Webinar Topic: Web Accessibility and BrowseAloud
Webinar Date/Time: December 17, 2009 10:00 - 11:00 AM
Webinar Materials: PowerPoint 
, BrowseAloud Fact Sheet 
, Archived video (47:56 minutes)
BrowseAloud is a free assistive technology available through Illinois workNet. It reads web pages out loud for people who find it difficult to read online. It is easy to use and can help those with mild visual impairments, low literacy, minimal English language skills, or learning disabilities, such as dyslexia.
Anyone can download BrowseAloud on to a computer or flash drive. Once downloaded, the user can access the following features on any site that has BrowseAloud. That means they can learn about finding jobs, training, and services, and more by using BrowseAloud to read illinoisworknet.com to them.
Features Included:
To download BrowseAloud,
Click on the BrowseAloud icon located on the right side the Individuals pathway pages.
Follow the instructions to download BrowseAloud onto a computer or flash drive.
Web Accessibility topics discussed include:
Resources for checking to see if your website is accessible are located on the Illinois workNet workforce professionals pathway. Log into the workforce pathway, click on Resources, and click on Local website set up.
Pre-Webinar Polling Questions
I have heard about BrowseAloud. - 41%
I have used BrowseAloud. - 0%
I am not familiar with BrowseAloud - 59%
Mild visual impairment - 19 (responses)
Dyslexia -15 (responses)
English as a second language - 21 (responses)
Learning disability - 22 (responses)
Post Webinar Polling Questions
This will be a great tool for my customers. - 27 (responses)
I would feel comfortable using this tool with my customers. - 20 (responses)
I plan on informing my customers about this tool in Illinois workNet. - 18 (responses)
I would like to know how to add BrowseAloud to my website. - 6 (responses)
Multilanguage and voice control features - 26 (responses)
PDF reader - 22 (responses)
MP3 creator - 8 (responses)
Large text banner/ticker feature - 27 (responses)
Highlighting feature - 25 (responses)
I have a better understanding of web accessibility. - 27 (responses)
I would like to learn more about web accessibility to make sure my site is accessible. - 9 (responses)
I plan on using the tools available in the Illinois workNet Workforce Professionals Pathway to check if my site is accessible. - 13 (responses)
A: Yes, BrowseAloud is available on Illinois workNet. It is free for anyone to use with http://www.illinoisworknet.com/ and other participating sites.
To download BrowseAloud,
1. Go to http://www.illinoisworknet.com/ and click on Individuals.
2. Click on the BrowseAloud icon located on the right side the Individuals pathway pages.
3. Follow the instructions to download BrowseAloud onto a computer or flash drive.
A: Technical contact information for BrowseAloud is available in Illinois workNet.
1. Go to http://www.illinoisworknet.com/ and click on Individuals.
2. Click on the BrowseAloud icon located on the right side the Individuals pathway pages.
3. Scroll down to view the technical contact information.
A: BrowseAloud can coexist on the same computer as other accessibility tools (i.e., Narrator, JAWS, ZoomText, etc.) However, do not run them at the same time as other screen readers because they will “talk over” each other. Also, keep in mind that some of the other accessibility tools are designed for individuals who are blind or have a visual impairment. BrowseAloud is designed to help those with mild visual impairments, low literacy, minimal English language skills, or learning disabilities, such as dyslexia.
A: From an end user perspective, BrowseAloud will automatically detect sites that subscribes to BrowseAloud service. If they subscribe, the BrowseAloud toolbar is available for the user. For sites that do not subscribe, the toolbar is minimized.
From the perspective of a person who would like to have BrowseAloud enabled on their site, BrowseAloud will work on sites that are designed with accessibility in mind. To enable BrowseAloud on your website for a free two week trial, contact accessibility@msfw.com
A: BrowseAloud is free on http://www.illinoisworknet.com/. There is a cost for additional sites who would like to have BrowseAloud enabled on their website.
A: A BrowseAloud fact sheet is available with the archived webinar documents.
A: The webinar and materials will be available in the workforce professionals pathway. Log into the workforce pathway, click on Resources, and click on Professional Development to access archived webinar materials.
The webinar and materials will be available in the workforce professionals pathway. Log into the workforce pathway, click on Resources, and click on Professional Development to access archived webinar materials.
Webinar Materials: PowerPoint , BrowseAloud Fact Sheet , Archived video (47:56 minutes)