Firefox Extensions
These instructions take you through the steps to install the following Firefox Add-ons/Toolbars: Fangs Screen Reader Emulator, HeadingsMap, Juicy Studio Accessibility Toolbar, and WAVE Toolbar.
- Make sure your Firefox browser is up-to-date
- Mac: Firefox menu > About Firefox > Check for Updates button
- Windows: Firefox menu (upper left of browser window) > Help > About Firefox > Check for Updates button
- Install the following Add-ons
- Fangs Screen Reader Emulator
- HeadingsMap
- Juicy Studio Accessibility Toolbar
- WAVE Toolbar
- Go to http://wave.webaim.org/toolbar
- Download the WAVE Toolbar
- If Firefox pops up a notice for any of these that it prevented the site from asking you to install software on your computer, use the drop-down menu on that pop-up to Allow
- The downloads will occur and another window might show that says you have asked to install the add-on but the author is not verified. Go ahead and click the "Install now" button for each of these.
- You will receive a prompt to restart Firefox after each install. You don't have to restart Firefox after each download - one Firefox restart after all the downloads are complete will activate all add-ons.
- The WAVE Toolbar and Juicy Studio Accessibility Toolbar will show in your browser window
- Turn toolbars on and off under View menu > Toolbars (Windows: also Firefox menu > Options)
- Windows: If you don't see the View menu in Firefox, hit the ALT key on your keyboard – the text menu (File, Edit, View, etc.) will appear below the Firefox drop-down menu in the upper left of your browser.
- Fangs Screen Reader Emulator can be opened for the current page being viewed in your browser under Tools menu > Fangs
- HeadingsMap can be accessed via a control in the lower right of your browser window (it looks like a self-closing header tag – "<h/>" – if you don't see this, use View menu > Toolbars > Add-on Bar to turn on the bottom bar on your browser window).
Screen readers
There are two voice-enabled screen readers that you can try.
- Chromevox (for Google Chrome)
- Make sure Chrome browser is up-to-date
- About Google Chrome (under Chrome menu or wrench image right of address bar)
- Make sure speakers are on and volume is present
- Window menu (or wrench image right of address bar) > Settings > "Get More Extensions" link or "browse the gallery" link on the Extensions page
- Search for "chromevox" and install (shouldn't have to restart browser)
- You should hear a voice reading the screen in your Chrome browser as you tab through web pages and you should hear sounds when you tab to focus-able elements on a web page (form fields, hyperlinks, etc.)
- Make sure Chrome browser is up-to-date
- VoiceOver (for Mac)
- Make sure speakers are on and volume is present
- System Preferences > Universal Access > "Seeing" tab > VoiceOver (turn On)
- Shortcut: Apple/Command key + F5
- VoiceOver will show an introductory window and you should hear a voice explain what it is and offer instructions for a tutorial