Tips for Screen Reader Users

Accessibility > Tips for Screen Reader Users

Tips about navigating this site for people using screen reading software.

Site Organization and Navigation...

The site is divided into seven main topic areas: Home, About Us, Media Library, Clearinghouse, Service Vendors, Public Relations, and Help. Each of these areas has subsections. For example, the Media Library section contains the following subsections: Browse, Search, and Favorites. Many subsections have corresponding subsections of their own. When viewing the site in graphic-based mode, navigation links will be located in the left-hand column and at the top of the main content window. Heading tags are employed throughout the site to denote the main topic areas (heading level 1) and subsections (heading levels 2 and 3).  

"Skip to Content" link...

Every page on the site has a “skip to content” link at the top of the site which will allow you to jump straight to the main content window. This link is invisible to sighted users, but read by screen reader software. It is recommended to use the skip to content link to avoid having to “tab” through the navigation bar in the left-hand column when in graphic-based mode.

Text-Only mode...

It is possible to select the Text-Only link from any page on the site. Using the text-only option will remove all banners, pictures, and frames allowing for easier site navigation when using a keyboard or when viewing the site with a low screen resolution (e.g., 800 x 600 or lower). Once you select the Text-Only link, it will be necessary to select the Graphic-Based link to restore the graphics. [Note: The graphic-based and text-only versions of the site are functionally equivalent views of the DCMP Web site, and will not remove or alter any content.]

Site map...

The site map represents a complete listing of the pages on the DCMP site in hierarchical fashion. You can find the site map easily from any page on the DCMP Web site by opening a list of the links on the page in your screen reader. Scroll to the very bottom of the list where you will find the site map link (above the “top of page” link.)

Access keys...

The main topic areas, as well as several other sections on the site, employ “access key” attributes. The access key attribute will allow you to move between the topic areas by simply holding down the Alt key on your keyboard and then pressing the associated access key letter or number. For example, pressing Alt+M on any page will take you to the Media Library section of our site. When you first open a page on the site, your screen reader will speak the access key for each topic area (e.g., “Media Library Alt+M”). Also, the access keys will be noted in the list of page links provided by your screen reader.

Searching the site...

If you are in graphic-based mode, the left-hand column of the site contains a search box which can be accessed using your screen reader’s “Form Fields” feature. The search bar will be listed as “Search edit” when viewing form fields on any page on our site. Alternately, you can access the search bar by simply pressing Alt+Shift+S which will take you directly to the Search field. Enter your search query in the search field and hit Enter to retrieve relevant results from our site. The search results page will offer categorized results. The first category will provide the top five results from the DCMP Web site. The second category will provide the top five media results from the DCMP Web site. The third category, at the bottom of the results page, delivers results from a number of sites which includes the DCMP Web site as well as our partner sites. 

If you are viewing the site in text-only mode, or require more narrowly-defined search results you can use the Google search tool under the search section of the Media Library.  This tool will allow you to narrow your search by category and/or site.  If your cursor is in the search box and you tab over once to the drop-down menu (note: you will need to enter "forms mode" to navigate the various menu option), you will be given the following search categories to choose from (listed from top to bottom):

- All Documents: lists results from our site, as well as our partner sites

- DCMP Web site: lists results from the DCMP Web site

- Articles: lists results from the DCMP Clearinghouse section

- DCMP Media: lists results from the free-loan DCMP video library

- Other Media: a database of accessible video titles available for purchase

The All Documents option is selected by default. Once you have entered your search terms and made your category selection, simply tab once to the Search button and hit Enter to start your query.

Ordering/Viewing videos (Level 2 Members only)...

To order a video from the site, press Alt+M to go to the Media Library section of the site (or use your screen readers Links List feature.) Once there you can browse by subject and/or search by keyword. Performing a keyword search will generally provide the most comprehensive results spanning several different subject areas, while browsing by subject will give you more narrowly defined results. 

Once you have found a video you would like to order, place focus on the “adds title to list for borrowing” button and hit your space bar to select the title for borrowing. Alternately, you can place the title in your Favorites by selecting the “adds title to favorites” button. When you’re ready to check-out, simply tab to the “Click here to borrow selected title” button and hit Enter to process your order. You will be prompted to login if have not already done so. Tab down to the “pending orders” checkbox and select the checkbox for either/both DVD and/or streaming delivery. If ordering a DVD, you will need to select a Delivery Date by entering your desired date of delivery in to the “date edit” form field. Tab once to confirm your mailing address and select the address radio button. Confirm your order, and then tab to the “Place Order” button and hit the space bar to place your order. Streaming titles will be available immediately and can be accessed by selecting the "go to the video" link both on the ordering screen under Order History, as well as, under the section entitled "Last 5 Orders" on your MyDCMP page.  After placing your order you can tab to the “Select New Items” button to search for other media items, or continue to another section of the site using the Links List dialog box.