[
    {
        "role": "user",
        "content": "I%20use%20jaws%20and%20Windows%2011%20and%20office%20365%20and%20notice%20a%20spoken%20message%20and%20wondered%20what%20it%20is%20and%20how%20to%20stop%20it%20from%20anouncing%20and%20the%20message%20is%20Refresh%20stories%20button%20available%20Click%20to%20refresh%20stories"
    },
    {
        "role": "assistant",
        "content": "It sounds like the \u201cRefresh Stories button available. Click to refresh stories\u201d message you're hearing from JAWS is probably coming from Microsoft Edge (or the Edge-based \u201cNew Tab\u201d or \u201cStart\u201d page) when new \u201cstories\u201d or feed items are available. These \u201cstories\u201d are typically news, content suggestions, or headline feeds that Edge shows. JAWS is reading those state changes out loud as accessibility notifications. I\u2019ll walk you through:\n\n- What this message likely is  \n- Why JAWS might be speaking it  \n- How to stop or reduce hearing it, both by adjusting Edge\u2019s content and JAWS settings  \n\n---\n\n## What the \u201cRefresh Stories\u201d Message Is\n\n- Edge\u2019s New Tab or Start page includes a news/content feed (\"Stories\") powered by Microsoft News or MSN. These stories can refresh to show new content, hence the \u201cRefresh Stories\u201d button. ([windowscentral.com](https://www.windowscentral.com/how-customize-new-tab-page-new-microsoft-edge?utm_source=openai))  \n- When Microsoft starts a new tab, or when new feed content becomes available, the page may programmatically update, and this triggers an accessible alert/announcement which JAWS picks up. So JAWS is just helping you know something has changed visually.  \n\n---\n\n## Why JAWS Is Announcing It\n\n- By design, JAWS announces \u201caccessible event notifications\u201d from Windows and applications, especially when a UI control changes state, or something new becomes available. ([nelowvision.com](https://nelowvision.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Software-Updates-JAWS-2021.pdf?utm_source=openai))  \n- If the refresh stories button appears dynamically (without focus), JAWS may interpret that as a change that needs to be announced.  \n\n---\n\n## How to Stop or Reduce Hearing That Message\n\nYou have a few options. Some involve turning off the stories feed in Edge; others involve controlling how or if JAWS announces notifications like that. Here\u2019s what to try:\n\n---\n\n### Option A: Change Edge/New Tab Page Settings\n\nTo reduce or eliminate this \u201cstories\u201d content so that there's less chance of the \u201cRefresh Stories\u201d button appearing and being announced:\n\n1. Open Microsoft Edge.  \n2. Create a new tab (Ctrl + T).  \n3. Look for a **gear icon** (\"Page settings\" or \u201cNew Tab page settings\u201d) typically near the top-right. ([windowscentral.com](https://www.windowscentral.com/how-customize-new-tab-page-new-microsoft-edge?utm_source=openai))  \n4. Click that gear icon \u2192 change the **layout** to something simpler. Layouts are usually called *Focused*, *Inspirational*, *Informational*, or *Custom*. If you prefer minimal content, choose *Focused* or *Custom* with the **content/news feed turned off**. ([howtogeek.com](https://www.howtogeek.com/659869/how-to-customize-microsoft-edges-new-tab-page/?utm_source=openai))  \n5. If using *Custom*, you should find toggles or options like \u201cShow quick links\u201d, \u201cShow news feed\u201d, \u201cShow information cards\u201d etc. Turn off the content/news area completely. ([howtogeek.com](https://www.howtogeek.com/659869/how-to-customize-microsoft-edges-new-tab-page/?utm_source=openai))  \n\nThis way, Edge won\u2019t show the stories feed, or at least not in a prominent way that refreshes. This should prevent JAWS announcing the refresh button in many cases.\n\n---\n\n### Option B: Adjust JAWS Notification or Event Announcements\n\nIf you want Edge to keep stories, but not have JAWS announce that \u201cRefresh Stories\u201d button:\n\n- Explore **Notification settings** under Windows \u2192 Make sure Office apps or Edge are not allowed to show banners and toasts, though this might not cover feed updates. ([workforceforall.com](https://www.workforceforall.com/Resources/Blog/Office-365-Customizations-for-Screen-Readers?utm_source=openai))  \n- Use JAWS **Notification Manager** or options to reduce automatically spoken screen reader messages for state changes. If JAWS has a setting for announcing \u201ccontrol state changes\u201d or \u201caccessible event notifications,\u201d you may be able to disable or quiet those. Freedome-Scientific (makers of JAWS) usually offer controls around announcing UI changes. ([nelowvision.com](https://nelowvision.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Software-Updates-JAWS-2021.pdf?utm_source=openai))  \n\n(If you tell me your JAWS version, I could try to give exact steps for that.)\n\n---\n\n### Option C: Use an Alternate Homepage or New Tab Page\n\nIf the browser\u2019s feed and story-based content is not something you want:\n\n- You can set Edge\u2019s **New Tab Page or On Startup** option so it opens a blank page, or a simple favorite page instead of the built-in Start/Stories feed. ([tipsdotcom.com](https://www.tipsdotcom.com/new-microsoft-edge-new-tab.html?utm_source=openai))  \n- Or consider having \u201cOpen new tabs with \u2192 A blank page\u201d in Edge settings so new tabs don\u2019t load the stories feed at all. ([tipsdotcom.com](https://www.tipsdotcom.com/new-microsoft-edge-new-tab.html?utm_source=openai))  \n\n---\n\nIf you like, I can give you detailed instructions for your specific version of JAWS & Edge to turn off the announcement. Do you want those?"
    }
]