[
    {
        "role": "user",
        "content": "Jaws%202026%20will%20not%20let%20me%20go%20to%20elements%20on%20a%20page%20from%20the%20elements%20lists."
    },
    {
        "role": "assistant",
        "content": "It sounds like you\u2019re having trouble using JAWS to *move from an Elements List (a list of page elements) directly to one of those elements on the page*. That behavior *should* be possible\u2014but it depends on exactly how you're doing it. I\u2019ll explain how it *should* work, what might be going wrong, and how to troubleshoot/fix it.\n\n---\n\n## \u2705 What *should* happen\n\nWhen you open the Elements List (sometimes called the *Elements Dialog*, *List of Elements*, or *List of HTML Items*) in JAWS, you should be able to:\n\n- See a list of headings, links, buttons, etc.  \n- Tab or arrow through that list.  \n- Select (usually with **Enter**) one of the items in the list, which should then take the cursor/focus *to that element on the page*.  \n\nHere are the relevant commands:\n\n| Action | Keystroke |\n|---|---|\n| Open Elements List (list of buttons, frames, graphics, lists, links, etc.) | INSERT + F3 ([dequeuniversity.com](https://dequeuniversity.com/screenreaders/jaws-keyboard-shortcuts?utm_source=openai)) |\n| List Headings | INSERT + F6 ([dequeuniversity.com](https://dequeuniversity.com/screenreaders/jaws-keyboard-shortcuts?utm_source=openai)) |\n| List Links | INSERT + F7 ([zumu.com](https://www.zumu.com/Doc/Accessibility%20Information/Interactive%20Accessibility%20Checklists/JAWS-CommandReference.pdf?1716249544=&utm_source=openai)) |\n| Other specific element-lists (buttons, graphics, frames, etc.) | CTRL + INS + [key] (e.g. B for buttons, G for graphics) ([zumu.com](https://www.zumu.com/Doc/Accessibility%20Information/Interactive%20Accessibility%20Checklists/JAWS-CommandReference.pdf?1716249544=&utm_source=openai)) |\n\n---\n\n## \u26a0\ufe0f What *might* be going wrong\n\nHere are common issues that prevent selecting from the Elements List properly:\n\n1. **Keyboard or layout mismatch**  \n   - JAWS has two keyboard layouts: **Desktop** (default) and **Laptop**. Key combinations differ (e.g. INSERT vs. CAPS LOCK as the JAWS key). If you're using the wrong layout, the keys you use may not work. ([freedomscientific.com](https://www.freedomscientific.com/training/jaws/hotkeys/?utm_source=openai))\n\n2. **Elements List isn't opening correctly**  \n   - If the list opens but seems empty, the page might be missing proper HTML tags/attributes. For example, items that should be marked as headings (`<h1>`, `<h2>`, etc.), lists (`<ul>`, `<ol>`), or buttons/links (`<a>`, `<button>`) might not be coded correctly.  \n   - If the Elements List opens but selecting an item doesn\u2019t move you, it might be a focus issue\u2014maybe the element isn\u2019t focusable, or the page doesn't manage focus via keyboard properly.\n\n3. **Focus or modality issues**  \n   - Some pages use fancy scripting (e.g. SPAs, maps, custom controls) that doesn\u2019t allow JAWS to move focus via keyboard in expected ways.  \n   - If the item is hidden or off-screen or in a collapsed section, sometimes selecting it from the list doesn\u2019t visibly move focus\u2014even though JAWS thinks it did.\n\n4. **Version issues**  \n   - If you\u2019re using a very old version of JAWS, or if updates haven\u2019t been applied, some functionality might be broken. Also, browser compatibility: some commands might differ depending on the browser you\u2019re using (Edge, Chrome, Firefox).\n\n---\n\n## \ud83d\udd27 How to troubleshoot / fix\n\nTry the following steps:\n\n1. **Check your layout**  \n   - Press **INSERT + 7** (JAWS key + 7) to check if you\u2019re in Desktop or Laptop layout. Make sure you know which you\u2019re in.  \n   - If you're in Laptop layout, use **CAPS LOCK** in place of INSERT where necessary. ([freedomscientific.com](https://www.freedomscientific.com/training/jaws/hotkeys/?utm_source=openai))\n\n2. **Use the correct command to open the list**  \n   - If you\u2019re trying to list *elements broadly* (headings, links, lists, graphics, etc.), use **INSERT + F3**. ([dequeuniversity.com](https://dequeuniversity.com/assets/pdf/screenreaders/jaws.pdf?utm_source=openai))  \n   - For specific element types, use the more specific commands, like **INSERT + F6** for headings, **INSERT + F7** for links. ([zumu.com](https://www.zumu.com/Doc/Accessibility%20Information/Interactive%20Accessibility%20Checklists/JAWS-CommandReference.pdf?1716249544=&utm_source=openai))\n\n3. **Once the Elements List is open, select the item properly**  \n   - Use the arrow keys or Tab to navigate the list.  \n   - Press **Enter** on the item you want, and expect JAWS to move focus to that element on the page.  \n   - If that doesn\u2019t work, try pressing **Escape** to close the list, then try navigating using Quick Keys (like \u201cH\u201d for headings, \u201cL\u201d for lists, etc.) to locate and move to the element manually. ([dequeuniversity.com](https://dequeuniversity.com/screenreaders/jaws-keyboard-shortcuts?utm_source=openai))\n\n4. **Test in a known-good page**  \n   - To see if the problem is with JAWS or with that particular page, try using the Elements List on a well-structured site (for example, WebAIM or Wikipedia) where headings and links are clearly labeled. If it works there, the issue is likely due to how the original page is coded.\n\n5. **Update JAWS and browser**  \n   - Ensure you have the latest version of JAWS installed.  \n   - Try another browser to see if behavior changes.\n\n6. **Check the accessible code**  \n   - If possible, check the HTML code of the page (or have someone do it) to verify elements have the correct tags (`<h1>`-`<h6>`, `<a>`, etc.) or ARIA roles where necessary.  \n   - If items aren\u2019t focusable or not semantically marked, add `href`, `tabindex`, or ARIA roles as appropriate.\n\n---\n\nIf you want, I can walk you through step-by-step while you try it on your page (if you tell me which web page or part is giving trouble). That way we can see exactly where it\u2019s not working (list opening, selection, moving to element, etc.). Do you want to try that?"
    }
]