Configuring and Navigating Tests with VoiceOver

Configuration

This section includes instructions for the additional VoiceOver configuration steps that must be followed before a student uses VoiceOver for online testing. To ensure VoiceOver is properly configured, students should take practice tests using VoiceOver before taking operational tests. This section contains the instructions for the following tasks:

Students cannot use VoiceOver for ELA assessments, as it cannot suppress the read-aloud of passages.

Launching VoiceOver Through Accessibility Settings

Prior to testing with VoiceOver, configure its settings by launching the software through the Accessibility Settings center on macOS devices.

  1. Choose the Apple menu ➔ System Settings (figure 1) to open the System Settings screen.

    Apple Menu with the System Settings item indicated

    Figure 1. Apple menu

  2. Select [Accessibility] from the left navigation panel (shown in figure 2).

    Accessibility section of System Settings interface with the Shortcut icon indicated.

    Figure 2. General option in the macOS System Settings Accessibility panel

  3. In the “General” section of Accessibility on the right side of the screen, select Shortcut (indicated in figure 2).

  4. Mark the VoiceOver checkbox (indicated in figure 3).

    Accessibility section of System Settings interface with the VoiceOver checkbox in the Shortcut panel indicated.

    Figure 3. Shortcut option in the macOS System Settings Accessibility panel

  5. This setting allows the student to quickly enable VoiceOver from the Accessibility Shortcuts window by pressing [Command] (⌘) + [Option] + [F5] and then selecting VoiceOver.

Using the VO Key for VoiceOver Commands

Take the following steps to specify which command should act as the [VO] key from the VoiceOver Utility screen:

  1. To turn on VoiceOver, press Command + [F5].

  2. Press [VO] + [F8] to open the VoiceOver Utility screen (shown in figure 4).

    VoiceOver Utility screen with the Keys to use as the VoiceOver modifier list option indicated

    Figure 4. Keys option in the VoiceOver Utility screen

  3. In the left panel, select [General] (figure 4).

  4. From the Keys to use as the VoiceOver modifier list that is indicated in figure 4, select the keys the student will use as the [VO] key:

    • [Control] + [Option] (^⌥)
    • [Caps Lock]
    • Either [Control] + [Option] or [Caps Lock]

If [Caps Lock] is set as the [VO] key, a student who wishes to activate [Caps Lock] and type uppercase characters should quickly press [Caps Lock] twice.

Configuring VoiceOver Screen Reader Navigation Settings

VoiceOver allows students to use keyboard commands to navigate the Student Testing Site. For a better experience when using keyboard commands, take the following steps to enable the Quick Nav feature and other settings in the VoiceOver Utility screen.

  1. To turn on VoiceOver, press [Command] + [F5]
  2. Press [VO] + [F8] to open the VoiceOver Utility screen.

  3. In the left panel, select [Commanders] (shown in figure 5).

    VoiceOver Utility Quick Nav tab indicating where all checkboxes are marked.

    Figure 5. [Commanders] button with the [Quick Nav] tab in the VoiceOver Utility screen

  4. On the [Quick Nav] tab (figure 5), make sure the following checkboxes are marked:

    • Enable Quick Nav
    • Allowing toggling of Quick Nav using left and right arrow keys
    • Enable single-key webpage navigation when using Quick Nav

  5. To ensure that the tab key functions properly when using VoiceOver in a test, select [Navigation] in the left panel (figure 6).

    VoiceOver Utility Navigation panel with the marked Automatically interact when using tab key checkbox indicated.

    Figure 6. Navigation panel in the VoiceOver Utility screen

  6. Make sure the Automatically interact when using tab key checkbox is marked (indicated in figure 6).

  7. To ensure that VoiceOver interacts properly with websites, select [Web] in the left panel and then select the [Web Rotor] tab (figure 7).

    VoiceOver Utility Web Rotor tab showing the marked checkboxes listed in step 8 indicated.

