Facebook basic navigation with a screen reader

Facebook is navigable and it's main functions are completely accessible with a screen reader. You just need to know what to look for and how to interact with the Facebook layout.

Screen reader users do not need to use "mobiel" mode.
Within your Facebook page there is a lot of information which is irrelevent, so be prepared to skip over it and find the stuff you really want/need.
The following tips and tricks will have you interacting with Facebook in no time.

Reading posts and status updates

When you log into Facebook, you are, by default, on your Facebook "home" page.
The page is divided into many headings. You can move through the headings by pressing the letter H. The first heading we are concerned with is the heading level 2 titled, "News feed".
Just above the News Feed heading are 2 possible links.
    These are
  1. "most recent"
    2. and
  2. "top news".

Think of these 2 links as a toggle.

Activate the "most recent" link to sort the updates, which will be listed further down the page.
This list will be sorted chronologically from most recent to oldest.
Just press the letter H to move from one post heading to the nexct.

Activate the "top news" link to view a random list showing posts by a selection of your friends FB updates.

All Facebook posts are listed beginning with a heading containing your friend's name, so move through these updates by pressing the letter H.

If there is a particular update or "news story", you are interested in, you can arrow down to find out more information, make comments on the information, indicate that you "like" the post, or view others comments listed about the post.

Older posts

After skipping through the headings/status updates, that is to say the Facebook posts from your friends, you will eventually loop back to the top of your page.

You can extend the list of these Facebook "news stories" by finding and activating the link titled "this page link older posts".
This will add more of your friend's stories to the bottom of the list you were just viewing. This means you will have to navigate back down to that spot in order to view them.


Tip: To quicly find the "older posts" link, you can use your links list or:

Commenting on, and liking Facebook posts.

Your Facebook friend news feed posts might simply be what's on their mind, and these posts could also include links to videos, articles, other interesting Web pages etc.

If you come across one of your Facebook friend's posts, and you want to comment on it, arrow down to the edit "write a comment...edit".
Type your comment, Tab to the post comment button and press spacebar.

Often times, however, there will not be a "write your comment" edit box. There will in this case simply be the word "comment". meaning it's not a link or an edit field. If this is the case:
  • move to the word "comment" directly beneath the heading associated with that particular post.
  • Arrow over to the letter O in comment, and press Enter.
  • An edit box will open so press the letter E to move to the edit field, turn forms mode on and type your comment.
  • To post your comment, press Tab to move focus to the "comment button", and press spacebar.

    • To view comments

    Beneath your friend's posts others might have made comments.
    By default, Facebook will show 2 of these comments. You can arrow down to have your screen reader read these.

    If, however, there are more than 2 comments, you can press spacebar on the "view all comments" button.
    The page will refresh and all comments will then be displayed.

    Changing your Facebook status

    To change your Facebook status Note: You can paste a link URL as part of your status update and it will become an active link.
    Return to the Facebook tutorials page.

    © 2009 - Stacy Bleeks, All Rights Reserved