Screen Readers and SciEng Interfaces: How Accessible is Database Content?

The presentation will highlight the use of screen readers with common science and engineering database interfaces. An overview of how a screen reader (JAWS) interacts with the coding (buttons, drop down menus, etc.) on a page (i.e. search page, results page, etc.) will be provided. Users with print impairments cannot access database content if the database interfaces do not interact easily with screen readers. For each interface selected, a description of how the screen reader interacts with it – what works and what does not work? Will be presented. Finally, the author will discuss what developers can do to make these interfaces more accessible.