard format, most screen reader users should be able to figure out that
it is a phone number. Having the text "phone number" next to the number
could minimize confusion if you think there may be some.

It is a screen reader issue more than a developer issue.

Paul Bohman
Technology Coordinator
WebAIM (Web Accessibility in Mind)
www.webaim.org
Center for Persons with Disabilities
www.cpd.usu.edu
Utah State University
www.usu.edu

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