mastodon 4.8.0-nightly.2026-10-06Welcome to the official Freedom Scientific Mastodon profile. Freedom Scientific, a Vispero company, is the largest worldwide manufacturer of assistive technology products for blind and low vision individuals.
A very useful JAWS feature that many new users may not be aware of is the Commands Search feature. This tool helps you quickly find the keyboard shortcut for almost any JAWS command.
To use Commands Search:
- Press INSERT+SPACEBAR to activate the JAWS layered command.
- Press J to open the Commands Search.
- Type a word or part of a command (for example, “line” or “read”).
- JAWS will display a list of matching commands and their keystrokes.
Make web navigation easier with JAWS.
This archived training session covers five powerful techniques to help you work through complex web pages, including using custom labels, adjusting verbosity, and leveraging AI tools like Picture Smart and AI Labeler.
Access the training: https://freedomscientifictraining.libsyn.com/5-tips-for-navigating-complex-web-pages-with-jaws
Need more information about the window, control, or option you are focused on? Use Context-Specific Help in JAWS.
Press INSERT+F1 in desktop layout or CAPS LOCK+F1 in laptop layout to open help for the current item. JAWS displays details in the Virtual Viewer, including what the item does and any related keystrokes.
Use the arrow keys to review the information, then press ESC to close help and return to where you were.
The JAWS Touch Cursor offers another way to navigate apps, especially when standard cursors don’t provide full access. It lets you move through elements using touch-style navigation with the keyboard.
Activate it with SHIFT+NUM PAD PLUS (or SHIFT+CAPS LOCK+SEMICOLON on laptops), then use arrow keys to move like swiping.
You can also enable it automatically in certain apps using INSERT+V.
Learn more: https://www.freedomscientific.com/webinars/so-many-cursors-so-little-time-understanding-cursors-in-jaws/
Join us Thursday, May 7 at noon ET and discover how AI can help you research topics, compare options, and solve everyday problems with JAWS, ZoomText, and Fusion. Register today:
https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_y8pCySC8TM-K6upLhwe8EQ
Sharky Shortcuts! The JAWS Find command is a useful way to quickly locate content within the current screen or virtual document.
Press CTRL+INSERT+F (desktop) or CAPS LOCK+CTRL+F (laptop) to search for specific text or even labeled graphics. This allows you to jump directly to relevant content, improving efficiency and reducing the need to navigate sequentially.
Use INSERT+F3 (CAPS LOCK+F3 on a laptop) to move through additional matches.
Upcoming changes are coming to AI-powered features in JAWS and Fusion beginning with the May 13 update for U.S. users.
Learn more about new age verification and account requirements in our latest blog article: https://training.vispero.com/upcoming-changes-to-ai-features-in-jaws-and-fusion-age-verification-and-account-requirements/
Check out this week's JAWS Power Tip: How To Read Formulas in Excel with JAWS https://toptechtidbits.com/how-to-read-formulas-in-excel-with-jaws/
Assistive technology plays a critical role in enabling professionals to do their work independently.
Suleiman Rifai, a social worker who is vision impaired, uses the JAWS screen reader to review reports, manage communication, and support his clients every day. His work highlights the importance of accessibility in real-world environments.
Learn more about his story: https://www.bkreader.com/non-profit-community/visually-imparied-social-worker-helps-brooklyn-homeless-to-see-a-path-forward-12223421
Did you catch our recent webinar, Use Track Changes and Comments to Revise Word Documents with JAWS? In this archived session, we walk through how to track changes and comments in Word documents with JAWS to stay organized, manage feedback, and collaborate more efficiently.
Access the webinar and resource files: https://www.freedomscientific.com/webinars/use-track-changes-and-comments-to-revise-word-documents-with-jaws/
Planning projects and staying organized can take time, but AI can help simplify the process. In this archived session, we demonstrate how to create action plans, build task lists, and break down complex goals into manageable steps using JAWS, ZoomText, and Fusion.
Access the webinar: https://www.freedomscientific.com/webinars/plan-organize-and-complete-projects-with-ai/
Visit our Webinars On Demand page to stream or download archived webinars.
https://www.freedomscientific.com/training/freewebinars/archivedwebinars/
How do I make JAWS read the screen or specific parts of text?
A few key commands can help you quickly review information:
• Read current line: INSERT+UP ARROW (CAPS LOCK+I on a laptop)
• Read all: INSERT+DOWN ARROW (CAPS LOCK+DOWN ARROW on a laptop)
• Read current word: INSERT+RIGHT ARROW (CAPS LOCK+K on a laptop)
• Read current character: INSERT+LEFT ARROW (CAPS LOCK+COMMA on a laptop)
These simple commands give you more control over how you read and navigate content.
Join us Thursday, April 16 at noon ET to learn how Track Changes and Comments in Word can help you review, collaborate on, and finalize documents more efficiently with JAWS.
ACVREP credits available during live webinar.
Register now: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_dfwjV0gdRmKgqYve4GWKQA#/registration
Subscribe to the Freedom Scientific Training Podcast to access training content on your smart speaker or mobile device. #FreedomScientificTraining
https://www.freedomscientific.com/training/podcast/
Join us on April 16 at Noon Eastern Time for a live training webinar on using Track Changes and Comments in Microsoft Word with JAWS.
We will walk through how to review edits, navigate comments, and manage document revisions so you can collaborate more effectively and work with confidence.
ACVREP credits available during live webinar.
Register here: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_dfwjV0gdRmKgqYve4GWKQA#/registration
Visit the Freedom Scientific Training schedule for a list of training events in April. #VisperoTraining
https://www.freedomscientific.com/training/trainingschedule/
Looking for short training videos on specific topics? You’ll find them on the Freedom Scientific Training channel on YouTube. #VisperoTraining
https://www.youtube.com/freedomscientifictraining
Have you registered? Join us on April 16 at Noon Eastern Time for a live training webinar on using Track Changes and Comments in Microsoft Word with JAWS.