    Figure 7. [Web] button with the [Web Rotor] tab in the VoiceOver Utility screen

  8. Make sure the following checkboxes in the “Item Order” list that is indicated in figure 7 are marked in the [Web Rotor] tab:

    • Links
    • Headings
    • Form Controls
    • Web Spots (if present)
    • Tables
    • Landmarks
    • Articles
    • Live Regions

Applying VoiceOver Settings for Contracted or Uncontracted Braille

Take the following steps to apply the correct VoiceOver settings prior to launching the secure browser to enable the student to use contracted or uncontracted literary braille with an RBD:

  1. To turn on VoiceOver, press [Command] + [F5].
  2. Press [VO] + [F8] to open the VoiceOver Utility screen.

  3. In the left panel, select [Braille] (figure 8).

    VoiceOver Utility Translation tab showing the Output and Input fields set to Six dot.

    Figure 8. [Braille] button with the [Translation] tab in the VoiceOver Utility screen

  4. Take one of the following steps in the [Translation] tab:

    • For a student who prefers contracted braille, select Six dot from the Output and Input drop-down lists (indicated in figure 8).
    • For a student who prefers uncontracted braille, select Six dot from the Output and Input drop-down lists (indicated in figure 8).

  5. Select the [Layout] tab (figure 9).

    Layout tab in the VoiceOver Utility screen with the settings listed in step 6 indicated.

    Figure 9. [Layout] tab in the Braille panel of the VoiceOver Utility screen

  6. Ensure the following boxes are checked in the [Layout] tab:

    • Show multiple items
    • Use dots 7 and 8 to indicate VoiceOver cursor
    • Use word wrap
    • Show alert messages for duration

Optional VoiceOver Voice Adjustment Settings

Prior to launching the secure browser, VoiceOver voice settings can be adjusted based on each student’s individual needs prior to launching the secure browser. The voice profile and speaking rate settings must be adjusted prior to administering assessments. A student should take a practice test using VoiceOver to determine whether these settings need to be adjusted.

Take the following steps to adjust VoiceOver voice settings:

  1. To turn on VoiceOver, press [Command] + [F5].
  2. Press [VO] + [F8] to open the VoiceOver Utility screen.

  3. In the left panel, select [Speech] (shown in figure 10).

    Voices tab in the VoiceOver Utility screen with the voice profile and rate settings indicated.

    Figure 10. [Voices] tab in the Speech panel of the VoiceOver Utility screen

  4. On the [Voices] tab, select a voice profile from the Voice drop-down list (indicated in figure 10).
  5. To adjust the voice rate, set the Rate field—also indicated in figure 10—to the desired rate of speed; the lower the rate, the slower the words are read aloud.

VoiceOver allows students to navigate tests using keyboard commands. Some of these commands refer to the [VO] key. For more information about the [VO] key, refer to Using the VO Key for VoiceOver Commands.

Table 1. VoiceOver Keyboard Commands for the Sign-In Page
Action Keyboard Command
Returns the focus to the secure browser if the student navigates to the VoiceOver application window while signing in (Keyboard layouts may vary by device. Please refer to the manual provided by the device manufacturer for more information.) [VO] + [F1] (×2) (Standard keyboard)
Returns the focus to the secure browser if the student navigates to the VoiceOver application window while signing in (Keyboard layouts may vary by device. Please refer to the manual provided by the device manufacturer for more information.) [Space bar] + [S] (Perkins Braille keyboard)
Moves the focus to the next field or button on the page [Tab]
Moves the focus to the previous field or button on the page [Shift] + [Tab]
Moves focus to interact with web content or elements [VO]+ [Shift]+ [Down] Arrow
Stops interacting with web content or elements [VO]+ [Shift]+ [Up] Arrow
Reads the next line or item on the page [VO]+ [Right] Arrow
Reads the previous line or item on the page [VO]+ [Left] Arrow

