JAWS Braille Support

JAWS and Braille Support

What You Need to Know

If you or your student benefit from braille support, for example, if you or your student's primary learning medium is braille, using a braille display in tandem with your JAWS screen reader may be the right choice.

A braille display offers both braille output and input. Everything that JAWS says will be accessible via the braille display, output. And, you can use your braille display to enter text into edit fields, input.

In the JAWS braille settings window you are able to customize whether contracted braille is off, used for output only, or used for both input and output.

Easily move your cursor when editing and reviewing written work by using the router buttons. Read materials at your own pace using the thumb keys

JAWS has the ability to work with many Refreshable braille devices, including for example, the Focus line of braille displays from Freedom Scientific and the PAC Mate™ portable braille displays.

Displays will either connect via a USB cable or bluetooth. Below find instructions for pairing a display via bluetooth.

There are a number of available braille displays on the market, and thus, a number of different device-specific key commands. For each individual display type, there are a number of ways to customize the user experience. Users may choose to use the display in a case-by-case manner, for output only, or for both input and output.

For these reasons, this page will serve only as an overview of the experience offered by using JAWS with a braille display, and more specific information can be found in the resources section.

Pairing a Braille Display with JAWS Via Bluetooth

There are two main components to pairing a braille display via bluetooth to use with the JAWS screen reader

First, you must pair the braille display with the computer.

Press the windows key. Type in bluetooth. You are directed to the bluetooth and devices settings.

Press add new device. Press the bluetooth button.

Ensure your braille display is on and not paired to any other device. Your braille display should show up in the drop down box. Press enter to connect.

Second, you must set the braille display as the default display in the JAWS braille settings.

Navigate to the JAWS window.

Press alt + o to go to the options menu.

Arrow down to the braille option. Press enter.

In the braille settings window, tab to the "add braille display" button, which opens up a new window.

Select the checkbox corresponding to your display.

You will be prompted to select an "output port," which is the method of communication you plan on using to virtually connect the computer to the display. For a Bluetooth device, this is a COM port, or communication port. Select the COM 4 port. Select the next button.

Select your display's name as the primary device. Select the finish button. You may be asked to restart JAWS.

Resources