Basics of how to use the orca screenreader
Posted on: 14-2-2024
In this blogpost I will list a few useful orca keybindings for you to use so you can navigate your website using the orca screenreader.
First start orca by going to the terminal and typing orca -s.
This starts orca and opens the user preferences screen which allows you to, among other things, change the modifier key,
look at keybindings and change the voice.
Useful orca keybindings
The following list assumes you use the laptop layout which means your modifier key is CAPS_LOCK.
| keybindings | description |
|---|---|
orca -s |
start orca and open the user preferences screen |
CAPS_LOCK + s |
toggle speech |
p |
read a paragraph |
SHIFT + p |
read the previous paragraph |
CAPS_LOCK + semicolon (;) |
read the entire document |
m |
go to the next landmark |
ALT + SHIFT + m |
open a list of all available landmarks on the page which allows you to jump to a selected landmark |
CAPS_LOCK + enter |
read your current location |
TAB |
navigate to the next focusable element |
SHIFT + TAB |
navigate to the previous focusable element |
ALT + SHIFT + right arrow |
Go to the next column |
ALT + SHIFT + left arrow |
Go to the previous column |
ALT + SHIFT + down arrow |
Go to the next row |
ALT + SHIFT + up arrow |
Go to the previous row |
CAPS_LOCK + k |
read the current word |
CTRL + right arrow |
read the next word |
CTRL + left arrow |
read the previous word |
right arrow |
read the next character |
left arrow |
read the previous character |
The key combination: ALT + SHIFT + m opens a window containing a list of all avaible landmarks on the webpage you are currently browsing. Allowing you to select one and jump to it. This makes it easy for users to quickly navigate to the main content of the page and shows why it is so important to use landmarks.