[NFBCS] Using Adobe Acrobat with JAWS to Fill in an Accessible PDF Form

[Curtis Chong]

Greetings:

 

Freedom Scientific acknowledges the problem and has also suggested filling
out the PDF form using Firefox. I tried this and was surprised to find that
it actually worked!

 

Happy New Year to everyone!

 

Cordially,

 

Curtis Chong

 

 

From: Curtis Chong <chong.curtis at gmail.com> 
Sent: Sunday, December 28, 2025 7:24 PM
To: 'NFB in Computer Science Mailing List' <nfbcs at nfbnet.org>
Subject: Using Adobe Acrobat with JAWS to Fill in an Accessible PDF Form

 

I submitted the following bug report to access at adobe.com
<mailto:access at adobe.com> . Wondering if anyone using Adobe Acrobat is
encountering a problem similar to mine.

 

From: Curtis Chong <chong.curtis at gmail.com <mailto:chong.curtis at gmail.com> >

Sent: Sunday, December 28, 2025 1:19 PM
To: access at adobe.com <mailto:access at adobe.com> 
Subject: Using Adobe Acrobat with JAWS to Fill in an Accessible PDF Form

 

Greetings and felicitations:

 

My name is Curtis Chong. I am blind. I routinely use the JAWS screen reader
and Adobe Acrobat to read and (when necessary) fill out PDF forms. I do not,
however, fill out PDF forms every time I choose to update the Adobe Acrobat
software.

 

I give you this information as a matter of full disclosure and additionally
to report an editing problem I have noticed of late with the latest Adobe
Acrobat software and JAWS version 2026. To be specific, I am running JAWS
2026 on a Windows 11 25H2 system, and the version of Adobe Acrobat I am
running is Continuous Release | Version 2025.001.20997 | 64-bit.

 

Attached please find a PDF form which is used for voters in Colorado to
register to vote. If you can't accept attachments, here is the direct
download link to the form:
https://www.coloradosos.gov/pubs/elections/NVRA/files/COVoterRegistrationAge
ncy.pdf.

 


The Problem


 

In JAWS, I use Manual Forms Mode. Consider the field in the attached file
where one enters a last name. When I type in my last name, "Chong," I am not
able to verify what I typed using the traditional cursor movement
keys--left/right arrow. I must necessarily press F6 then Shift F6 to shift
focus back to the edit field and, in so doing, have Forms Mode turned off.
This is not the behavior that a screen reader user should experience when
filling out a supposedly accessible PDF form.

 

What should happen when I activate Forms Mode in the appropriate edit field
is that I can review and edit the contents of the field and then Tab to the
next field if necessary.

 

If necessary, I can be reached by phone at +1-515-306-1654 if you are
interested in discussing this issue. I look forward to your help and thank
you in advance for your attention to this email.

 

Yours sincerely,

 

Curtis Chong

 

Email: chong.curtis at gmail.com <mailto:chong.curtis at gmail.com> 

Phone: +1-515-306-1654.

 

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