Generally speaking, JAWS reads PDF files, provided they are created properly. The structure of the document has to include proper tags and other accessibility considerations, so that screen readers are able to read the information. Scanned images are most likely not going to be read by a screen reader, unless you perform some type of OCR, (Optical Character Recognition). This functionality is already built into JAWS. Certainly, in some cases, this works well, but in others, it is not ideal. For example, if you're trying to fill out paperwork that was sent to you as a scanned image, chances are, this will not work for you very well at all. While JAWS may read to you the information, you probably won't be able to determine where you should put requested informationlike your name, phone number etc. onto the document, if you can edit it at all. I have seen JAWS read documents that were not properly tagged for accessibility, and other times it doesn't read the file at all. It really depends on the type of file you're trying to read with Adobe, and what type of accessibility considerations were included by the author of said file.
-----Original Message----- From: JAWS-Users-List [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Vicky Vaughan Sent: Tuesday, July 11, 2017 3:23 PM To: [email protected] Subject: [JAWS-Users] Jaws 18 and PDF? Hi List, I am wondering if it is worth spending the money to upgrade to 18 from the latest 16. If you say that it can read PDFs without going through recognition steps, then, it will be worth it for me. Please let me know. Sincerely, Vicky Vaughan For answers to frequently asked questions about this list visit: http://www.jaws-users.com/help/ For answers to frequently asked questions about this list visit: http://www.jaws-users.com/help/
