[NationalHarbor] Google Docs with ScreenReader Notes

[Amber Woods]

Dear National Harbor Chapter Members and Friends,

Here are some notes from Chancey Fleet at the Library from New York. This
is another great resource that the tech-savvy learner should visit.
Please copy and paste the notes to a word document or save this email. We
will continue to support each other in technology exploration.


Google Docs With Screen Reader


Class One

What Google Docs is.
It was originally called Google Suite and is now called Google Workspace.
It is a suite of collaborative tools that Google offers at a basic level 3
and at a more advance level for workplaces and education. It has word
processing, formatting, collaboration and simple web publishing.
If you have a Gmail account, there is no cost.
It is fairly accessible, however, we have to use our screen reader cursor
to make the most of it.

How do you access it?
You need to have a Google account.
Open your browser, in this case, Google Chrome.
Incognito window: control + shift + n
At the address bar, type: docs.google.com
Tab once and enter your email address then press “enter”.
Tab to “next” then enter your password then press “enter”.
It should say “recent documents”.
This is a list of Google documents which is in a grid not a list.
Use all four arrow keys to move through the document titles.
If you tab, you will find: create new document, press “enter.”
It will say “Choose template”.
There are a few templates to choose from, choose the “blank” one.
Then press “enter.
You are now in a blank document.
To enable the screen reader to work with Google Docs, press: control + alt
+ z
This only has to be done once per account and is a toggle.
OR
In Google, you go to” myaccount.google.com/accessibility
The first choice is” screen reader support for Google Docs.

If you are using  JAWS, your virtual cursor needs to be off JAWS Key + z
If you are using NVDA, browse mode needs to be off NVDA key + space.
If you are using VoiceOver for Mac, quick nav needs to be off. Use left and
right arrow keys to get there.
If you are using Narrator, scan mode needs to be off and also NVDA key +
space.
This needs to be done so the screen reader knows you are not talking to it,
but to the document.
Edit a Google Docs the same as editing in any other word process using
Windows editing commands. Example:
Top of document: control + home
Move with arrow keys.
Select text: shift + up/down/left/right arrow keys.
Chancey had a spelling error and used the application key or shift _ f10
and it gave her options for correcting

to alter the font: select the text you want to alter.
Go into the file menu: alt + f (for Mac: control + option + f).
Use the right arrow key to go to “format”.
Arrow down to “text” or read the choices.
Use the right arrow key to enter the “text menu”.
Use the down arrow to read the choices, choose the size.
Right arrow and choose increase and press “enter”.
The left arrow will take you back to the “format menu”.
To go directly to the format menu press: alt + o.
Search around in the “file menu”.
Check the font size and info: NVDA key + f.

Accessibility menu press: alt + a.
Menu choices: speak selection.
Arrow right once then arrow down to read the choices:
Speak currently selected text
Speak selection formatting
Press “enter” on your choice.

To make a heading:
Select the text/line you want to make a heading, and apply a heading.
Alt + O go down to “paragraph styles”.
Arrow right once.
Arrow down to heading 1 or 2 or 3.
Right arrow once.
Down arrow to “apply” then press “enter”.
The hotkey for this is control + alt + 2.

To add bullets:
Select the text.
Press: alt + o for formatting.
Arrow down to “bullets and numbers”, Right arrow
Down arrow to “bulleted list”, right arrow.
Menu: currently doesn’t speak the types of bullets.
Pick the default option.
The bullets will appear where they should even if each line is more than
one line. It respects line breaks.

For help press: alt +h.
Arrow down to: search the menus.
Type in what you want to know.
Press arrows to the choices.

Font type does not seem to be available.
You can: cut, copy, paste, find and replace, etc.

Voice typing:
It is under the Tools menu: press alt + t.
Arrow down your choices are:
spelling and grammar; word count; dictionary; translate;
then voice typing: control + shift + s; this is a toggle on/off.
Allow Google.com to use your microphone.
Then speak and it will type what you say.
When done press: control + shift + s (toggle).

Renaming. And sharing

File: Alt + f
Arrow down to rename.
Type in the name.
Tab to choices: star it; move; save to drive; share; etc.
Or press “enter” twice and it will be named.

To share a document:
Go to file: alt + f.
Go to: share
Type in the email of the person/people you want to share with.
There is a combo box that You can choose the person/people to:
can view – the person can only read it;
can edit – the person can edit your document;
can comment – the person can only make comments.
The default is the person can edit.
Choose: share anyway.

Open the file menu: alt + f.
Down arrow and you will have choices:
share; new; open;  etc.
If you choose “open” your files will be displayed in a grid.
Use your arrow keys to read the name of the files.
Tab and the screen reader will say: open.
By arrowing, you can determine whether you are looking at: shared drives,
my drive, share with me.
You can change the grid to a list anytime by pressing: “enter” key.
Press “escape” to undo and leave the menu.
To close a document: control + w.
Google Docs automatically saves your files and changes.
Change font:
File menu: alt + f.
Tab to the toolbar.
Right arrow to “font”
arrow down to style i.e.: courier, times new roman, etc.
Right arrow and either type the size of the font or arrow down.
Then press “enter”.

Make a copy::
It will automatically make a copy. This will allow you to work on something
without disrupting the original file.

You can email your document directly to a person.
Download: use the right arrow: word format, pdf format, rich text, pdf
document, etc.
Version history: use the right arrow
You can name the current version.
see current history, press “enter” use the down arrow to read.
You can restore a version by going into browse mode,, virtual cursor or
scan mode.
You can make a copy based on the new version.

Google Drive:
You can download Google Drive and work on your computer and the Google
Drive will come up as a drive on your computer. Just like the c drive and
the One drive.

To setup Google Drive

Find Google drive: run prompt: window key + r.
Type in: g:
You can also get to it through windows explorer: window key + e
All your files will be there.

If you get stuck in the toolbar and you want to focus on your document,
press: f5 (refresh).

Docs Help menu

This is the full help system.
This menu has the training, updates,
keyboard shortcuts: control + / (to use this you will have to turn on
Browse mode or virtual cursor or scan.
Arrow down through the keyboard shortcuts.
To move around tables Use: control. + alt + arrow keys or control + options
+ arrow keys for voice over.
When finished with keyboard shortcuts press: escape key.

New tab: control + t
Google search, type in: using Google docs with the screen reader
You can learn a lot more here.
Choose accessibility for docs editors and press “enter”.
Read the information.

The Google docs client for IOS is robust, especially if you have a
bluetooth keyboard.
It is good for reading docs.

Highlight the information you want to change, for example:
you want to change “getting here” to a suggested “location”.
Use the application key or shift + f10.
You will get a menu:
arrow to “comment” or “suggest an edit”.
Press “enter” to select “suggest mode”
Now type location.
Use the application key again and arrow to “return to editing”, then press
“enter”.

To add images to your Google docs, go to insert and choose “images”
You can add alt text to your image.

You can have multiple documents open, to move through them Press: control +
tab.
To close a document: control + w.
             (End of Notes )

I will see when the group has its next class. Normally, the library has
classes around 2-3 pm on Tuesdays. If I know in advance when the next class
will be, we can schedule a conference call meeting for members who cannot
log into Zoom and have a discussion about our experience later.

Enjoy learning,

Amber Woods
President
National Harbor Chapter
National Federation of the Blind of Maryland
301-978-6686
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