Table 2. VoiceOver Quick Nav Keyboard Commands
Action Keyboard Command
For hot text items, navigates to the next checkbox on the page [C]
For hot text items, navigates to the previous checkbox on the page [C]; or [Shift]+ [C]

Jumps to the next heading on the page; in general, the following test components are defined with a heading:

  • Test name (H1)
  • Student name (H2)
  • Passage title (H3)
  • Question number (H3) (not the actual question text)

On test pages that have multiple questions, a student can jump directly from one question to the next. To do so, the student should press the [H] key and then press [VO]+ [Right] arrow twice. The question prompt will then be read aloud.

 [H]
Jumps to the previous heading on the page [H]; or [Shift]+ [H]
Moves to next button on the page [B]
Moves to previous button on the page [B]; or [Shift]+ [B]
For multiple choice items, navigates to next answer choice [J]
For multiple choice items, navigates to the previous answer choice [J]; or [Shift]+ [J]
For equation items and text response items, navigates to the next text entry field (This command does not apply to text entry fields that have a formatting toolbar.) [F]
For equation items and text response items, navigates to the previous text entry field (This command does not apply to text entry fields that have a formatting toolbar.) [F]; or [Shift]+ [F]

Moves to the next component on the page. In general, the following test elements are components:

  • Navigation and tool buttons
  • Question numbers (and associated prompt text)
  • Context menus
  • Response options
 [Tab]
Moves to the previous component on the page [Shift]+ [Tab]
Selects a button or response option or opens a context menu or list item [Return]
Moves to the next line on the page [VO]+ [Right] Arrow
Moves to the previous line on the page [VO]+ [Left] Arrow
Reads everything on the page (from the current point of focus) [VO]+ [A]
Reads everything from the top of the page to the current point of focus [VO]+ [B]
Opens Rotor, which used to interact with objects in the web area [VO]+ [U]
Stops VoiceOver from reading [Ctrl]

Table 3. VoiceOver Keyboard Commands for Context Menus
Action Keyboard Command
Opens the context menu when VoiceOver reads “menu button” (This is one of two ways to open the context menu when streamlined mode is turned on.) [Return]
Opens the context menu when VoiceOver reads “menu button” (This is one of two ways to open the context menu when streamlined mode is turned on.) [VO] + [Space bar]
Moves the focus to the next option in the menu, which VoiceOver will read aloud [Down] Arrow
Moves the focus to the previous option in the menu, which VoiceOver will read aloud [Up] Arrow
Selects the menu option currently in focus [Space bar]
Closes the context menu without selecting any options [Esc]

Table 4. VoiceOver Keyboard Commands for Item Responses
Action Keyboard Command
  • Navigates to and then reads aloud the item prompt
  • Navigates to the response area (A student may need to press [Tab] multiple times depending on the item type and whether any question labels appear for the item.)
  • Navigates between each answer option, text box, selectable text field, keypad button, or checkbox, depending on the item type, in the response area for an item
 [Tab]
Navigates to the previous answer option, text box, selectable text field, keypad button, or check box, depending on the item type [Space bar]+ [Tab]
Moves between each line of text in the item for edit task choice items (After a student open an Edit task menu by pressing [Space bar], the arrow keys can be used to move between the answer options in the drop-down list.) [Up] and [Down] Arrows
  • Selects the answer option in focus for multiple choice and multiselect items
  • Marks the checkbox in focus for table match items
  • Selects the answer option in focus for hot text items
  • Chooses the selectable text area in focus as the answer option
  • Selects an answer option from the drop-down list in the Edit menu for edit task choice items
  • Selects the keypad button in focus for equation items.
 [VO]+ [Space bar]; or [Return]
Opens a pop-up menu with special characters for equation items (A students can use the arrow keys to move between the special characters in the list and then press [VO]+ [Space bar] or [Return] to insert a special character in the response area.) [Option] + [7]