We will walk through how to review edits, navigate comments, and manage document revisions so you can collaborate more effectively and work with confidence.
ACVREP credits available during live webinar.
Register here: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_dfwjV0gdRmKgqYve4GWKQA#/registration
In this training podcast, explore how Voice Assistant in JAWS and ZoomText lets you navigate, adjust settings, and complete tasks using simple spoken commands. Learn how it works, hear real examples, and discover tips to make everyday tasks faster and easier.
Listen now: https://freedomscientifictraining.libsyn.com/using-jaws-voice-assistant
Join us Thursday, May 7 at noon ET to learn how AI can help you conduct in-depth research and solve complex problems. ACVREP credits available during live presentation. Register today:
https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_y8pCySC8TM-K6upLhwe8EQ
Visit the Freedom Scientific Training schedule for a list of training events in May.
https://www.freedomscientific.com/training/trainingschedule/
Every student’s journey looks different, and we’re proud to highlight those who are making progress toward their goals.
The Freedom Scientific Student of the Month program recognizes K–12 students who are blind or low vision and using assistive technology in their education.
Know a student who should be recognized? Submit a nomination: https://vispero.com/k-12-student-of-the-month-program/
Join us in one hour for a live webinar on navigating Track Changes and Comments in Word with JAWS. ACVREP credits available during live webinar.
Register here: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_dfwjV0gdRmKgqYve4GWKQA#/registration
Join us in one hour for a live AI webinar to learn how to ask better questions, evaluate responses, and use AI to support decisions at work and at home. Register: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_y8pCySC8TM-K6upLhwe8EQ
Join us on Thursday, April 2 at Noon ET for a live webinar to learn how AI can help you turn projects into clear plans, build task lists, and prepare for meetings using JAWS, ZoomText, and Fusion.
ACVREP credits are available for those who attend the live webinar.
Register here: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_U_rwOoerRvSP0-EedztqNA#/registration
Accessibility is shaped by people, experiences, and relationships.
In FSCast 269, hear from Judy Redlich on guide dogs and personal growth, and from Professor Panagiotis Antonopoulos on education and accessibility from a global perspective.
Listen now: https://training.vispero.com/fscast-269-on-guide-dogs-education-and-the-value-of-relationships/
Did you request an ACVREP credit certificate for attending the live webinar: Plan, Organize, and Complete Projects with AI? Please check your inbox; these have all been sent.
We hope you can join us on April 16 at Noon ET for our next live webinar: Use Track Changes and Comments to Revise Word Documents with JAWS. Register today: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_dfwjV0gdRmKgqYve4GWKQA#/registration
Are you an Insert J Club member? Check your inbox; we sent you an exclusive training resources for our next webinar and register for our next Live Zoom event.
Not in the club? Join now so you don't miss out on early access and exclusive events. https://www.freedomscientific.com/insertjclub/
Our JAWS 30th Anniversary Training Series continues with the recorded training: "Use JAWS Picture Smart AI." Learn how the latest Picture Smart AI provides richer, more detailed image descriptions. This session covers how to access the feature, describe images from multiple sources, and ask follow-up questions to explore content more deeply.
Access the training and start using Picture Smart AI: https://www.freedomscientific.com/webinars/jaws-30th-anniversary-training-use-jaws-picture-smart-ai/
Every accessibility journey is different, and each one brings a unique perspective. In our latest Employee Spotlight, Roxana Fischer shares her journey into accessibility, what has shaped her career, and why everyone should learn about screen-reading technology.
Get to know Roxana and her story: https://vispero.com/resources/employee-spotlight-roxana-fischers-story/
In this JAWS 30th Anniversary recorded training, learn how to use Message Center to access announcements, navigate messages, and make the most of new features.
Access the training: https://www.freedomscientific.com/webinars/jaws-30th-anniversary-recorded-training-learn-about-new-announcements-features-and-more-in-message-center/
Sharky Shortcuts! Want an easy way to stay current with JAWS updates and training?
Access the Message Center through the JAWS Help Menu or press INSERT+SPACEBAR, then SHIFT+M on a desktop (CAPS LOCK+SPACEBAR, then SHIFT+M on a laptop).
The JAWS Message Center keeps everything in one place! Get details on new features, release notes, training tips, webinars, and FSCast episodes. It’s a simple way to keep learning and get the most out of JAWS without having to search for information.
Check out this week's JAWS Power Tip: How To List Form Fields on a Web Page Using JAWS. https://toptechtidbits.com/how-to-list-form-fields-on-a-web-page-using-jaws/
Visit the Student of the Month page to learn about previous winners, get more details on the program, and nominate a student. https://www.freedomscientific.com/studentofthemonth/
Join us in one hour to learn how AI can help you create step-by-step plans, build task lists, prepare for meetings, and break complex goals into manageable actions with JAWS, ZoomText, and Fusion.
ACVREP credits are available for those who attend the live webinar.
Register here: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_U_rwOoerRvSP0-EedztqNA#/registration
We love celebrating students who are working hard to achieve their goals.
The Freedom Scientific Student of the Month program highlights K–12 students who are blind or low vision and using assistive technology in their education. Students can nominate themselves or be nominated by a parent, teacher, or mentor.
Nominate a student today: https://vispero.com/k-12-student-of-the-month-program/
An April update is available for ZoomText and Fusion.
For details on what’s included and how to update, read the blog: https://training.vispero.com/important-zoomtext-and-fusion-update-for-windows-11-users/
