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Re: JAWS Screen Reader (and Word)

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From: Eoin Campbell
Date: Oct 12, 2006 4:30AM

I'm not a JAWS expert, but I believe the best way to assist
visually-impaired readers of Word documents would be to use the
same principles of applying structured markup (identifying headings,
lists, tables, etc.) as is recommended for HTML.

Word has plenty of built-in styles such as Heading 1, Heading 2, List Bullet,
which can be used to apply structure to a document.
JAWS can use these structure styles to assist readers in navigating around
the document.
Using named styles consistently will also allow users apply their own
preferred Word template (with larger fonts, for example), so that they can
view it in a way that suits them.


"DONALD WONNELL" < <EMAIL REMOVED> > wrote:

> Is there any way to emphasize certain points on a Word document written
> in textonly for the visually challenged audience? Don't want to have
> unusually burdensome text for people to have to access.
>
> Heard underlining or bold text makes it harder for JAWS to read in some
> versions, in others has no effect so there would be no advantage to
> using it. At one time all caps was said to be easier for screen readers
> to pick up. Please give me any info you may have on this.


--
Eoin Campbell, Technical Director, XML Workshop Ltd.
10 Greenmount Industrial Estate, Harolds Cross, Dublin, Ireland.
Phone: +353 1 4547811; fax: +353 1 4496299.
Email: <EMAIL REMOVED> ; web: www.xmlw.ie
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